Commercial Upright Fridges
Commercial upright fridges are the standard tall-cabinet chilled storage format found in nearly every commercial kitchen, holding fresh produce, dairy, drinks and prepped food on adjustable shelves at +1 to +4°C. Pubs, cafes, hotels, dark kitchens and care homes all run them, sized by door count — single, double, triple or under-counter — against kitchen floor space, stock volume and delivery frequency.
Key specifications
Capacity commonly spans 300-1400 litres depending on door count. Power draw sits between 100-600W and noise levels between 42-55dB, with external dimensions and refrigerant type rounding out the comparison between models. Most cabinets carry a 1-2 year warranty, varying by supplier.
Commercial Upright Fridges — FAQs
How many doors does my kitchen need on an upright fridge?
Single door units (300-600 litres) suit small cafes and pubs, double door units (600-1000 litres) suit most independent restaurants and hotels, and triple door or under-counter combinations suit high-volume or space-constrained kitchens needing extra flexibility.
What temperature should a commercial upright fridge hold, and how is it monitored?
Commercial upright fridges typically hold +1 to +4°C using forced-air circulation for even cooling, with a digital controller displaying live temperature and, on many models, a door alarm to flag if the seal is left open.
Does a commercial upright fridge need three-phase power?
No — the vast majority of upright fridges, even large double or triple door units, run on a standard 13A single-phase UK socket; three-phase is generally only needed for walk-in cold room refrigeration packs.
Well-known upright fridge brands stocked in this category include Polar, Foster and Tefcold, with Hoshizaki and Williams also well represented, covering everything from budget single-door units for cafes to heavy-duty double door cabinets for hotels and dark kitchens.