Shipping Applications

Can I ship chocolate without a reefer?

As a famously finicky product, chocolate manufacturers may simply assume that they have no choice but to ship year-round in expensive climate-controlled trucks. That may not be the case, however. Passive thermal insulation can open up cheaper and more readily-available shipping options for chocolate, changing the answer from “no” to a far more flexible “it's possible”.

When consumers pull out their bottle of glass cleaner, or twist the cap off a tube of glue, they probably don’t consider these powerful cleaning and adhesive chemicals to be delicate substances. But manufacturers of many household chemical products know that sustained exposure to heat or cold can irreparably damage both the product and the packaging:

Several factors influence the melting point of chocolate, including the amount of milk fat in the product, how the chocolate is tempered, and any additional ingredients or additives. White and milk chocolates – higher in milk fats and cocoa butter - have the lowest melting point while dark chocolate melts at slightly higher temperatures, for example. Many chocolate products are crafted to soften at body temperatures to create a pleasing confection that “melts in the mouth”.

Astro-Cooler has the privilege of working with top supply chain service providers throughout the US and abroad. When BR Williams came to us with a client who needed a way to protect their cold-intolerant products during the winter months, we were able to provide a passive thermal protection solution that “saved the client money and significantly reduced their carbon footprint without leaving them vulnerable to spot-market volatility.”

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When Summer months get hot and muggy, keeping your beer cool isn’t just a problem for the BBQ warrior on their back porch. Beer manufacturers know how difficult it is to get that beer to their customer’s cooler tasting just as good as it did when it left the brewery.