Refrigerated Parcel Lockers for Grocery Deliveries
“Our residents get grocery and meal-kit deliveries, and they sit in a warm lobby until someone gets home. Can parcel lockers keep them cold?” Yes, with refrigerated cells, which we build to order alongside ordinary parcel cells in the same bank. They suit buildings with a lot of grocery delivery. But chilled cells are a different thing from parcel cells: they need the right temperature, their own power, cleaning, and a short collection limit. This page explains each, and what chilled lockers are not.
Why chilled cells, and why not just parcel cells
An ordinary parcel cell is not refrigerated. Grocery deliveries left in one warm up until the resident gets home, which can be hours. The Food Standards Code requires food businesses to keep potentially hazardous food at 5°C or below, or 60°C or above (FSANZ Standard 3.2.2). A building is not a food business, but the same temperature is the sensible target for chilled groceries in a locker.
How a chilled delivery works
- The grocery driver chooses Chilled on the touchscreen and the resident or unit.
- A free chilled cell opens; the bags go in; the door closes.
- The resident gets a code straight away, with a note that the parcel is chilled.
- Reminders are more frequent than for ordinary parcels.
- After the chilled collection limit, building staff are alerted.
Sizing chilled cells
- Count grocery deliveries separately from parcels for a week.
- Grocery orders often come in several bags; one order may need a large cell or two standard cells.
- Collection should be fast, so dwell time is short. A few chilled cells serve many deliveries a day.
- Leave space and power for more chilled cells later if demand grows.
Power, placement and cleaning
| Item | What to plan |
|---|---|
| Power | Chilled cells need their own power allowance, separate from the main bank |
| Ventilation | Refrigeration gives off heat; avoid enclosed cupboards |
| Placement | Away from direct sun and heaters |
| Cleaning | A regular schedule for chilled cells, and a process for spills |
| Monitoring | Ask how cell temperature is monitored and what alert is raised if a cell warms |
Rules worth writing down
- Chilled cells are for food deliveries, not for medicines (retirement villages covers that) or for storing food long-term.
- Short collection limit: the committee or operator decides what happens to chilled food left too long.
- Frozen food only if frozen cells are specified.
Grocery delivery patterns to check before ordering
Grocery deliveries do not behave like parcels. Before deciding how many chilled cells to buy, check:
- Delivery windows. Grocery drivers often deliver in evening or weekend windows. If most residents are home then, chilled cells may sit unused.
- Order size. Weekly family shops fill several bags; meal kits come in one insulated box. The cell sizes you need follow from that.
- Which services deliver to your building, and whether their drivers will use a locker. We do not claim partnerships with grocery services; drivers use the touchscreen like any courier.
- How long orders wait. If residents usually collect within the hour, a few chilled cells go a long way.
Telling residents how chilled cells work
Tell residents that chilled cells are for food deliveries only, that they will get a message marked “chilled” when an order arrives, and what the collection limit is. Ask them to choose “leave in the chilled locker” in their delivery instructions, and to collect promptly.
Rough cost
A small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand dollars, roughly A$3,000–7,000 ex GST. A building system of 50–100 cells is roughly A$12,000–30,000 ex GST. On top of that there is a flat monthly software fee of around A$150 per building, with no per-parcel or resident fees. Delivery and installation are quoted per site, and your quote fixes the price.Chilled cells cost more than ordinary cells and need extra power, so they are quoted separately within the bank.
Price enquiry
Ask for a price for your building
Where this is the wrong answer
- Few residents order groceries online. Ordinary parcel cells plus a note to collect promptly may be enough.
- Residents want frozen holding most of all. Frozen cells are a different, more expensive specification.
- There is no spare power or ventilation at the locker position. Chilled cells cannot run without them.
- You need a fridge for residents’ use. A chilled locker holds deliveries until collection; it is not shared storage.
Related situations
- High-rise apartment parcel lockers, where grocery volume is highest
- Build-to-rent parcel lockers, as part of the amenity offer
- Student accommodation parcel lockers
- New developments, for power allowances at design stage