If you're a caterer looking to expand into the growing smart fridge market, you're positioning yourself at the intersection of convenience and quality. Smart refrigerated retail offers an incredible opportunity to extend your services beyond traditional catering hours and tap into the 24/7 corporate food market.
Here's everything you need to know to make this transition successfully.
Not every location is right for a smart fridge. Focus your efforts on sites that offer:
If you already serve corporate catering clients, these are your low-hanging fruit. You've already established trust and understand their needs — transitioning to a 24/7 smart fridge offering becomes a natural extension of your relationship.
One of the biggest mistakes caterers make when entering this space is over-customization. The beauty of smart fridge technology is the data-driven approach it enables.
With access to a real-time dashboard, you can see exactly what sells and when. This eliminates guesswork and allows you to prepare precisely what your customers want. Instead of trying to please everyone with endless options, focus on the majority by offering your most popular, highest-performing items.
Less customization means faster prep, less waste, and better margins.
Many corporate locations are willing to subsidize a portion of food costs for their employees. This creates multiple advantages:
Subsidies truly create a win-win scenario — the employer invests in employee satisfaction, employees get quality food at better prices, and you benefit from higher sales volume and a more stable partnership.
You already know your products better than anyone. As a caterer, you understand which items perform best, what ingredients are cost-effective, and how to maintain quality at scale.
Use this expertise to curate a product mix that integrates seamlessly with your existing corporate accounts — now delivered through a stocked smart fridge offering 24/7 unattended refrigerated retail.
This is critical: your smart fridge is not a vending machine.
Market it as what it truly is — a catered event that happens to be available 24/7. Use branding like "Made Fresh Daily!" to emphasize quality. Your presentation, packaging, and brand identity should reinforce that this is a professional food service, not a snack dispenser.
The way you position your offering changes how clients and end-users perceive its value. Elevate it above traditional vending, and you'll command premium prices and stronger loyalty.
When selecting a smart fridge partner, prioritize manufacturers who allow you to be the Merchant of Record. This gives you:
Being the Merchant of Record means your business — not the solution provider — owns the customer relationship and revenue stream. This control is essential for long-term success and scalability.
The smart fridge market is growing rapidly, and caterers are uniquely positioned to succeed. You have the food expertise, the corporate relationships, and the operational capabilities. Now it's about adapting that foundation to meet 24/7 demand with the right technology partner. Begin with one or two strategic locations, test your product mix, and refine based on data. Before long, you'll have a scalable model that generates revenue around the clock. Contact REDYREF to get started today!