Chilled meal box delivery: what do you need?
Meal kit boxes shipped cold: what do you need?
Meal kit companies and meal box providers are a rapidly growing sector. Fresh ingredients, meat, fish, dairy — everything must arrive fresh to the customer, often after 24 to 48 hours of transport.
The challenge
You are shipping a complete meal box with various temperature-sensitive components:
- Fresh meat or fish (0-4 °C)
- Dairy products (4-7 °C)
- Fresh herbs and vegetables
- Sometimes also dry ingredients at room temperature
All in one package, for at least 24 hours of transport, often in summer conditions. This requires a well-thought-out approach.
The ideal combination
1. Outer packaging: EPS box or honeycomb cooler box
For an average meal kit, we recommend an EPS or honeycomb box of 30-45 liters. Honeycomb has a nice environmentally friendly appearance that suits many meal kit brands.
2. Cooling agents: gel packs in the right place
- Fresh fish/meat: gel packs directly on top (cold sinks)
- Dairy: gel pack beside it
- Vegetables/herbs: not directly against cold packs (frost damage)
3. Absorption mat at the bottom
Any meltwater or liquid is absorbed — prevents wet products and leaking boxes.
4. Separation materials
Use cardboard or plastic dividers to separate sensitive products from cooling elements.
Cost optimization
Meal kit margins are often tight. Tips for cost savings:
- Order packaging in pallets for volume discounts
- Standardize on 1-2 box sizes instead of 5
- Reuse gel packs (some providers do this with a return system)
- Request a quote for an annual contract
For meal kit companies, Cooled Solutions offers:
- Fixed price agreements based on volume
- Combination pallets with various products
- Ordering on account (Net 30)
- Custom printing of cooler boxes possible
- Fast delivery from stock
Request a tailored quote for your meal kit business.
