A Chicago meal delivery team had already built a large cooler wall and still ran out of space. A rented ZSTORE 6XL and 4XL added a cooler for fulfillment and a freezer for ice packs.
In This Article
A meal delivery company in Chicago, IL had already built a large cooler wall for fulfillment and still ran out of space. It needed more cold storage for meal delivery, and it needed it fast. The rental model, short lead time and mobility made ZGROUP the fastest path: a ZSTORE 6XL and a 4XL covering two areas of the operation, for 3,200 ft² of cold storage: a cooler for fulfillment and a freezer for ice packs.
The challenge
This team had already invested in cold storage. The cooler wall it built for fulfillment was large, and demand still outpaced it.
Building more permanent capacity would take time the business did not have. The team needed extra cold space quickly, in more than one part of the operation, and without locking itself into a layout that might change as the business grows.
The team also needed that space in more than one place. Fulfillment rarely happens in one spot, and cold storage that sits far from the work adds walking, handling and time.
The solution
ZGROUP supplied two ZSTORE XL modular cold storage systems on rental:
- A ZSTORE 6XL, six modules connected into one open room.
- A ZSTORE 4XL, four modules connected into a second room.
One system runs as a cooler for fulfillment, the other as a freezer for the ice packs that go into every delivery box, so each kind of cold space sits where the work happens. Three things decided it for the team: the rental model, the short lead time and the mobility of the units, which can be moved and reinstalled if the layout changes.
Splitting capacity into two systems was a deliberate choice. Fulfillment has its cooler and the ice packs have their own freezer, instead of one large space at a single temperature that serves one job well and the other poorly.
The results
- 3,200 ft² of floor area
- Cooler + freezer for fulfillment and ice packs
- 2× space vs. single reefers
The team added capacity on top of its existing cooler wall, in two areas, without a construction project. Its earlier investment keeps working, and the new modules carry the growth.
Cold storage for meal delivery: build or rent?
Meal delivery volumes can change quickly, with new markets, new menus and seasonal peaks. That makes the build-or-rent question important.
Building a permanent cooler makes sense when the layout and volume are stable for the long term. It also means construction time and a fixed footprint.
Modular cold storage fits a business that is still growing. ZGROUP delivers in under 60 days and installs in 2 to 5 days, with no civil works. Each ZSTORE XL module adds 320 ft² and about 20 pallet positions, and zones can run as cooler or freezer. Because modules share the space, fewer refrigeration units are needed per square foot than with single containers.
Units are available to rent or to buy. Renting keeps capital free and lets you add or move modules as the operation changes. ZTRACK adds remote monitoring of temperature and alarms, and every unit carries a 5-year warranty.
Many meal delivery operators end up with a mix: a permanent cooler for the base load and modular capacity for growth and peaks. That is what this team did, adding modules alongside a cooler wall it already owned.
What is a commercial walk-in cooler?
A commercial walk-in cooler is a refrigerated room you can walk into, used by food businesses to keep meals, produce, dairy or meat at a controlled temperature, usually between 33°F and 41°F. ZGROUP delivers it ready to run instead of building it: a refrigerated container that works as a portable walk-in cooler, or a ZSTORE XL modular cold room of any size, like the 6XL and 4XL in this project, which can run as a cooler or as a freezer. Rent or buy, indoors or outdoors.
Compare the options on our walk-in cooler page, or see how ZSTORE XL modular cold storage works.
Is it right for your operation?
If your fulfillment operation has outgrown its coolers and cannot wait for a build, modular capacity can go in fast and move with you. Explore ZSTORE XL modular cold storage or talk to our team about your volumes and layout.
Frequently asked questions
How much cold storage does a meal delivery operation need?
It depends on volume and turnover. Each ZSTORE XL module adds 320 ft² and about 20 pallet positions, so capacity can be sized in steps and expanded later.
Can I rent cold storage for meal delivery?
Yes. ZGROUP modular cold storage is available to rent or to buy, delivered in under 60 days and installed in 2 to 5 days.
Can modular cold storage be moved later?
Yes. Modular units can be moved and reinstalled at another site, which suits operations whose layout or location may change.
How is a ZSTORE XL different from a single reefer container?
A reefer container is one portable box, from 10' to 53' and 4 to 30 pallets. A ZSTORE XL joins 40' modules into one open room, 320 ft² and about 20 pallets each, with fewer refrigeration units per square foot.
