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There are a wide range of businesses that need cold storage in one form or another. Many of these businesses have the option to either use an on-site or off-site warehouse for their cold storage needs or a mobile cold storage unit like a refrigerated trailer.

In this article, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of both options. You’ll find all the information you need to make the best choice for your business.

What Can I Use Cold Storage For?

Before diving into the comparison of warehouse and mobile cold storage, let’s look at what you might need a unit for in the first place. Refrigerated storage is used when a business has items they need to keep cold. This can be anything from food to other perishable items like flowers or medications.

Some of the businesses that have a regular need for cold storage include:

• Medical pop-ups and mobile clinics: Temporary or mobile medical sites often need refrigeration to store things like medications and biological samples.
• Restaurants: Food service businesses may require additional cold storage while remodeling or if their need to keep backstock exceeds their current storage capacity.
• Hotels: There are a variety of ways in which hotels can use cold storage, such as when hosting large, catered events or conducting renovations that take the current refrigerated storage out of commission temporarily.
• Caterers: Food service businesses that travel to different sites may not have a central cold storage space, or that space may be very limited.
• Event venues: Concert halls, wedding venues, and other event spaces can use cold storage to keep food and other perishables fresh for caterers and other on-site food preparation.
• Florists: Cold storage can help florist businesses — especially those that travel to different sites like farmer’s markets and pop-ups — keep their flowers fresh while they wait to be displayed and sold.
• Beer and wine vendors: Businesses that sell alcohol use cold storage to keep beer and some wines from going bad and at a ready-to-drink temperature.
• Contractors: Construction companies can use large cold storage units to provide cool-down spaces for workers to keep them healthy and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Warehouse vs. Mobile Cold Storage: What To Know

Both warehousing and mobile cold storage can be good options for a business depending on its needs. The advantages and disadvantages of each option means choosing the right one comes down to weighing your needs and determining which one is a better fit. In this section, we explore both to help you make the smart decision.

Warehouse Cold Storage

One cold storage option is to utilize a refrigerated warehouse. Most areas have cold storage warehouses that can rent out individual units or spaces. These can be a convenient way to fulfill your refrigerated storage needs without having to invest in additional equipment or building a space for yourself.

Warehouse Cold Storage Pros & Cons

In the table below, we summarize the main upsides and downsides to using a warehouse for cold storage.

Mobile Cold Storage

The other option for refrigerated storage is a mobile unit like a refrigerated trailer — also called a reefer. These units can be towed from one place to the next, making them a strong option for any business that moves around between sites or has temporary cold storage needs.

Unlike warehouse storage, you have full control over your reefer. You can access it when you need to and you don’t need to worry about anyone else’s restrictions on what you use it for. Businesses have the option to rent or buy a refrigerated trailer depending on their needs.

Mobile Cold Storage Pros & Cons

Just like warehousing, mobile cold storage has some distinct advantages and disadvantages to consider.

Mobile Cold Storage vs. Warehouse: Which Is Best for Me?

Generally speaking, refrigerated trailers are a much more flexible and widely-applicable option for cold storage than warehousing. But while it’s likely to be the better choice for many businesses, that isn’t always the case.

Warehousing may be a better option for you if:

• You don’t have space for a refrigerated trailer at your job site
• You don’t need frequent access to your items in cold storage
• You have a cold storage warehouse close and convenient to your job site
• You don’t want the responsibility of owning or renting a mobile cold storage unit

Mobile cold storage may be a better option for you if:

• You need regular access to the items you keep in cold storage
• You travel to different sites for your business
• You only need cold storage for a short period of time
• You don’t want to travel between your job site and a warehouse
• You want exclusive 24/7 access to your cold storage with no outside restrictions

Mobile Cold Storage: The Easy Option

While there are a few situations in which using a warehouse for cold storage makes sense, most people will find that a mobile cold storage unit like a reefer trailer is a superior option. Compared to warehousing, refrigerated trailers offer more control, more flexibility, and more convenience.

At Penguin Trailers, we provide only the highest-quality mobile cold storage units for rent or purchase. Our refrigerated trailers are made by Polar King, one of the first names in the mobile cold storage business. Each trailer can keep items at freezer temperatures as well as refrigerate them. We offer multiple sizes to accommodate a variety of businesses and uses.

Whether you’re looking to rent or buy a refrigerated trailer, our specialists will work with you to identify your needs and guide you to the perfect solution. You can use the contact form below to reach out and one of our agents will get back to you as soon as possible.