In the world of commercial refrigeration, few names carry the weight and legacy of United Refrigeration. Established in 1966 and still proudly Australian- owned, the company has long been the quiet force keeping Victoria’s hospitality venues cool, both literally and figuratively.
We recently talked to General Manager Dean Ferraro, whose decades of experience and hands on leadership have helped the business navigate
the evolving needs of pubs, hotels, and the broader hospitality landscape. From sustainability reforms to tailor made installations in century old buildings, Dean and his team continue to demonstrate why United Refrigeration remains one of the few manufacturers still designing and building refrigeration units locally.
What sets United Refrigeration apart? “It’s our flexibility, customisation, and robustness,” says Dean. “We don’t do cookie-cutter cabinets. Everything is handmade and designed to fit the specific space and needs of a venue.”
That bespoke approach was exactly what one pub owner needed when he reached out, having spotted United in Hotel Today. “He’d taken over a run-down pub with outdated fridges in a noisy, poorly ventilated area. They wanted to transform the space into a more family friendly, open bar and kitchen area,” explains Dean. “We started by listening, then got to work designing a refrigeration system tailored to the space, usage, and vision.”
It’s this type of consultative, site-specific approach that has made United a trusted partner to venues of all sizes across Victoria, including Kelly’s Hotel in Cranbourne. “We’ve worked with Paul Stocks on multiple stages of refrigeration upgrades at Kelly’s,” says Ferraro. “One of the features we added was temperature monitoring systems that alert staff, and us, when there’s a temperature issue. Often, we’re calling them before they even realise there’s a problem.”
Ferraro acknowledges that the refrigeration landscape has changed significantly over the years. “There used to be dozens of local manufacturers.
Now, maybe ten. And a lot of the changes have come from evolving environmental regulations.”
Refrigerants, once chosen for performance alone, are now heavily scrutinised for their environmental impact. “The shift from ozone depleting to synthetic refrigerants, and now to low global warming potential gases, is something we’ve had to adapt to quickly,” he says. “It’s complex, but we make it simple for our clients.”
For hospitality operators who want more energy-efficient options, United offers advanced systems like German engineered inverter units, which adjust power usage based on demand, much like modern air conditioners. “It’s not always cheap up front, but if you’re planning to be in your venue for the long-term, the energy savings are worth it.”
Trinity in Brighton is one such venue already seeing the benefits. “Matt Nikakis trusted us on that project.
They’ve been running our systems for years now with barely a service call,” Dean adds.
Beyond fabrication and installation, United Refrigeration has built its reputation on exceptional service. With a team of 12 technicians across Melbourne, the company prides itself on fast response times and genuine customer care.
“When the beer’s warm on a Friday night, you don’t want to be stuck waiting, We offer preventative maintenance, just like servicing your car, and most of our clients who invest in that don’t usually experience breakdowns, even through the hottest summers.”
United Refrigeration’s service isn’t just reactive, it’s proactive. From scheduled maintenance to remote monitoring and round-the-clock availability, the team is ready when it counts.
Despite the industry’s increasing focus on technology and efficiency, Dean believes it’s the company’s transparency and old school values that keep clients coming back. “We’re honest. If a bill doesn’t look right, we don’t send it. If someone needs something simple or second hand to meet a budget, we try to help. We want to be part of the solution.”
He added, “Trust is everything. Especially in the country or regional l venues where we might not even do their servicing, they still call us for refrigeration builds because they trust we’ll do the right thing.”
After nearly 60 years, United Refrigeration continues to combine the best of old fashioned reliability with forward-thinking innovation. Whether it’s a custom coolroom, a handcrafted bar fridge, or an urgent repair on Fridgey Friday, Dean and his team are keeping Victoria’s hospitality industry cool, one venue at a time.
member Testimonials
“I have been using United Refrigeration for over 30 years across multiple venues, and I can say without hesitation that their service, expertise, and reliability are second to none. Their team consistently delivers exceptional support, and their deep knowledge of refrigeration systems has been an invaluable asset to my operations. Over the decades, they’ve earned my complete trust, and I highly recommend United Refrigeration to anyone looking for top-tier service and unmatched industry experience.”
“Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel has been happily associated with United Refrigeration for over three decades. In purchasing and maintaining so much equipment vital to hotel operations, from fridges to freezers and Glycol systems, United have proven in all that time, to be highly professional with their prompt and responsive service. Highly recommend!”