Bidfood and Thermo King: A Best Practice Example for Sustainable Cold Chain Solutions

Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, announced today that it reached a new milestone in the long-standing partnership with Bidfood, part of Bidcorp UK, celebrating the delivery of the 250^th Frigoblock FK2 refrigeration unit.

Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading wholesalers, supplying more than 10,000 food, drink and catering supply products to over 40,000 customers, continues to solidify its decades-long partnership with Thermo King as its trusted supplier of sustainable transport refrigeration units. Throughout 2024, Thermo King delivered an impressive 260 refrigeration units to Bidfood and its sister company, Bidfresh. These engineless units range from the compressor-driven Thermo King V800 Spectrum to electric, inverter-powered Frigoblock FK2 systems. This collaboration underscores Bidcorp UK’s leadership in decarbonising the food service sector, reflecting their unwavering commitment to a non-diesel transport refrigeration policy.

Faye Reeve, Head of Procurement at Bidcorp UK, highlighted the critical role of Thermo King refrigeration systems within their fleet, stating, “With over 800 vehicles fitted with Frigoblock refrigeration across our 26-depot estate, it forms the backbone of our 18-tonne refrigerated vehicle fleet. Thermo King’s products and account management are essential to Bidfood’s commitment to delivering service excellence for all our customers.”

Scheduled to enter service in early April 2025, Bidfood is set to receive its milestone 250th Frigoblock FK2 with an RE22-2 remote evaporator. This delivery is part of a long-standing and fruitful partnership between Bidfood and Thermo King, a collaboration that continues to evolve to  meet the changing needs of the food service industry.

Bidfood was the first UK company to operate the FK2 units in their fleet, with the systems seamlessly adapted into Bidfood’s bespoke body design for maximum operational flexibility. The FK2, designed for urban distribution, leverages Frigoblock’s 100% electric architecture, which has been rigorously tested to ensure reduced maintenance needs and enhanced reliability compared to diesel-powered alternatives – providing a robust solution to meet the demands of Bidfood’s competitive and fast-paced industry.

Jon Jerrard-Dinn, Thermo King’s National Account Manager, reflected on the strength of this relationship, stating, “It was my pleasure to introduce Bidfood to the FK2 product range and witness its adoption grow to 250 units in service. Bidfood’s continued confidence in Thermo King and our electric transport refrigeration portfolio, with over 170 additional units planned for delivery in 2025, underscores the deep trust and mutual commitment we share in delivering sustainable and reliable transport refrigeration.”

This enduring partnership highlights not only Thermo King’s innovative product offerings but also the dedicated service and expertise that have made them a crucial ally in Bidfood’s journey toward decarbonization and operational excellence. Together, Bidfood and Thermo King continue to drive forward sustainability in the food service sector, setting a benchmark for reliability and innovation in the industry.