Upright glass-door display freezers are tall, cabinet-style freezers with transparent front doors. They are commonly used in UK supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, cafés, and catering facilities to merchandise frozen goods (like ice cream, ready meals, or desserts) while keeping them at safe temperatures. These units not only attract customers with a clear view of products, but also must maintain -18°C or below for food safety compliance. In busy British commercial kitchens and retail environments, proper maintenance and prompt fault diagnostics are essential. Regular upkeep ensures the freezer holds temperature even during peak summer heat or heavy door openings, preventing food spoilage and costly waste. Equally, understanding error codes and troubleshooting common issues (like an E2 fault on a Williams freezer, or a True GDM freezer not cooling) can help staff resolve minor problems quickly or know when to call a certified UK refrigeration engineer. In short, upright display freezer troubleshooting and maintenance is a key part of running a smooth commercial kitchen or shop in the UK.
Top 10 Commercial Models in the UK
Below we highlight 10 top upright glass-door display freezer models – each from a different trusted brand – that are popular in UK commercial settings. These models are all available through UK distributors (such as Nisbets, CaterKwik, Alliance Online, Blue Seal UK, FridgeFreezerDirect, etc.) and have proven performance in demanding environments. We’ve selected a representative model from each leading brand: Williams, Polar, Foster, True, Gram, Hoshizaki, Electrolux Professional, Zanussi Professional, Lincat, and Liebherr. Each model chosen is a full-size upright cabinet (single or double door) suitable for front-of-house display or high-volume storage, and all feature fan-forced cooling for even temperature.
Top 10 Upright Glass-Door Freezers (UK):
- Williams Diamond LD1GS – Williams (Single glass door, 520 L)
- Polar G-Series GH507 – Polar (Double glass door, 920 L)
- Foster FGDM-47F – Foster (Double glass door, ~1350 L merchandiser)
- True GDM-23F – True Refrigeration (Single glass door, 651 L)
- Gram G+ Maxi 610G – Gram (Single glass door, ~600 L)
- Hoshizaki Snowflake SUF-65DG – Hoshizaki (Single glass door, 560 L)
- Electrolux ESP71GFC – Electrolux Professional (Single glass door, 670 L)
- Zanussi NAU Maxi – Zanussi Professional (Single glass door, 670 L)
- Lincat Blu BPSB7 – Lincat (Single door, 700 L heavy-duty freezer)
- Liebherr FDv 4643 – Liebherr Commercial (Single glass door, 461 L)
Each of these models is engineered for commercial use with robust refrigeration systems. In the comparison table below, we summarize their key specifications – including cooling type, capacity, door configuration, temperature range, refrigerant, energy efficiency rating, and dimensions – to help you compare their features at a glance.
Comparison Table of Top Models
| Model | Brand | Cooling | Gross/Net Capacity | Door Type | Temp Range | Refrigerant | Energy Class | Dimensions (HxWxD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond LD1GS | Williams | Fan (Dynamic) | 520 L / – | 1 × hinged glass | –18°C to –22°C | R404A | ~D/E (est.) | 2040×740×720 mm |
| G-Series GH507 | Polar | Fan (Forced) | 920 L / ~700 L (usable) | 2 × hinged glass | –22°C to –18°C | R290 (HC) | F | 2022×1370×720 mm |
| FGDM-47F (GDM 49″) | Foster | Fan (Forced) | ~1350 L / ~950 L | 2 × hinged glass | –23°C to –18°C | R290 (HC) | D/E (est.) | 2010×1245×665 mm (approx.) |
| GDM-23F-HC | True | Fan (Forced) | 651 L / 586 L | 1 × hinged glass | –23°C setpoin | R290 (HC) | N/A (US std) | 1995×756×800 mm (approx.) |
| G+ Maxi 610G | Gram | Fan (Dynamic) | ~610 L / ~440 L | 1 × hinged glass | –25°C to –5°C (set) | R290 (HC) | B/C (est.) | 2100×790×731 mm (approx.) |
| Snowflake SUF-65DG | Hoshizaki | Fan (Forced) | 560 L / 398 L | 1 × hinged glass | –10°C to –20°C | R290 (HC) | D | 1996×654×840 mm |
| ESP71GFC (727964) | Electrolux Pro | Fan (Forced) | 670 L / ~503 L【57†】 | 1 × hinged glass | –15°C to –20°C | R290 (HC) | E【57†】 | 2050×710×835 mm |
| NAU Maxi 110965 | Zanussi Pro | Fan (Forced) | 670 L / ~503 L | 1 × hinged glass | –15°C to –20°C | R290 (HC) | E (est.) | 2050×710×835 mm (same as Elec.) |
| Blu BPSB7 (solid door) | Lincat | Fan (Forced) | 700 L / – | 1 × hinged solid | –10°C to –25°C | R290 (HC) | E | 2120×720×800 mm |
| FDv 4643 | Liebherr | Fan (Dynamic) | 461 L / 307 L | 1 × hinged glass | –10°C to –25°C | R290 (HC) | C | 1957×670×730 mm |
Table: Comparison of leading upright display freezers in UK (cooling = forced air unless noted; HC = hydrocarbon). Note: Lincat BPSB7 has a solid door (listed for brand completeness), focusing on back-of-house storage rather than customer display.
As shown, these freezers share similarities in form factor and function (most have auto defrost, interior lighting, digital thermostat control, etc.), but they vary in capacity, energy efficiency, and specialty features. Next, we provide a detailed breakdown of each model’s features, strengths, and common issues, organized by brand.
Detailed Breakdown, Fault Code Tables and Troubleshooting by Brand/Model
- Williams Diamond LD1GS – Williams (Single glass door, 520 L)
- Polar G-Series GH507 – Polar (Double glass door, 920 L)
- Foster FGDM-47F – Foster (Double glass door, ~1350 L merchandiser)
- True GDM-23F – True Refrigeration (Single glass door, 651 L)
- Gram G+ Maxi 610G – Gram (Single glass door, ~600 L)
- Hoshizaki Snowflake SUF-65DG – Hoshizaki (Single glass door, 560 L)
- Electrolux ESP71GFC – Electrolux Professional (Single glass door, 670 L)
- Zanussi NAU Maxi – Zanussi Professional (Single glass door, 670 L)
- Lincat Blu BPSB7 – Lincat (Single door, 700 L heavy-duty freezer)
- Liebherr FDv 4643 – Liebherr Commercial (Single glass door, 461 L)