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Refrigeration is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in modern UK industry.
From supermarkets and restaurants to pharmaceutical manufacturers and cold storage
distribution hubs, refrigeration systems protect product quality, ensure regulatory
compliance, and safeguard profitability.
At Gable Business Finance, we are recognised as the UK’s leading specialist finance provider for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems.
We arrange asset finance and loans for fixed and mobile refrigeration assets across food, retail, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy-intensive sectors.
This guide explains the differences between commercial and industrial refrigeration,
how these systems are used in practice, and—crucially—how asset finance enables UK
businesses to invest in modern, efficient refrigeration without placing strain on
working capital.
At :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}, we are the UK’s
leading specialist finance provider for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems.
We arrange asset finance and business loans for refrigeration used to cool, freeze, or preserve
products and materials across food retail, hospitality, logistics, pharmaceuticals,
manufacturing, and cold storage.
Refrigeration is not optional equipment. It is a business-critical asset that protects stock,
ensures compliance, and underpins revenue. Asset finance allows UK businesses to acquire,
upgrade, or expand refrigeration infrastructure without tying up large amounts of working
capital.
Asset finance enables a business to acquire refrigeration equipment that is new to its
organisation via leasing or hire purchase, rather than paying the full cost upfront.
For refrigeration, this includes:
The refrigeration asset itself is typically used as security for the finance, allowing
businesses to spread the cost over time while benefiting from the equipment immediately.
Refrigeration systems are often high-value investments and essential to daily operations.
Asset finance allows businesses to:
At Gable Business Finance, we structure refrigeration finance around how the system is used in
practice—whether that’s a supermarket running 18 hours a day or an industrial plant operating
24/7.
There are several asset finance options available when acquiring refrigeration systems. The
right choice depends on whether ownership, flexibility, or cost control is the priority.
With a finance lease, the finance provider purchases the refrigeration system and leases it to
the business over an agreed term.
The business makes regular monthly payments covering the cost of the equipment and interest,
and is responsible for maintenance and insurance.
At the end of the term, options usually include:
Finance leases are commonly used for large commercial or industrial refrigeration installations.
An operating lease provides access to refrigeration equipment for a defined period, without
the intention of ownership.
This option can be attractive for businesses that:
In some cases, maintenance responsibilities sit with the finance provider, reducing operational
burden.
Contract hire is often used for mobile refrigeration assets such as refrigerated vans, trailers,
and fleet vehicles.
The provider supplies and maintains the asset, while the business pays a fixed monthly rental
over an agreed term—ideal for logistics, food distribution, and mobile cold storage.
Hire purchase is suitable where the business intends to own the refrigeration system outright.
After an initial deposit, the business makes fixed monthly repayments. Ownership transfers once
the final payment is made.
During the agreement, the business is responsible for maintenance and insurance, and the asset
cannot usually be sold until the agreement is completed or settled early.
This option is similar to hire purchase but includes a final balloon payment.
Monthly repayments are lower because part of the asset’s value is deferred. This can improve
short-term cash flow but usually increases the total cost of finance.
Asset finance typically requires a much smaller upfront payment compared to purchasing
refrigeration outright, allowing immediate access to essential cooling equipment.
Payments are spread over time, helping businesses manage cash flow and invest in other critical
areas such as stock, staffing, or expansion.
Depending on the agreement, maintenance and replacement may be included, reducing the risk of
unexpected costs—particularly important for mission-critical refrigeration.
The refrigeration asset itself is usually the security for the finance, meaning additional
business or personal assets are not required.
Asset finance can be more cost-effective than unsecured borrowing, particularly for high-value
commercial and industrial refrigeration systems.
While asset finance is highly effective, businesses should be aware of potential risks:
Until the agreement is completed, the finance provider owns the refrigeration asset and may
place limits on its use or modification.
The business may be responsible for damage beyond fair wear and tear while the asset is under
finance.
Most refrigeration finance agreements run for at least 12 months and often longer, reflecting
the long working life of the equipment.
Failure to keep up repayments could result in repossession of the refrigeration system and
potential impact on the business’s credit profile.
Asset finance is used to acquire refrigeration equipment that is new to your business.
Asset refinance allows you to release capital from refrigeration assets you already own,
using them as security for a loan while continuing to operate them.
Refinancing is often used to fund expansion, additional refrigeration capacity, or working
capital.
Most UK businesses can be considered for refrigeration asset finance, including:
Lenders typically assess affordability, the type and value of refrigeration equipment, and
how critical it is to operations.
Not all lenders understand refrigeration systems or the industries that rely on them.
Working with a specialist broker ensures:
Gable Business Finance works with lenders experienced in funding refrigeration and cooling
infrastructure, removing complexity and improving approval outcomes.
Refrigeration finance requires specialist knowledge. We understand:
By combining technical understanding with tailored finance structures, Gable Business Finance
helps UK businesses invest confidently in refrigeration systems that protect products,
customers, and profitability.
Refrigeration systems are classed as business-critical production and preservation assets.
They directly support revenue generation by enabling safe storage, processing, and
distribution of temperature-sensitive products.
Because refrigeration equipment is tangible, long-life, and essential to operations,
it is widely accepted by lenders as suitable for asset finance. This applies to both:
Gable Business Finance structures funding solutions that reflect how refrigeration
assets are used, maintained, and depreciated in real-world environments.
Commercial refrigeration refers to cooling systems designed for
retail, hospitality, and light industrial environments.
These systems are typically installed in locations where food, drink, or medical
products are sold, prepared, or stored for short-to-medium periods.
Commercial refrigeration systems are engineered to balance performance,
flexibility, and energy efficiency within space-constrained environments.
At Gable Business Finance, we frequently arrange finance for
display fridges, walk-in cold rooms, under-counter units, and
modular refrigeration systems used in commercial settings.
Environmental regulation and rising energy costs are driving major change in
commercial refrigeration.
Many UK businesses are now upgrading to systems that use
natural refrigerants such as CO₂,
which offer lower environmental impact, improved efficiency, and future-proof
compliance with evolving legislation.
Asset finance plays a key role in enabling this transition, allowing businesses
to replace older equipment with modern systems without large upfront expenditure.
Industrial refrigeration systems are designed for
large-scale, continuous-duty applications.
These systems support operations where temperature control is mission-critical
and downtime is not an option.
Industrial systems are engineered for scale, resilience, and precision.
At Gable Business Finance, we regularly structure funding for
industrial chillers, blast freezers, ammonia and CO₂ plants,
and large-scale temperature-controlled facilities.
In industrial environments, refrigeration failure can result in
catastrophic financial loss.
Spoilage, regulatory breaches, halted production, and contractual penalties
all place extreme pressure on businesses operating industrial refrigeration.
This is why lenders assess not only the asset, but also:
Gable Business Finance understands these pressures and works with funders who
are comfortable supporting mission-critical refrigeration assets.
Commercial refrigeration serves localised environments with modest storage volumes.
Industrial refrigeration supports large facilities, often spanning thousands of
square metres.
Commercial systems maintain stable temperature ranges suitable for retail and food service.
Industrial systems require extreme precision, often managing multiple zones with
tight tolerances.
While both sectors prioritise efficiency, commercial refrigeration focuses on
operating cost reduction. Industrial systems balance efficiency with reliability
and control.
Commercial refrigeration typically requires routine servicing.
Industrial refrigeration demands specialist maintenance, continuous monitoring,
and preventative protocols to avoid downtime.
Refrigeration systems represent a significant capital investment.
Asset finance allows businesses to:
Depending on requirements, Gable Business Finance arranges:
Refrigeration finance is not generic. It requires an understanding of
systems, compliance, energy usage, and operational risk.
Gable Business Finance is trusted because we:
At :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}, we specialise in
arranging asset and business finance for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems
used by UK SMEs. Our clients range from independent hospitality businesses and food retailers
to large-scale food processors, cold storage operators, and manufacturers requiring
mission-critical cooling infrastructure.
The following ten detailed case studies demonstrate how we structure refrigeration finance
based on scale, function, and intensity of use—ensuring funding aligns with real operational
demands.
Sector: Hospitality – Restaurants & Pubs
Refrigeration: Upright fridges, under-counter units, walk-in chiller
A growing independent restaurant group operating three locations needed to replace ageing
refrigeration that was inefficient and increasingly unreliable. The business required
commercial-grade refrigeration for food storage, preparation, and service continuity.
Gable Business Finance arranged a hire purchase agreement covering multiple units under
one facility. This allowed the business to upgrade all sites simultaneously while spreading
the cost over five years.
Outcome: Improved food safety compliance, lower energy costs, and reduced breakdown
risk during peak service hours.
Sector: Food Retail – Butcher
Refrigeration: Display counter, meat hanging fridge, prep-room chiller
A family-run butcher expanding into online sales required additional display refrigeration
and temperature-controlled storage to meet increased demand.
We structured a finance lease that allowed immediate installation with minimal upfront
cost, preserving cash flow for stock purchases.
Outcome: Increased retail capacity, extended product shelf life, and successful
launch of local delivery services.
Sector: Food Retail – Convenience Stores
Refrigeration: Multi-deck chillers, freezer cabinets
A regional convenience store operator wanted to standardise refrigeration across multiple
sites to improve efficiency and brand consistency.
Gable Business Finance arranged a contract hire solution that bundled equipment supply,
maintenance, and replacement into a single monthly cost.
Outcome: Predictable costs, reduced downtime, and simplified maintenance management.
Sector: Distribution – Fresh & Frozen Food
Refrigeration: Refrigerated vans and mobile cold units
A small logistics firm specialising in chilled food delivery required additional refrigerated
vehicles to support new retail contracts.
We arranged contract hire for the vehicles, including refrigeration units and servicing,
allowing rapid fleet expansion without capital strain.
Outcome: Contract growth supported, delivery capacity increased, and cash reserves
protected.
Sector: Food Processing – Bakery
Refrigeration: Blast freezer and industrial cold rooms
A large bakery producing frozen dough products needed blast freezing capability to extend
shelf life and supply national retailers.
Gable Business Finance structured a finance lease aligned with production volumes and
seasonal cash flow.
Outcome: Expanded distribution reach and improved production scheduling.
Sector: Food & Beverage Processing – Dairy
Refrigeration: Industrial chillers and cold storage
A dairy SME needed to replace outdated refrigeration with energy-efficient systems to meet
regulatory and sustainability requirements.
We arranged hire purchase finance, enabling ownership of the new equipment while
benefiting from long-term energy savings.
Outcome: Reduced operating costs, improved compliance, and enhanced processing
capacity.
Sector: Cold Storage & Logistics
Refrigeration: Large-scale freezer rooms and CO₂ refrigeration plant
A regional cold storage operator required significant refrigeration investment to expand
warehouse capacity for frozen food clients.
Gable Business Finance structured a business contract purchase with a balloon payment,
reducing monthly costs during the expansion phase.
Outcome: Warehouse expansion completed on schedule and new long-term storage contracts
secured.
Sector: Pharmaceuticals
Refrigeration: Precision-controlled cold rooms and chillers
A pharmaceutical SME manufacturing temperature-sensitive products needed highly reliable
refrigeration with strict tolerance control.
We arranged a finance lease that reflected the compliance-critical nature of the
equipment.
Outcome: Improved audit readiness and uninterrupted production.
Sector: Manufacturing – Chemicals
Refrigeration: Industrial process chillers
A chemical manufacturing SME required high-capacity chillers for process cooling, where any
failure would halt production.
Gable Business Finance structured tailored asset finance recognising the machine’s
mission-critical role.
Outcome: Stable production, reduced downtime risk, and improved operational resilience.
Sector: Specialty – Horticulture
Refrigeration: Industrial cold rooms and humidity-controlled storage
A flower wholesaler supplying national retailers needed industrial refrigeration to preserve
stock quality and reduce waste.
We arranged a hire purchase agreement aligned with seasonal sales cycles.
Outcome: Extended product life, reduced spoilage, and improved profitability.
These examples show how Gable Business Finance structures refrigeration finance based on
scale, function, and intensity of use.
Whether funding display fridges for a café or ammonia/CO₂ systems for industrial cold storage,
our expertise ensures that refrigeration finance supports compliance, efficiency, and long-term
growth for UK SMEs.
As sustainability targets tighten and energy efficiency becomes more critical,
UK businesses will continue investing in modern refrigeration technology.
Through specialist asset finance, Gable Business Finance enables organisations
to upgrade, expand, and future-proof refrigeration infrastructure without
compromising cash flow.
Whether financing a single commercial fridge or a multi-million-pound industrial
refrigeration plant, our expertise ensures the funding works in harmony with
your operation.