Small vans for food service transport
Suitable for urban traffic, event logistics and daily deliveries when chilled goods need compact, fast and hygienic transport.
Explore refrigerated van optionsRefrigerated vehicles for catering & food service
From backstage to buffet — without compromising quality.
Weddings, conferences, company parties. You have a deadline and no second chance. Kerstner builds refrigerated vehicles that get there with you and fit your budget.
Quick answers
What matters for catering & food service?
For catering and food service, the vehicle model is only part of the picture. Goods, temperature window, route profile, door openings, load compartment, payload and the right combination of interior insulation and refrigeration unit are crucial.
Start an enquiry- Industry
- Catering & foodservice
- Design
- Consider goods, temperature, load compartment, door openings and payload together
- Refrigeration technology
- Refrigeration unit and interior insulation as a coordinated system
- Vehicle choice
- Suitable models provide guidance and are assessed for each project
Decision guide
Which refrigerated transport solution suits food service?
For restaurants, caterers and delivery services, temperature, access and everyday practicality must work together. The cards provide initial guidance.
Multi-temperature catering
Useful when cold dishes, drinks or sensitive goods need to be transported separately. Load compartment design, separation and easy cleaning are important.
View vehicle examplesRefrigerated transport at short notice
For seasonal peaks, new routes or additional vehicles, explore Kerstner solutions available at short notice from manufacturer and dealer projects.
Check available vehiclesTypical challenges
What matters in everyday work.
Starters, main courses and ice cream in the same vehicle.
Three temperatures, one load compartment — no compromise on taste.
Seasonal demand peaks.
Wedding season, Christmas parties. Your vehicle needs to keep going, not give up.
GN containers that slide or tip over.
What works in the warehouse can fly around the vehicle at a roundabout.
Staff unfamiliar with the vehicle.
Weekend helpers, new summer drivers. Operation needs to be intuitive.
The Kerstner solution
How we build a dependable refrigerated vehicle.
Partition for multiple temperatures.
Above- and below-freezing zones can be combined; the partition can be removed when needed.
GN-compatible rails and load securing systems.
Containers stay firmly in place, even during spirited driving.
Built to last.
Door hinges, flooring and closures designed for daily loading and unloading, not occasional use.
Straightforward operation.
A display your temporary staff can understand, not just the head dispatcher.
Examples of suitable vehicles
Suitable vehicle solutions to guide you.
The following models are examples, not a restriction. Many other van models may be suitable depending on route, volume, payload, powertrain and temperature range.
Mercedes-Benz Vito (German)
Mercedes-Benz eVito (German)
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter (German)
Fiat Ducato (German)
VW Crafter (German)
MAN TGE (German)
Ford Transit Custom (German)
Peugeot Expert (German)
Opel Vivaro (German)
VW Crafter (German)
electric refrigeration
- Application
- Large events, wedding season
- Temperature
- +2 °C to -20 °C (multiple compartments)
- High volume
- partition available
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- Application
- Standard catering, conferences
- Temperature
- +2 °C to +7 °C or multiple compartments
- Versatile
- good manoeuvrability
MAN TGE (German)
electric refrigeration
- Application
- Catering and chilled goods transport
- Temperature
- +2 °C to +7 °C
- Chilled goods refrigeration
- optional stationary refrigeration
Recommended refrigeration unit
Refrigeration technology to suit your application.
CoolJet 203 for chilled goods, CoolJet C206 RA or EA for chilled goods projects requiring greater capacity, and CoolJet C206 RC for frozen goods. Multi-temperature solutions are designed for each project, considering the vehicle platform, partition, door openings and temperature ranges.
Benefits
Why Kerstner suits this industry.
Multiple temperature zones
Above and below freezing in one vehicle.
GN rails as standard
compatible with standard containers.
Robust doors for demanding daily use
even with 80 door openings a day.
Easy for temporary staff to use
clear controls, robust locks.
Service on Saturdays too
through the Kerstner partner network in Germany and the EU.
Electric solution can be assessed
for suitable electric vans with an assessed vehicle platform.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How do multiple temperatures work in one vehicle?
Using a removable partition and two evaporators. The front zone operates above freezing and the rear below freezing, or vice versa. The split can be chosen freely.
Which vehicle for 80 covers?
A Sprinter or Crafter with GN rails is usually sufficient. For buffet concepts with several courses, we recommend multiple temperatures.
What about keeping food hot?
We build refrigerated vehicles. Hot holding is not part of our portfolio; we refer you to specialists for this.
How quickly can you be reached if something fails?
Hotline +49 6245 90770-0 during business hours, with an EU-wide service partner network for on-site support.
Can the vehicle carry our branding?
Yes. We supply vehicles ready for painting or help arrange vehicle graphics through local signage partners.
Which refrigerated van is suitable for food service transport?
Compact or medium-sized refrigerated vans suit food service transport when goods, temperature range, route length, door openings and load space are considered together. For catering, good access, cleaning and secure loads are particularly important.
When does a small refrigerated van make sense for caterers?
A small refrigerated van is useful for regular deliveries of smaller quantities to events, branches or customers on urban and local routes. It is more manoeuvrable than a large refrigerated truck and easier to use in daily operations.
When does catering need a multi-temperature solution?
Multiple temperatures are useful when transporting different goods with separate temperature requirements. Key factors are the type of goods, route duration, separation in the load compartment and how frequently the doors are opened en route.
Next step
Is your next event in the diary?
Tell us about your typical catering requirements, whether you need multiple temperatures and when the vehicle needs to be ready. We will respond within 24 hours.