About

At Advanced Refrigeration, It’s All About Integrity

Established in 1986 in Orlando, Florida, Advanced Refrigeration & Air is a family owned and operated company with five locations across Florida that you can trust for all of your commercial refrigeration and air conditioning needs.

We have set industry standards through our 35+ years of serving leading grocery retailers, restaurants and many other commercial businesses in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. We are respected both for our integrity and the quality of our work.

When people ask what makes Advanced Refrigeration & Air different, the answer is simple: consistent quality in every job we do. This is why we are rated #1 in quality and excellence by our customers!

Board of Directors
J. Riley, J. Haley, J. Thurman, L. Fergerson
D. Fraddosio, S. Chilson

About Advanced Refrigeration

From cooler door repairs to the installation of a full supermarket refrigeration equipment package,
Advanced Refrigeration & Air Inc. brings the expertise to manage your project efficiently and professionally.

Skilled Certified Technicians

Highly Trained, Skilled and Certified Technicians. All of our employees are drug tested and background checked for your peace of mind.

24/7 Emergency Service

Emergency Service provided 24/7 with an in-house Call Center/Dispatch Department that is fully staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness – We are ready In the event of a natural disaster. We have detailed disaster plans in place to ensure you will be promptly served.

Refrigeration Service Within 2 hrs

Large Service Fleet with over 150 vehicles and 250+ skilled employees working out of 5 offices. This allows us to provide on-site refrigeration service to you within 2 hours of your call.

Large Parts Inventory

Large Inventory of refrigeration and air conditioning supplies in our 50,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space so that when your system needs a part, you get it fast!

Support Green Initatives

We support Green Initiatives. The systems we install are environmentally sound and running at maximum efficiency, saving energy. All of our technicians are EPA certified.

HONESTY & INTEGRITY IT’S WHO WE ARE

Learn More About Advanced Refrigeration & Air

Established in 1986 in Orlando, Florida, Advanced Refrigeration & Air, Inc. is a company you can trust for all your commercial refrigeration needs. We’ve set industry standards through our years of work for leading companies like Publix, Fresh Market, and Target. Learn more about our history below.

At a Glance

Advanced Refrigeration & Air, Inc.

Founded in 1986
Five offices throughout Florida
Licensed in Florida, Alabama & Georgia
250+ employees
150+ vehicles, 20+ trailers
50,000 sq. ft. warehouse space
Over $2,000,000 in refrigeration parts inventory

24/7 in-house Call Center/Dispatch Department, fully staffed 365 days a year
Service at your site within 2 hours – Commercial Refrigeration Service only
All employees drug tested and background checked for your peace of mind
Customers include Publix, Target, Trader Joe's, Lucky's Market
Financially stable, poised for growth

1980
TO
1983

Humble Beginnings

Back in the early 1980’s, commercial refrigeration in Florida was an industry with problems. The Sunshine State was growing fast with new grocery stores being opened in nearly every city, but quality vendors that could properly install refrigeration systems and service them in the future were in short supply. Many of the refrigeration companies vying for business would promise the world but never deliver.

Matt Thurman was a pipe fitter working in Florida’s refrigeration industry. He was a rare standout, a craftsman who treated pipe fitting like an art. It wasn’t long before the quality of his work was noticed and his reputation spread.

An Opportunity Arises

In 1984 Matt was approached by a manager from Publix, Florida’s fastest growing grocery store chain. A new store in Jacksonville was scheduled to open in just five weeks, but the refrigeration vendor was way behind on the job. The manager was familiar with Matt’s work and approached him with an appealing offer, “If you can take over this project and get it done on time, I’ll have more work for you.”

Matt completed the Publix job on time and on budget. The manager kept his word and steered more work toward Matt, who by then had started his new company

Matt and his apprentice Jeff Haley began taking on small refrigeration jobs wherever they could. Working out of a 1984 Ford Ranger with no air conditioning, the two drove around Florida, going from project to project, building the business that would one day become Advanced Refrigeration & Air.

That Publix job would eventually lead to many more, over 1,100 stores today and counting. And numerous other large grocery, restaurant and warehouse store chains would also follow suit.

1984
TO
1986

1987
TO
TODAY

Steady Growth Lead by a Strong Philosophy

Today, Advanced Refrigeration & Air is the leading commercial refrigeration company in the southeast. It has seven offices, a fleet of 200+ vehicles and over 250+ employees servicing customers throughout Florida, Alabama and Georgia. In addition to Publix, its customers currently include other large-chain clients like Target, Trader Joes, Lucky’s Market, Fresh Market, and Crispers.

While the company has come a long way from the nomadic days of the 1984 Ford Ranger without AC, both Matt and Jeff are quick to say the same basic philosophy they had when starting the company still guides their work today.

“I believe in the Lord and in treating people right,” explains Matt. “We don’t try to squeeze the extra profit out of a project by cutting corners. We are focused on the long term. We’re honest and do things right.”

An Emphasis on Value

Matt proudly states that Advanced Refrigeration & Air, Inc. has always strived to provide its customers with maximum value. “We’re continually seeking new ways to increase efficiency and eliminate waste. We hire skilled people, give them the proper tools and materials and teach them the right processes. The result is consistent quality in every job we do. That’s true value, and that’s what our customers want.”

Jeff is quick to agree. “This is a grassroots company built from the ground up with good people who genuinely care about their work. Our customers know this is our philosophy and that it shows in all we do.”

Let’s Write the Future Together.

Whether it’s a new installation, a remodeling project or servicing an existing refrigeration system, we always give 100%. We’re financially secure and continually growing. Work with us today, and you know we’ll be here tomorrow to provide ongoing support.

We’re a hardworking, fun group of men and women dedicated to our customer’s satisfaction.

Clients We Serve

Trusted by the Best

What Our Customers Say

Testimonials

We have been working with Advanced Refrigeration for the last 8 years as partners for our service and construction needs. Advanced Refrigeration has the best trained professionals along with a well-structured organization, which sets them apart from other service companies.

Our experience with Advanced Refrigeration has been exceptional. We brought them in to help us evaluate and sort out issues caused by another commercial refrigeration company. Within days they had identi ed the issues, resolved them, and had our systems up and running smoothly. We have subsequently worked with them to further improve and modernize all of our cooling equipment, which has saved a tremendous amount of down time and cost. We look forward to our continued partnership.

My experience partnering with Advanced Refrigeration has been excellent. The techs and area supervision has proven to be flexible and immediate with repairs and communications. I look forward to continued partnership. Thank you for your support.

Advance Refrigeration conducts their valuable and special craft for us with upmost dignity and respect. Whenever we have an issue, the techs are always prompt, follow the requirements of Target, are courteous and fast. They are respectful to our team members and keep a low profile as not to disturb the guest. A huge priority for us is rapid completion and communication. We always receive follow up checks on work that was done, proving they care about the outcome of each project.

Advanced Refrigeration saved my business on a weekend and has continued to handle all our needs at our 3 restaurants. They are quick, efficient, and reasonably priced

I have had to call Advanced Refrigeration & Air numerous times for our antiquated A/C system in the Navy Exchange in Orlando. They have responded quickly with effective results and have been keeping it up and running while we wait to get authorization for a new system.

Chris Walker is on top of everything and is pleasant, professional and very knowledgeable. He makes sure that we are being taken care of immediately as we are a retail/grocery establishment. He has explained every repair that they have done and has let me know when things are going to need fixed in the near future.

Everyone that I have had to deal with in the company has been great. They are always upbeat, very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend them. I trust them and know that I am in good hands.