Our Services: Professional Frozen Food Logistics That Actually Works

Our Services: Professional Frozen Food Logistics That Actually Works

What We Actually Do

The Frozen Food Courier provides professional frozen food logistics using mechanical refrigeration systems engineered for South African altitude, climate, and multi-stop delivery operations. This isn’t marketing differentiation – it’s thermodynamic necessity.

We operate in two provinces where we maintain complete infrastructure: Gauteng and Western Cape. We coordinate refrigerated air and road freight nationally through qualified partners. We refuse to operate marginally in areas where we cannot maintain professional standards.

Three ways to work with us:

  1. Last-Mile Frozen Courier – Multi-stop delivery in Gauteng and Western Cape
  2. Refrigerated Air Freight – Daily Johannesburg ↔ Cape Town via Safe Fly Express
  3. Refrigerated Road Freight – Inter-provincial via LMC Express and qualified partners

Each service uses mechanical refrigeration maintaining -18°C ± 2°C with continuous temperature monitoring and R638 compliance documentation. No passive cooling. No ice packs. No gambling with your product quality.

Service 1: Last-Mile Frozen Courier Delivery

What it is: Temperature-controlled multi-stop delivery of frozen products to restaurants, retailers, or individual customers using our mechanically refrigerated vehicles.

Geographic coverage:

Gauteng Operations (High-Altitude Engineered):

  • Johannesburg CBD and all suburbs
  • Sandton, Rosebank, Randburg, Fourways
  • Pretoria CBD and suburbs
  • Centurion
  • East Rand: Kempton Park, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Boksburg, Benoni
  • West Rand: Roodepoort, Krugersdorp
  • Midrand, Alberton, Germiston
  • Springs (by arrangement)

Western Cape Operations (Sea-Level Optimized):

  • Cape Town CBD and all suburbs
  • Northern suburbs: Bellville, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein
  • Southern suburbs: Wynberg, Claremont, Constantia, Tokai
  • Atlantic Seaboard: Sea Point, Camps Bay, Clifton
  • Somerset West, Strand, Gordon’s Bay
  • Stellenbosch, Paarl
  • Worcester (daily service)
  • Hermanus, Malmesbury, Moorreesburg (by arrangement)

Technical Specifications

Temperature maintenance:

  • Target: -18°C (standard frozen food storage per R638)
  • Operational tolerance: ±2°C (-16°C to -18°C normal operation)
  • Recovery specification: -12°C to -18°C within 10-15 minutes after door openings
  • Never exceeding: -12°C under any operational circumstances

Equipment capabilities:

  • Mechanical refrigeration systems (vapor-compression cycle, not passive cooling)
  • Capacity: 25-30% oversized versus sea-level specifications (Gauteng altitude correction)
  • Variable-speed compressor controls on owned vehicles (eliminating wasteful on/off cycling)
  • Continuous temperature monitoring with 1-minute interval data logging
  • R638-compliant documentation systems

Operational parameters:

  • Delivery capacity: 15-25 stops per route (thermal load optimized, not arbitrary maximums)
  • Payload: Up to 60kg per delivery standard, 600kg maximum per route, 860kg absolute limit
  • Temperature recovery: 10-15 minutes between stops (equipment sized for multi-stop duty cycle)
  • Route duration: 6-8 hours typical, extended operations possible with proper planning

What’s Included

Standard with every delivery:

  • Mechanical refrigeration maintaining -18°C throughout route
  • Continuous electronic temperature monitoring (1-minute sampling)
  • R638 food safety compliance documentation
  • Temperature log data available upon request
  • Delivery confirmation with GPS timestamp
  • Delivery window coordination (we don’t leave frozen products on doorsteps)
  • Professional handling by cold-chain trained drivers
  • Goods-in-transit insurance covering temperature excursions (R50,000 standard limit)

NOT included (sender responsibilities):

  • Product packaging (sealed, leak-proof containers appropriate for product)
  • Ice packs or insulated boxes (unnecessary with mechanical refrigeration)
  • Storage before/after transport (we’re couriers, not cold storage facilities)
  • Product liability (food safety, labeling compliance, quality control)

Pricing Structure

Base rates: R216-R270 per delivery (VAT inclusive)

Pricing varies based on:

  • Geographic zone (50-60% of variation): Urban core R216-R270, suburban R216-R270, extended areas R220-R350
  • Delivery window flexibility (20-30% variation): Scheduled routes versus on-demand
  • Order size (15-25% variation): Standard ≤60kg, volume discounts for larger orders
  • Service frequency (10-20% variation): Ad-hoc retail rates, regular customer discounts -10-15%, high-volume contract rates -15-20%
  • Weight surcharge: R4.50/kg (VAT exclusive) for orders 60-600kg

Special requirements:

  • Weekend/holiday delivery: +R400
  • Multiple delivery attempts: +R40 per attempt
  • Specific temperature requirements outside -18°C standard: Half-day or full-day rate applies

What’s NOT charged separately:

  • Fuel surcharges (rates include fuel, adjusted quarterly)
  • “Cold chain handling fees” (temperature control is the service, not an add-on)
  • Temperature monitoring fees (R638 compliance included)
  • Failed delivery charges for coordinated deliveries

See complete rate schedules for detailed pricing.

Ideal Customers

E-commerce frozen meal delivery:

  • Production kitchen to customer doorstep
  • 15-20 deliveries per week
  • 4-hour delivery windows acceptable
  • Contract pricing: R216 per delivery typical

Restaurant meat suppliers:

  • Multiple restaurant locations
  • Scheduled 2× weekly deliveries
  • Morning delivery before lunch service
  • Bulk discounts for route consolidation

Specialty food producers:

  • Artisan ice cream, specialty proteins, prepared foods
  • Direct-to-consumer or retail deliveries
  • Brand reputation requires professional cold chain
  • Temperature documentation for quality assurance

Who this service is NOT for:

  • Distribution centers or major retail chains (we don’t service large retailers)
  • Businesses requiring <R150/delivery pricing (physics costs money – we won’t compromise equipment or standards to hit arbitrary price points)
  • Operations needing fresh produce or ambient goods (frozen only, -18°C specification)
  • Customers requiring freeze-down services (we transport frozen products, we don’t freeze fresh products)

Service 2: Refrigerated Air Freight

What it is: Same-day or next-day frozen product transport between Johannesburg and Cape Town via Safe Fly Express refrigerated air cargo.

Route: Johannesburg (Lanseria Airport) ↔ Cape Town International Airport

Transit time:

  • Same-day: Morning pickup → afternoon delivery
  • Next-day: Afternoon pickup → morning delivery
  • Flight time: ~2 hours
  • Ground transport: 2-4 hours combined (collection + final delivery)

Service Process

Johannesburg to Cape Town:

  1. Morning collection in Johannesburg (our refrigerated vehicle)
  2. Transfer to Safe Fly refrigerated air cargo container
  3. Flight to Cape Town (same day)
  4. Transfer to Cape Town refrigerated vehicle (ours or partner)
  5. Final delivery same afternoon or next morning

Cape Town to Johannesburg:

  1. Collection in Cape Town (refrigerated vehicle)
  2. Transfer to Safe Fly refrigerated air cargo
  3. Flight to Johannesburg
  4. Transfer to Johannesburg refrigerated vehicle
  5. Final delivery

Technical Specifications

Temperature control:

  • Ground transport: Our vehicles maintaining -18°C
  • Air cargo: Safe Fly refrigerated containers maintaining -18°C
  • No temperature interruption during transfers
  • Complete cold chain from origin to destination

Capacity:

  • Minimum: 7kg (single-item shipments viable)
  • Maximum: 500kg+ per shipment
  • Volumetric factor: 6000 (charged on actual or volumetric, whichever higher)
  • Maximum dimensions per piece: 100cm (H) × 80cm (L) × 80cm (W)
  • Maximum weight per piece: 30kg

Booking requirements:

  • Goods delivered to Safe Fly pickup point 120 minutes before flight (if we’re not collecting)
  • Coordinated collection and lodging service available
  • Last-minute amendments incur waybill amendment fees
  • Mis-declaration penalties up to R1,000 (VAT exclusive)

Pricing

Perishables (frozen products):

  • Johannesburg → Cape Town: R20/kg (VAT exclusive, 7kg minimum)
  • Cape Town → Johannesburg: R20/kg (VAT exclusive, 7kg minimum)

Minimum charge: 7kg regardless of actual weight

Volumetric calculation:

  • Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6000 = volumetric weight
  • Charged on actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is greater

Example pricing:

  • 10kg actual frozen products: R495
  • 5kg actual (8kg volumetric): R396 (charged on volumetric)
  • 50kg actual: R2,475

See complete rate schedules for detailed air freight pricing.

Ideal Use Cases

Time-sensitive frozen products:

  • New product launches requiring simultaneous availability
  • Replenishment of high-value specialty items
  • Emergency restocking for restaurants or retailers
  • Samples requiring rapid delivery for tasting/approval

High-value frozen products:

  • Premium pricing justifies air freight premium
  • Product value exceeds transport cost differential versus road freight
  • Brand positioning requires premium logistics

Regular inter-provincial operations:

  • E-commerce businesses serving both metros
  • Producers distributing to both Gauteng and Western Cape
  • Consolidating orders for daily scheduled service

NOT suitable for:

  • Bulk commodities where transport cost exceeds product margin
  • Non-time-sensitive shipments (road freight cheaper for 24-36 hour transit)
  • Products where volumetric weight penalty is excessive

Why use air freight versus road freight:

  • Speed: Same-day/next-day versus 24-36 hours road
  • Reliability: Scheduled flights versus variable road transit
  • Flexibility: Small quantities viable (7kg minimum versus 50kg+ typical road minimum)
  • Cost: Premium pricing (R20.00/kg) versus economy road freight

Service 3: Refrigerated Road Freight

What it is: Inter-provincial frozen product transport via refrigerated trucks operated by qualified partners maintaining mechanical refrigeration throughout transit. Please note our delivery fees do not include the 3PL fees for road freight. We will provide you with a quote for these requirements.

Primary partner: LMC Express (multi-temperature load consolidation specialist)

Secondary partners:

  • Fridge Freight Logistics (Cape Town ↔ Port Elizabeth)
  • Central Logistics (Bloemfontein, Northern Free State, Northern Cape, Upington, West Gauteng)

Routes and Coverage

LMC Express coverage:

  • Johannesburg ↔ Cape Town (primary route)
  • Johannesburg ↔ Durban
  • Johannesburg ↔ Port Elizabeth
  • Johannesburg ↔ East London
  • Cape Town ↔ all above destinations
  • Extended service: Kimberley, Knysna, George, Mossel Bay

Transit times:

  • Johannesburg ↔ Cape Town: 24-36 hours depending on consolidation
  • Other major routes: 18-48 hours typical

Service type: Load consolidation (your frozen products combined with other customers’ temperature-controlled shipments on shared trucks)

Technical Specifications

Temperature control:

  • Mechanical refrigeration in full-size refrigerated trucks
  • Multi-temperature capability: Frozen, chilled, and dry products in separate compartments
  • Professional cold chain operators maintaining R638 compliance
  • Continuous refrigeration throughout transit (not passive cooling)

Capacity:

  • Minimum consignment: Typically 50kg+ (single pallets viable)
  • Maximum: Full pallet loads, multiple pallets
  • Consolidation: Your products combined with other customers’ shipments for cost efficiency

Booking process:

  • Contact LMC Express directly
  • Or coordinate through us (we facilitate introductions and requirements clarification)
  • Schedule varies by route and consolidation requirements

Pricing

Negotiated directly with freight partner based on:

  • Route and distance
  • Weight and volume
  • Frequency (regular scheduled shipments receive better rates)
  • Consolidation availability

Typical cost structure:

  • Significantly lower cost per kg than air freight (economy pricing)
  • Minimum consignment requirements (50kg+ typical)
  • Pallet rates available for large volumes

Why we don’t provide direct road freight:

  • Scale requirements: Economical road freight requires full-truck or consolidated loads
  • Geographic reach: Partners operate routes we don’t cover
  • Specialization: We focus on last-mile multi-stop delivery where our expertise adds value
  • Economics: Partners achieve better cost efficiency on long-haul routes through consolidation

When to Choose Road Freight

Ideal scenarios:

  • Bulk shipments (50kg-500kg+)
  • Non-time-sensitive deliveries (24-36 hours acceptable)
  • Regular scheduled shipments enabling consolidation
  • Cost-sensitive products where air freight premium unjustified

NOT suitable for:

  • Small quantities (<50kg typically)
  • Same-day or next-day requirements
  • Irregular ad-hoc shipments (consolidation unavailable)
  • Destinations outside partner coverage areas

Partner Qualifications

We coordinate with partners meeting our standards:

  • Mechanical refrigeration equipment (not passive cooling)
  • Multi-temperature capability (frozen, chilled, dry separation)
  • Load security and professional handling
  • Consistent service quality for SMEs and commercial customers

See our complete partner directory for detailed partner information.

Service 4: Cold Storage and Load Consolidation

What it is: Cold storage (frozen and chilled) and export consolidation services via our partner Cold Feet Johannesburg.

Location: North of Johannesburg, convenient to N1 and N14 highways

Services provided by Cold Feet:

  • Cold storage (frozen and chilled temperatures)
  • Export consolidation for international shipments
  • Procurement from South African food producers
  • Logistics coordination for Southern Africa and international destinations

Use cases:

  • Temporary storage before courier delivery
  • Load consolidation for frozen food shipping
  • Procurement coordination for multi-supplier orders

Contact: Cold Feet Johannesburg (contact via their direct channels)

Our role: We coordinate last-mile delivery to/from Cold Feet, but they operate cold storage and export services independently.

Service Comparison Matrix

When to Choose Which Service

RequirementLast-Mile CourierAir FreightRoad Freight
Quantity1-60kg per delivery1-500kg50kg-full pallets
SpeedSame day within metroSame/next day inter-provincial24-36 hours+
Geographic scopeGauteng or W.Cape onlyJHB ↔ CPT dailyNational coverage
Cost structureR216-R350 per deliveryR20/kgNegotiated economy
Minimum orderNo minimum7kg minimum charge~50kg typical
Best forMulti-stop retail/customer deliveryTime-sensitive inter-provincialBulk inter-provincial

Cost Examples (Illustrative)

Scenario 1: 20kg frozen meals, Johannesburg → Cape Town

  • Air freight: 20kg × R20.00 = R400 (same-day delivery)
  • Road freight: ~R400-600 (24-36 hour delivery, consolidated load)
  • Decision: Road freight unless time-sensitive

Scenario 2: 5kg specialty product, Johannesburg → Cape Town

  • Air freight: 7kg minimum × R20.00 = R140.00 (same-day delivery)
  • Road freight: Minimum ~R350+ (consolidation required, may not accept <50kg)
  • Decision: Air freight more practical for small quantities

Scenario 3: 15 deliveries × 15kg each, Johannesburg metro only

  • Last-mile courier: 15 × R216 = R3,240 (same-day multi-stop)
  • Alternative: Not viable (no service offering 15 separate deliveries economically)
  • Decision: Last-mile courier only practical option

What Makes Our Services Different

1. Engineering-Based Equipment Specification

Industry standard:

  • Buy refrigerated vehicle from bodybuilder
  • Accept manufacturer sea-level specifications
  • Operate in Gauteng (1,750m altitude) using equipment rated at sea level
  • Blame “hot weather” or “equipment failure” when temperature control fails

Our approach:

  • Calculate altitude correction: 21% capacity loss at Johannesburg elevation
  • Specify equipment 25-30% oversized versus sea-level requirements
  • Validate performance against thermodynamic predictions
  • Modify systems when manufacturer specifications inadequate for South African conditions

Result: Equipment that actually works at Gauteng altitude in summer conditions.

2. Physics-Based Operational Planning

Industry standard:

  • Maximize stops per route (courier economics)
  • Hope refrigeration keeps up with door openings
  • React to temperature excursions after they occur

Our approach:

  • Calculate cumulative thermal load: door openings + steady-state losses + solar + urban heat island
  • Limit stop density based on equipment recovery capability (10-15 minutes between stops)
  • Optimize route sequence minimizing door opening frequency during peak thermal conditions
  • Refuse routes exceeding equipment thermal capacity rather than gambling with product quality

Result: Consistent -18°C maintenance across multi-stop routes in summer conditions.

3. Regulatory Compliance as Standard

Industry claims:

  • “Temperature-controlled” (undefined temperature, unknown monitoring)
  • “Refrigerated vehicle” (might be mechanical, might be ice boxes)
  • “Cold chain” (marketing term with no substantiation)

Our documentation:

  • R638 food safety compliance (mandatory for commercial frozen food transport)
  • Continuous temperature monitoring (1-minute interval data logging)
  • Temperature log data provided upon request (proving -18°C maintenance)
  • Insurance covering temperature excursions (demonstrating accountability)

Result: Documented proof your products stayed frozen, not verbal assurances.

4. Transparent Cost Structure

Industry pricing:

  • Loss-leader rates subsidized by venture capital
  • Hidden surcharges (fuel fees, cold chain handling charges)
  • Prices disconnected from actual operating costs

Our pricing:

  • R216-R350 per delivery based on actual cost recovery
  • No hidden fees (fuel included, R638 compliance included, monitoring included)
  • Transparent breakdown explaining why frozen courier costs 3-5× ambient courier
  • Sustainable pricing not requiring investor subsidies or cross-subsidization

Result: You understand what you’re paying for and why professional cold chain costs more.

5. Honest Capability Assessment

Industry approach:

  • Accept any order regardless of capability
  • Hope equipment performs adequately
  • Blame external factors when failures occur

Our approach:

  • Refuse business outside our operational capabilities (we don’t serve distribution centers, major retailers, or areas where we lack proper infrastructure)
  • Explain limitations honestly (“we can’t do that” when warranted)
  • Recommend appropriate alternatives when our services unsuitable

Result: You get honest assessment upfront rather than discovering limitations after your customers receive partially thawed products.

Service Limitations and Exclusions

What We Don’t Do (And Why)

We do NOT service:

  • Distribution centers or major retail outlets (Spar, Checkers, Pick n Pay, etc.)
  • Areas outside Gauteng and Western Cape for last-mile delivery
  • Fresh produce or products requiring freeze-down
  • Ambient goods or mixed-temperature loads (frozen only)
  • Underground facilities (2.6m vehicle height limitation)

We do NOT provide:

  • Venture capital-subsidized below-cost pricing
  • Ice pack or passive cooling systems (mechanical refrigeration only)
  • Frozen food transport for <R216 per delivery (physics costs money)
  • Services in provinces where we lack proper infrastructure

We do NOT accept:

  • Orders exceeding 860kg per vehicle (protecting equipment investment)
  • Delivery windows requiring temperature compromise
  • Customers expecting ambient courier pricing for frozen logistics

Why These Limitations Matter

Equipment protection:

  • 1,000kg legal rating, but 860kg maximum preserves refrigeration performance and equipment longevity
  • 2.6m vehicle height for proper insulation and refrigeration installation

Service quality:

  • We operate excellently in two provinces rather than marginally in five
  • Geographic limitations ensure we maintain proper backup equipment, maintenance infrastructure, spare parts inventory

Honest economics:

  • Frozen food delivery costs R216-R350 because equipment costs R600,000-R900,000 and fuel consumption is 20-30% higher
  • Anyone offering frozen courier for <R150 is either operating on passive cooling (ice packs) or subsidizing with investor funding
  • We price for sustainable operations, not temporary market penetration

E-Commerce Integration and Customer Support

Platform Integration Guides

For businesses using e-commerce platforms, we provide detailed integration guides:

  • WooCommerce integration
  • Shopify integration
  • Wix integration
  • Custom platform integration via API

See our complete integration guide library for platform-specific instructions.

What3Words Location Support

We use What3Words location system for precise delivery coordination in areas with poor addressing or new developments.

Temperature Documentation

Upon request, we provide:

  • Complete temperature log for specific deliveries
  • 1-minute interval data showing entire route thermal profile
  • R638 compliance documentation for regulatory audits
  • Temperature excursion reports (if equipment problems occurred)

Customer Communication

Standard notifications:

  • Delivery window coordination (ensuring recipient availability)
  • Real-time tracking (vehicle location visibility)
  • Delivery confirmation (GPS timestamp, successful handoff)

Enhanced communication (available):

  • SMS/email alerts for temperature excursions
  • Cloud-based real-time temperature monitoring for high-value shipments
  • Proactive notification if equipment problems detected

How to Get Started

Request a Quote

Information needed:

  1. Service type: Last-mile courier / air freight / road freight coordination
  2. Route: Origin and destination addresses
  3. Frequency: Ad-hoc / weekly / daily
  4. Volume: Typical order size and stop count
  5. Special requirements: Delivery windows, temperature needs, documentation

Contact methods:

  • Quote request form: Request quote
  • Email: info@thefrozenfoodcourier.co.za
  • Phone: +27 82 575 0085 (business hours)

What to Expect

Quote turnaround: 24-48 hours typical (complex requirements may require engineering analysis)

Pricing provided:

  • Transparent rate based on service type, route, and volume
  • No hidden fees or surcharges
  • Volume discount structure for regular customers
  • Contract terms for high-frequency operations

Service confirmation:

  • Technical feasibility assessment (we’ll tell you if your requirements exceed our capabilities)
  • Equipment availability verification
  • Delivery window confirmation
  • Special requirement accommodation (or honest explanation why not possible)

First Delivery Process

For e-commerce customers:

  1. Platform integration setup (using our guides)
  2. Test delivery to validate process
  3. Training on packaging requirements and delivery coordination
  4. Ongoing support as order volume scales

For restaurant/retail suppliers:

  1. Route planning and consolidation optimization
  2. Delivery schedule coordination
  3. Volume projection and capacity planning
  4. Contract pricing for regular scheduled service

For ad-hoc customers:

  1. Packaging guidance (sealed, labeled, protected)
  2. Pickup scheduling within available route windows
  3. Delivery coordination with recipient
  4. Temperature documentation provided upon request

Technical Resources

For Detailed Technical Information

Engineering calculations:

  • Technical Formulas Reference – Complete engineering formulas with worked examples for altitude correction, thermal loads, efficiency calculations

Cold chain education:

Pricing and economics:

Competitive context:

For Industry Professionals

We publish technical articles challenging industry practices with thermodynamic calculations and operational validation:

  • Equipment sizing for South African altitude
  • Multi-stop thermal load analysis
  • Defrost cycle waste quantification
  • Urban heat island effects on refrigeration requirements

Browse our technical articles for engineering-based analysis of transport refrigeration.

The Bottom Line

Professional frozen food logistics requires:

  • Mechanical refrigeration sized for actual South African conditions
  • Engineering discipline accounting for altitude, multi-stop duty cycles, and urban heat effects
  • Regulatory compliance with R638 food safety requirements
  • Documented temperature monitoring proving -18°C maintenance
  • Honest economics recognizing that equipment and expertise cost money

This costs R216-R350 per last-mile delivery or R20.00/kg for air freight. Anyone claiming they can deliver frozen products reliably for ambient courier pricing (R45-85) is either:

  1. Using passive cooling (ice packs) that depletes after 3-4 stops
  2. Operating on unsustainable venture capital subsidies
  3. Providing marginal service gambling with your product quality

We use mechanical refrigeration because physics demands it. We charge professional rates because thermodynamics is expensive. We operate honestly because your frozen products deserve better than ice pack gambling and marketing evasions.

Ready to work with professional cold chain logistics?

Request a quote | View rate schedules | Contact us directly

Services and specifications represent operational capabilities validated across thousands of kilometers of frozen food delivery in South African conditions. We don’t make claims we can’t substantiate with temperature data, thermodynamic calculations, or operational measurements.

Related Resources:

Contact Information:

  • Email: info@thefrozenfoodcourier.co.za
  • Phone: +27 82 575 0085
  • Quote requests: Contact form
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