How an Oakland distributor got a commercial freezer ready for its ice cream launch

A Latin food distributor in Oakland, CA, USA won the distribution rights for a premium Guatemalan ice cream brand. That meant it needed dedicated ice cream freezer storage, right away. Building would have taken months. ZGROUP delivered a ZSTORE 5XL that was ready in time for the first shipment, and the new product line launched on schedule.

The challenge

Winning a new brand is good news with a deadline attached. Once the first shipment is on its way, the product needs a place to land. Ice cream cannot share space casually with other goods or wait on a loading dock: it needs dedicated frozen storage from the moment it arrives.

The distributor did not have that space, and a conventional build would have taken months. Waiting for construction would have meant delaying the launch of a line it had just won.

The solution

ZGROUP supplied a ZSTORE 5XL: five XL modules connected side by side into one open walk-in freezer with 1,600 ft² of floor space, refrigerated by Thermo King. There was no permanent construction involved.

The freezer was ready in time for the first shipment, giving the new ice cream line its own dedicated space from day one.

The results

• 1,600 ft² of floor area
• Freezer storage dedicated to the new line
• Launch-ready for ice cream distribution, on schedule

Ice cream freezer storage: modular vs. traditional build

For distributors adding a frozen line, the choice usually comes down to timing and flexibility. Here is how modular ice cream freezer storage compares with building a traditional freezer room:

• Time to capacity. ZGROUP units are delivered in under 60 days and installed in 2 to 5 days. A traditional build involves civil works and takes considerably longer.
• Site impact. Modular units need no permanent construction and only minimal site prep.
• Temperature. The cold storage line covers -40°F to +104°F (-40°C to +40°C), so it can hold frozen desserts at the temperature you specify. Zones can run at different temperatures if you also need a cooler for fresh goods.
• Scaling. Each XL module adds 320 ft² and about 20 pallet positions. Start with what the new line needs and add modules as it grows.
• Flexibility. Units can be rented or bought, and they can be moved and reinstalled at another site if your operation relocates.

For frozen desserts, visibility matters as much as capacity. ZTRACK remote monitoring reports temperature and alarms, so the team can confirm the freezer is holding without opening the door. Every unit carries a 5-year warranty.

Planning freezer space for a new product line

Work backward from the first shipment. With delivery in under 60 days and installation in 2 to 5 days, a modular freezer can usually be ordered after the deal is signed and still be ready when product arrives.

Then size for the pallets you need to hold between deliveries, at about 20 pallet positions per XL module. Keeping a new line in its own dedicated space makes it easier to manage its stock, and extra modules can be added as the line grows.

What is a commercial walk-in freezer?

A commercial walk-in freezer is a frozen-storage room you can walk into, used by distributors, processors and food businesses to hold frozen food, ice cream, seafood or meat, typically at 0°F or below. Instead of building one, ZGROUP delivers it ready to run: a refrigerated container that works as a portable walk-in freezer down to -40°F, or a ZSTORE XL modular freezer of any size, like the 5XL in this project. Rent or buy, indoors or outdoors, with no construction.

Compare the options on our walk-in freezer page, or see more cold storage projects in California.

Is it right for your operation?

If a new brand, a new contract or a seasonal peak needs freezer space before a building could be ready, a modular freezer can close the gap. See how ZSTORE XL modular cold storage works, or talk to our team about your launch date.