Leer, Inc.

Leer Inc.: Ice Merchandisers & Temperature-Controlled Storage

Leer Inc. is an American, employee-owned manufacturer of ice merchandisers for bagged ice, plus walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-in storage, and refrigerated trailers. Leer Inc.'s indoor glass-door and outdoor steel-door merchandisers keep bagged ice frozen and on sale at convenience stores, grocery stores, and packaged-ice operations. The company provides back-of-house refrigeration solutions for grocery, foodservice, and event operators, including walk-ins, reach-ins, and mobile solutions like refrigerated trailers.

Leer History: The Original Ice Merchandiser Maker

Leer Inc. was founded in 1952 by Lee Roth in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, and introduced the first commercial cork-insulated ice storage. Gradually expanding into walk-in cooler and freezer production in the 1960s, the company later acquired Carroll Coolers of Carroll, Iowa, which is now sold under the Leer name. Dexter Apache Holdings, now Employee Owned Brands, purchased Leer in 2008, and the business is 100% employee-owned. After adding reach-ins in 2022 and trailers in 2024 to its product range, Leer Inc. is now headquartered in New Lisbon, WI, with a second plant in Carroll, IA.

R290 Refrigeration, All-Steel Build & Heavy Insulation

Leer Inc. began using R290 refrigerants in 2020 and fully shifted its entire product line to R290 to minimize Global Warming Potential (GWP). Current Leer ice merchandisers combine R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant, all-steel cabinets, and thick foamed insulation to enable outdoor ice storage while keeping operating costs down.

• R290 refrigerant: This natural hydrocarbon has a GWP of 3, well below the HFCs (GWP: 1430) it replaces, which keeps new units aligned with current federal and state refrigerant rules.
• All-steel cabinet: Leer ice merchandisers and coolers feature water-tight offset seams without fasteners, welding, or adhesive. The exterior features a two-part coating and all-weather paint to resist rust, humidity, and corrosion at outdoor sites.
• Foamed-in-place insulation: Polyurethane foam measuring 2½" (6.35 cm) in the walls and ceiling and 3" (7.62 cm) in the floor holds temperature and reduces compressor run time.
• Plug-in and listed: Ice merchandisers on Chef's Deal are self-contained, plug-in 115V units carrying UL or cULus listing.

Shop Leer Inc. by Category

Chef's Deal carries Leer ice merchandisers for indoor and outdoor sales, walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-in storage, and mobile refrigerated trailers, with pallet-load and vending units available by quote.

Indoor Ice Merchandisers (Glass Door)

Leer Inc. indoor ice merchandisers use glass doors and LED interior lighting to display bagged ice for impulse sales, making them the standard choice for store interiors near the checkout. The company's collection includes single-door models at 30 cu ft (0.85 m³) and 40 cu ft (1.13 m³) and double-door units up to 85 cu ft (2.41 m³), with argon-filled tempered glass for more energy efficiency on select models.

Outdoor Ice Merchandisers (Steel Door)

Outdoor ice merchandisers replace glass with solid or galvanized steel doors that protect ice from sun, rain, and impact at storefronts, fuel stations, and marinas. Single- and double-door sizes on Chef's Deal run from about 30 cu ft (0.85 m³) to 155 cu ft (4.38 m³) in straight or slanted fronts with rain shields to divert water away from the unit. Leer outdoor ice merchandisers have lockable hasps for more security and red ice decals to attract attention.

Walk-In Coolers & Freezers

Leer Inc. offers quick ship and custom walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, plus box-only panel packages paired with a refrigeration selection. Panels come in three styles: Soft Rail, Wood Rail, and High-Density Rail, sized for restaurant kitchens, grocery back rooms, and floral or beverage storage. On Chef's Deal, you can filter Leer walk-ins by indoor or outdoor installation, with or without floor, and self-contained or remote refrigeration. So, please check and verify the panel types for each model on the spec sheet.

Refrigerated Reach-In Storage

Leer Inc. reach-in refrigerators and reach-in freezers feature the all-steel construction of the brand's ice merchandisers, adding indoor or outdoor cold storage when floor space is limited. Available in outdoor and indoor options, the sizes range from 38 cubic feet (1.07 m³) models to large 80 cubic feet (2.26 m³) units.

Mobile Refrigerated Trailers

Leer mobile refrigerated trailers are available in 4' × 8' (1.21 × 2.43 m) with 148 cu ft (4.19 m³) and 5' × 10' (1.52 × 3.05 m) with 285 cu ft (8.07 m³) storage capacity. Leer mobile refrigeration trailers are multi-temperature units that operate between -4°F and 40°F (-20°C to 4.44°C) on standard 120V power. With large door openings, they support catering jobs, outdoor events, and overflow storage.

Pallet-Load Merchandisers & Ice Vending Machines

High-volume pallet-load merchandisers such as the PL150 and PL225 let staff restock full pallets of bagged ice with a pallet jack instead of loading bags by hand, while self-service ice vending machines sell ice 24 hours a day without an attendant.

Leer Inc. for Convenience Stores, Grocery, Foodservice & Events

Leer Inc.'s ice merchandiser and refrigeration solutions lineup fits any operation that sells or stores ice or perishables.

• Convenience stores & fuel stations: Leer Inc. outdoor steel-door merchandisers are ideal for boosting sales when placed at the entrance or next to the register for impulse buys.
• Grocery & packaged-ice routes: Leer ice merchandisers offer enough capacity to match delivery frequency, so the cabinet never runs empty between drops, while walk-ins in the back room hold bulk stock.
• Restaurants & bars: Leer walk-in coolers and freezers hold produce, proteins, kegs, and frozen inventory in one temperature-controlled room.
• Catering & events: Refrigerated trailers bring cooler or freezer space to off-site venues, festivals, and weddings.

How to Choose a Leer Ice Merchandiser

Choose a glass-door unit to sell ice inside the store and a steel-door unit for outdoor sites, then size it to the bags you sell.

• Indoor vs. outdoor: Glass doors and LED lighting sell ice by sight indoors, while steel doors, weather-resistant coatings, and rain shields protect ice and reduce energy consumption outside.
• Capacity: Count the bags you sell between ice deliveries, add a buffer for weekends and heat waves, and pick the cabinet that holds that number.
• Cold wall vs. auto defrosts: Cold wall units cool through refrigerant lines inside the cabinet walls and need periodic manual defrosting with the unit emptied and unplugged. Auto-defrost units clear frost on a scheduled cycle, limiting frost buildup and bags sticking together at humid sites.
• Power: Plan a dedicated 115V outlet for each merchandiser.
• Placement: Measure the footprint and door swing and leave at least 3" (7.62 cm) of air space around the cabinet for ventilation.

For walk-ins, decide between floor and floorless boxes, self-contained or remote refrigeration, and Soft, Wood, or High-Density Rail panels. Chef's Deal design team can size the box and match the refrigeration.

Is Leer Inc. a Good Brand?

Yes, Leer Inc. is one of the longest-running ice merchandiser makers in the U.S., and its cabinets are widely used by packaged-ice suppliers, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Factory replacement parts and technical support help keep every product in Leer Inc.'s lineup running smoothly, from merchandisers to walk-ins.

Leer Inc. Parts, Manuals & Tech Support

The manufacturer supplies replacement parts and technical support for its ice merchandisers, ice vending machines, walk-ins, and reach-ins. Owner's manuals and spec sheets are available in the Literature Library on the Leer Inc. website. For order questions or warranty coordination on equipment bought here, contact the Chef's Deal team.

Why Buy Leer Inc. from Chef's Deal

Chef's Deal brings Leer ice merchandisers, walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-ins, and refrigerated trailers into one catalog, with quote support for pallet-load, vending, and other unlisted models. Every order is backed by our price match guarantee, financing options for larger equipment purchases, warehouses in Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and nationwide freight delivery.

Shop Leer Inc. at Chef's Deal

Shop Leer indoor and outdoor ice merchandisers, walk-in coolers and freezers, and refrigerated trailers at Chef's Deal, or request a quote for any Leer model.