The hot summer has underlined the importance of good quality refrigeration equipment, says Williams.
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of budget priced imported fridges in the market - but according to many of its customers these products have not been performing in the recent hot weather, resulting in operators turning to quality brands for replacements.

'Some of these imported products are semi-domestic models that are being miss-sold, but many are allegedly commercial models that are simply not up to the job,' says Malcolm Harling, sales and marketing director of Williams. 'Either way, they have caused operators big problems during the warm weather, because they can't maintain temperature and are therefore failing HACCP guidelines or simply breaking down.'

According to Mr Harling, the largest area of product failure is bottle coolers and undercounter fridges. 'We've had calls from coffee shops where milk kept in cheap imported fridges has gone off,' he says. 'Similarly, we've seen bottle coolers that are struggling even in ambients of 18°C. These products are generally manufactured with polystyrene blocks as insulation, rather than with a fully foamed shell, and use components more commonly seen in domestic refrigeration. You cannot serve premium bottled lager at room temperature, or make a latte with curdled milk! In these cases, buying cheap refrigeration is actually more costly as it gives the operators loss of revenue, loss of product and unhappy customers.

'It pays to buy quality, even in the short term, because that way you know your products are safe and you are complying with HACCP and the law.'

For operators considering buying commercial refrigeration that can stand the heat, whether in the kitchen, bar or elsewhere, Williams suggests asking these questions:

· Is the equipment rated for / capable of operating efficiently in high ambient temperatures?

· What about the size, quality and type of components used by the manufacturer? For example, is the compressor heavy duty enough to cope with the demands of a busy commercial kitchen or bar?

· Is the system able to ensure rapid temperature pull-down times, even when fridge doors will be opened frequently?

· What type of insulation does it have? A thick polyurethane insulation will help guarantee uniform temperatures and mean that the compressor won't need to work as hard.

· Does it use fans to ensure even distribution of the cool air?

· Will it hold the product at the correct temperature?

Once a suitable commercial product has been purchased, make sure staff are trained to use and look after it correctly, to ensure optimum operation. For example, check shelves are not overloaded, allow adequate ventilation, clean the condenser and replace door gaskets regularly. Also, have the refrigeration regularly serviced.