Thermo-Kool
Thermo-Kool is a second-generation, family-owned US manufacturer of custom commercial walk-in coolers, freezers, blast chillers, and shock freezers, serving chain restaurants, K-12 schools, universities, healthcare, and hospitality customers via a nationwide sales rep network and direct factory sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersLaurel, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Thermo-Kool does
Thermo-Kool, operating under the legal entity Mid-South Industries, Inc., is a second-generation, family-owned commercial refrigeration manufacturer founded in 1960 and headquartered in Laurel, Mississippi. The company designs and produces custom-built walk-in coolers and freezers, blast chillers and shock freezers (both standalone and integrated into walk-ins), and a proprietary TK4700 Walk-In Monitor System. Core technology centers on the patented DURATHANE 100% urethane high-density panel system with foamed-in-place Class I urethane insulation, the Insta-Lok panel locking mechanism, and a pre-assembly process that tests every unit at the factory to eliminate on-site cutting. The product line is supported by a digital toolbox including a 3D Walk-In Configurator (with augmented reality), real-time Order Tracker, ROI Calculator, Product Selector, and Floor Selector. Recent additions include A2L-compliant R454A refrigerant systems to meet 2026 AIM Act requirements and Bluezone by Middleby UV food preservation integration.
Thermo-Kool sells exclusively through a nationwide network of manufacturer sales representatives (e.g., Eaton Marketing, PMR, Desert Peak Marketing) providing on-site measurement, specification generation, and installation coordination, supplemented by direct factory sales and the online 3D configurator submission channel. Pricing is quote-based with no public price list; standard walk-ins carry an industry-leading 4-week lead-time guarantee and a 10-year warranty. Customers include chain restaurants (Chick-fil-A is a publicly cited multi-year supply partner), K-12 schools (Franklin County Schools, Crane Elementary), higher education institutions (University of Missouri, Auburn University, Hinds Community College), healthcare (Northside Hospital, Atlanta), and hotels/resorts. The company is positioned as a US-domestic-only operation (single-country footprint), holds a broad set of third-party certifications (NSF/ANSI 7, UL 723, USDA, plus state and municipal jurisdictional approvals in Florida, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Oregon, and California), and operates with 11–50 employees from a 10-acre North Laurel Industrial Park manufacturing facility expanded in 2017, with additional downtown offices acquired in 2019.
Thermo-Kool firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thermo-Kool
- Legal name
- Mid-South Industries, Inc.
- Website
- https://thermokool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Thermo-Kool is a second-generation, family-owned US manufacturer of custom commercial walk-in coolers, freezers, blast chillers, and shock freezers, serving chain restaurants, K-12 schools, universities, healthcare, and hospitality customers via a nationwide sales rep network and direct factory sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thermo-Kool industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Refrigeration
- NAICS
- Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Walk-In Freezer Service & Repair (HSAOAJAC), Blast Chiller & Specialty Refrigeration Service (HSAOAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Thermo-Kool is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Laurel
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Thermo-Kool business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commercial Walk-In Coolers and Freezers: Sale of custom-built commercial walk-in refrigeration units including coolers, freezers, and combo configurations. Products are manufactured to order with customization options for dimensions, doors, flooring, and accessories.
- Blast Chillers and Shock Freezers: Standalone and integrated blast chillers and shock freezers for rapid food cooling and freezing in commercial kitchens.
- Walk-In Monitor System and Accessories: TK4700 monitoring systems, replacement parts, and accessories for existing walk-in installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Quoted Products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Thermo-Kool product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thermo-Kool manufactures custom-built commercial walk-in coolers and freezers to order, with 1-inch panel increments, patented DURATHANE panel construction, and Insta-Lok locking, delivered pre-assembled inside the United States. Its portfolio also includes standalone and integrated blast chillers and shock freezers, the TK4700 walk-in monitor system, and complementary accessories targeted at foodservice operators, chain restaurants, K-12 schools, universities, hospitality and healthcare institutions.
Product overview
Thermo-Kool is a second-generation, family-owned commercial refrigeration manufacturer based in Laurel, MS, operating since 1960. The company produces custom walk-in coolers and freezers as its core product line, complemented by blast chillers and shock freezers, integrated combination units, and a smart monitoring system. The product portfolio centers on the Walk-In Coolers & Freezers (the primary platform), with Blast Chillers & Shock Freezers and Integrated Blast Chillers & Shock Freezers as specialized add-on modules that can be built directly into walk-in units. Supporting the core products is the Walk-In Monitor System (TK4700/4700HL) for 24/7 temperature and door monitoring, and a suite of digital tools including the 3D Walk-In Configurator, Order Tracker, ROI Calculator, Floor Selector, and Product Selector. All products are manufactured in the USA with a 4-week lead time guarantee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Walk-In Coolers & Freezers Custom-built commercial walk-in coolers and freezers engineered for maximum customization, durability and performance. Features patented DURATHANE 100% urethane high-density panel design, four- or five-inch foamed-in-place Class I urethane insulation, Insta-Lok panel locking, and pre-assembly before shipment. Built in 1-inch panel increments to fit exact space requirements including irregular layouts and column wrap-arounds; targeted at chain restaurants, K-12 schools, universities, hospitality and healthcare foodservice operations.
- Blast Chillers & Shock Freezers Standalone commercial blast chillers and shock freezers that rapidly lower cooked-food temperatures to safe storage levels, extending shelf life and preventing bacterial growth. Targeted at commercial kitchens seeking to comply with food safety guidelines and reduce food waste.
- Integrated Blast Chillers & Shock Freezers Combination units that integrate blast chiller and shock freezer capability directly inside a walk-in cooler/freezer, combining advanced airflow, precision temperature sensors, and intuitive controls for rapid, reliable cooling. Targeted at commercial operators that want rapid chilling and standard cold storage in a single footprint.
- Walk-In Monitor System (TK4700 / 4700HL) Smart monitoring system providing 24/7 surveillance of walk-in units with door status monitoring, temperature monitoring, automatic lighting, and alarms for temperature irregularities, power failures and open doors. Sold as a complementary product to new and existing Thermo-Kool walk-in installations.
- TK4 Light Control and Panic Button Complementary safety accessory to the TK4700 monitor system, providing light control and panic button functionality for walk-in units. Targeted at operators adding interior safety features to walk-in coolers and freezers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4-week lead time for all standard walk-in coolers/freezers after order and approval, enabling faster project completion vs. industry averages
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Thermo-Kool
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Thermo-Kool technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability1 record
Feature9 records
Thermo-Kool partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Bluezone by MiddlebycoreBluezone UV Food Preservation technology by Middleby is integrated into or offered alongside Thermo-Kool walk-in coolers. Bluezone uses UV lights to eliminate 99.9% of airborne contaminants (bacteria, mold, ethylene gas) extending shelf life of fresh produce, dairy, and prepared foods. Thermo-Kool provides a Bluezone ROI calculator on their website and features the technology in their K-12 and higher education solutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Thermo-Kool competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kolpak (Manitowoc Foodservice): Kolpak, part of the broader Manitowoc Foodservice portfolio, manufactures walk-in coolers and freezers alongside a wider range of commercial refrigeration. Larger and broader scope than Thermo-Kool, with overlapping walk-in offerings for foodservice customers.
- True Manufacturing: True Manufacturing is an established U.S. commercial refrigeration manufacturer producing reach-in refrigerators, freezers, and walk-in units. Significantly larger and broader portfolio than Thermo-Kool, but overlapping walk-in product line for the same foodservice customers.
- Hoshizaki America: Hoshizaki is a global leader in commercial refrigeration, ice machines, and foodservice equipment including walk-in coolers and freezers. Substantially larger scale and broader portfolio position it as a broad incumbent competitor in the same customer categories as Thermo-Kool.
Direct peers
- Master-Bilt: Master-Bilt manufactures walk-in coolers and freezers, refrigerated warehouses, and commercial refrigeration equipment. Comparable product portfolio (custom walk-ins, panels, refrigeration systems) and similar foodservice and institutional customer overlap make it a direct peer.
- Bally Refrigerated Boxes: Bally manufactures prefabricated and custom walk-in coolers, freezers, and refrigerated warehouses for foodservice and industrial applications. Overlapping product line (custom walk-ins, panels) and similar target customers position it as a direct peer in the walk-in specialist category.
- Arctic Industries: Arctic Industries is a U.S. manufacturer of custom walk-in coolers, freezers, and refrigerated warehouses for foodservice and industrial applications. Similar build-to-order model, panel-based construction, and overlapping customer base make it a direct comparable peer.
- American Panel Corporation: American Panel is a walk-in cooler and freezer panel manufacturer serving commercial and industrial markets. Its focus on custom panel construction and modular walk-ins parallels Thermo-Kool's DURATHANE panel approach and shared end-customers in foodservice and institutional segments.
- Imperial Brown: Imperial Brown is a commercial walk-in cooler and freezer manufacturer with custom panel construction for foodservice and industrial customers. Similar niche specialization and comparable product line make it a direct peer for walk-in solutions.
- Norlake: Norlake is a direct U.S. walk-in cooler and freezer manufacturer with comparable customized panel construction serving foodservice, scientific, and industrial customers. Highly comparable niche, similar custom-build model, and overlapping end markets make it the closest peer to Thermo-Kool.
Others
- Middleby Corporation: Middleby is a broad commercial foodservice equipment conglomerate whose Bluezone UV food preservation technology is partnered with Thermo-Kool. It does not directly compete in walk-ins but is an ecosystem partner and a parent of adjacent refrigeration and cooking brands relevant to Thermo-Kool's customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Thermo-Kool social profiles
Digital presenceThermo-Kool compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance13 records
Thermo-Kool financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thermo-Kool leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Thermo-Kool funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thermo-Kool M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Thermo-Kool
What does Thermo-Kool do?
Thermo-Kool manufactures custom-built commercial walk-in coolers and freezers to order, with 1-inch panel increments, patented DURATHANE panel construction, and Insta-Lok locking, delivered pre-assembled inside the United States. Its portfolio also includes standalone and integrated blast chillers and shock freezers, the TK4700 walk-in monitor system, and complementary accessories targeted at foodservice operators, chain restaurants, K-12 schools, universities, hospitality and healthcare institutions.
Is Thermo-Kool a public or private company?
Thermo-Kool is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Thermo-Kool founded?
Thermo-Kool was founded in 1960. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Thermo-Kool based?
Thermo-Kool is headquartered in Laurel, United States, in the North America region.
How does Thermo-Kool make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Commercial Walk-In Coolers and Freezers are the primary driver. The others are blast Chillers and Shock Freezers and walk-In Monitor System and Accessories.
Who are Thermo-Kool's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kolpak (Manitowoc Foodservice), True Manufacturing and Hoshizaki America. Direct peers are Master-Bilt, Bally Refrigerated Boxes, Arctic Industries, American Panel Corporation, Imperial Brown and Norlake. Middleby Corporation is listed as an others.
Does Thermo-Kool have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thermo-Kool.
What industry is Thermo-Kool in?
Thermo-Kool's product category is Commercial Refrigeration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAKAE, Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment, with a secondary code of HSAOAJAC, Walk-In Freezer Service & Repair. Its NAICS code is 33341 and its SIC code is 3585.