A produce wholesaler at the Los Angeles market added a ZSTORE 3XL at its back dock: 960 ft² of cold storage, no floor space lost, no day of construction.
In This Article
A produce wholesaler at the Los Angeles wholesale market needed more produce cold storage, but not at the expense of its selling floor. It added a ZSTORE 3XL at its back dock, extending its storage without giving up floor space inside, and without a single day of construction.
The challenge
At a wholesale produce market, floor space is where the business happens. It is where product is received, staged and sold. Every square foot turned into a cold room is a square foot taken away from that work.
The wholesaler needed more cold capacity for fresh produce. The usual options were to give up floor space for a new cold room, or to take on a construction project. Neither fit a busy market operation that cannot stop.
What the wholesaler did have was space at its back dock.
The solution
ZGROUP delivered a ZSTORE 3XL: three XL modules connected side by side into one open walk-in cooler of 960 ft². Each module is built from a refrigerated shipping container with a Thermo King refrigeration unit.
The 3XL sits at the back dock and runs as a cooler for fresh storage. There was no construction: not a single day. The selling floor inside stayed exactly as it was.
Because the modules share one open space, the room works as a single walk-in, with room to move and stage pallets, rather than three separate boxes.
The results
- 960 ft² of floor area
- Cooler for fresh produce
- Back dock turned into storage
The wholesaler extended its storage, kept its floor space, and never stopped operating.
Produce cold storage: modular vs. a new cold room
Produce businesses outgrow their coolers all the time. The question is how to add capacity without disrupting the operation. Here is how a modular unit compares with building a new cold room.
- Where it goes. A new cold room usually takes space inside the building. A modular unit can go outside: at the back dock, in a yard or on a lot.
- How long it takes. ZSTORE XL units are delivered in under 60 days and installed in 2 to 5 days. There are no civil works or permanent construction, and only minimal site prep.
- How it grows. One XL module is 320 ft² and about 20 pallet positions. Modules connect side by side, so capacity can grow in steps.
- What it can hold. Zones can run at different temperatures, so a cooler and a freezer can share one layout. Humidity control from 50% to 95% RH is also available.
- What happens later. Modular units can be moved and reinstalled at another site, and they are available to rent or to buy.
For produce, visibility matters as much as capacity. ZTRACK provides remote monitoring of temperature and alarms, so a problem is flagged before it reaches the product. Every unit comes with a 5-year warranty.
A new cold room still makes sense when the storage must be fully integrated inside an existing building. When the goal is more capacity, quickly, and without losing floor space, modular is usually the simpler route.
What is modular cold storage?
Modular cold storage is a cold room built from standard modules, here refrigerated shipping containers with Thermo King units, joined into one open walk-in. Each ZSTORE XL module adds 320 ft² and about 20 pallet positions, so a produce business can start with the space it needs and add modules later, outside the building where floor space is not at stake.
See how ZSTORE XL modular cold storage works, or browse more cold storage projects in California.
Is it right for your operation?
If your floor space is too valuable to give up, look at your dock and your yard. See how ZSTORE XL modular cold storage is configured, or talk to our team about your site and your volumes.
Frequently asked questions
How can I add produce cold storage without losing floor space?
A modular cold room can be installed outside the building, for example at the back dock. ZSTORE XL units need no civil works and are installed in 2 to 5 days.
Can produce cold storage control humidity?
Yes. Humidity control from 50% to 95% RH is available on ZGROUP cold storage, using a humidifier system derived from its ripening rooms.
How big is a modular produce cooler?
One ZSTORE XL module provides 320 ft² and about 20 pallet positions. Modules connect side by side, so a 3XL gives 960 ft² in one open walk-in.
Have other wholesalers at the Los Angeles market used the same setup?
Yes. Several wholesalers at the Los Angeles market have added ZSTORE XL units at their back docks; this 3XL was the third.
