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Case Study: The Pig

Top rated replacement fridge seal supplier for commercial appliances
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The story

Saving a working kitchen at The Pig through simple, fast solutions for commercial fridge and freezer door seals

Taking over a working kitchen, without the paperwork

When Jimmy Wright took responsibility for maintenance at The Pig in the Cotswolds, he inherited a fully equipped commercial kitchen. The building had operated as a hotel previously, and most of the catering and refrigeration equipment came with it.

On paper, everything worked. But the handover was incomplete. Some equipment was bespoke to the original fit-out. Model numbers were missing. Documentation was patchy at best.

That created an immediate risk: if something failed, sourcing replacement parts wouldn't be straightforward.

When a £20 component threatens a £5,000 appliance

The issue became critical around refrigeration door seals.

One of the commercial units needed new gaskets, but there was no clear route to source them. No model number. No supplier history. Just a working appliance that, without replacement seals, would have had to be scrapped entirely.

This wasn't a small inconvenience. The hotel was launching, budgets were already committed, and unexpected capital spend would have had real operational impact.

Jimmy described the pressure honestly: worrying about losing a piece of equipment and spending thousands of pounds over "something as minimal as gaskets" - even though he knew how critical they were to keeping the kitchen running safely and efficiently.

There was also genuine concern about timescales. Past experience had shown that sourcing door seals could mean weeks of waiting, chasing overseas suppliers, and still ending up with parts that didn't fit.

For FM teams managing multiple sites or dealing with SLA commitments, those delays can quickly turn into contract breaches.

The Solution

A recommendation and a different approach

The solution came through a recommendation from another maintenance manager within The Pig group, who suggested speaking to Gasket Guy.


What stood out immediately was that Gasket Guy didn't rely on OEM parts or overseas supply chains. As a UK manufacturer, they could offer something fundamentally different.


Instead of asking for missing information Jimmy didn't have, they proposed something practical: come to site, tag the equipment, measure the seals, and remove the guesswork altogether. Jimmy agreed to book it in.


He mentioned being naturally cautious with new contractors - he's protective of the kitchen and prefers to be on site. On this occasion, the visit happened on a day he wasn't there, but the feedback from his assistant was reassuring straight away.
The asset tagging was professional, calm, and unobtrusive. The kitchen team barely noticed it happening.


When speed, accuracy, and simplicity matter most


What followed addressed every concern Jimmy had raised.


Communication was fast. Quotes came back quickly, no chasing required.


The replacement door seals arrived promptly. Each gasket was clearly labelled to match the correct appliance, removing any risk of confusion or wasted time on site.


The instructions were straightforward. So straightforward, in fact, that Jimmy said he could have left the installation to someone who had never fitted a gasket before. That simplicity mattered - it meant junior staff could handle it, there was no need for specialist engineers, and the kitchen could keep running without disruption.


Most importantly, the seals fitted first time.


After previous experiences of waiting weeks only to find parts didn't fit, this was a significant relief. The turnaround was quick, the fit was perfect, and the problem was solved without drama.


From worry to confidence, with a solution for the future


The immediate issue was resolved. But the bigger change was both strategic and sustainable.


Equipment that was at risk of being written off stayed in service, saving thousands in unplanned capital spend and keeping perfectly functional appliances out of landfill.


Time and money were saved by avoiding overseas suppliers and the multiple profit margins that come with international supply chains. By sourcing from a UK manufacturer, The Pig also significantly reduced the carbon footprint of their refrigeration maintenance - no air miles, no multiple shipments from different OEMs across Europe and Asia, just consolidated deliveries from a single British source.


Installation became a simple, low-stress task that didn't require specialist callouts, further reducing unnecessary engineer travel and associated emissions.


Faster turnaround on replacement seals meant less energy waste. Split or damaged door seals cause refrigeration units to work harder, increasing energy consumption and running costs. By being able to source and fit replacements quickly, The Pig could address efficiency issues before they became expensive problems.


And critically, with an asset register now in place, future door seal replacements won't start from scratch. Every appliance is documented, measured, and ready for quick reordering when needed.


For businesses with sustainability commitments - whether B Corp certified like The Pig, or simply working to reduce their environmental impact - this approach delivers measurable benefits: reduced carbon in the supply chain, extended equipment life, lower energy consumption, and minimised waste.


For FM teams managing multiple sites or working to tight SLA windows, that shift from reactive to predictable is the difference between constant firefighting and confident planning.


For Jimmy, the biggest shift was peace of mind.


What had caused genuine worry - even the sense of losing sleep - was replaced with confidence. He now knows that any gasket he comes across in future, no matter how old the appliance, has a solution.


"Knowing there's a reliable solution, no matter how old the appliance, gives real peace of mind."

Gasket Guy took what could have been a stressful, drawn-out problem and made it simple. Fast turnaround, seals that fit first time, and instructions clear enough for a junior to install. We now have a solution for any fridge or freezer, no matter how old.
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Jimmy Wright, Maintenance Manager

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