How an award-winning artisanal gelato producer delivers frozen products across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane with full visibility and proof of every delivery.
Maleny Food Co is an award-winning artisanal food producer nestled in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland. Founded in 2001 as Colin James Fine Foods, the company has grown from a small cafe and fromagerie into a nationally recognised brand celebrated for its handcrafted gelato and sorbet, made fresh daily using rich Guernsey milk and cream, local fruits, and premium Italian ingredients.
The company operates a retail cafe at 29 Maple Street in Maleny, a wholesale facility at 23 Coral Street, and a walk-in fromagerie stocked with hundreds of gourmet cheeses. Their gelato has won multiple Gold Medals at major Australian food competitions, and they supply chefs, restaurants, and scoop shops across Australia. When the business first started, they managed deliveries with a single vehicle that barely filled up. As demand grew, so did the complexity of their delivery operations.
Delivering frozen gelato and sorbet presents a unique logistics challenge. Unlike ambient goods, frozen products must remain at controlled temperatures throughout the entire delivery chain. Any delay, detour, or mishandling can result in spoiled product, unhappy customers, and costly replacements. For a premium brand like Maleny Food Co, where quality is the cornerstone of their reputation, the stakes are especially high.
As the wholesale side of the business expanded to supply restaurants and scoop shops across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, Maleny Food Co needed better visibility into their delivery operations. Without clear records of when and where deliveries were made, resolving disputes with wholesale clients was difficult. Drivers were also fielding calls from customers wanting to know estimated arrival times, pulling them away from their routes and slowing down the entire operation.
Maleny Food Co implemented Locate2u to bring transparency and accountability to their delivery operations. With real-time tracking, wholesale customers now receive a branded tracking link showing exactly where their order is and when it will arrive. This eliminated the constant back-and-forth phone calls that were disrupting drivers and the office team.
Proof of delivery became the other critical component. Drivers now capture photos and accurate timestamps at every drop-off, creating a clear digital record that each delivery was completed successfully. When a dispute arises -- whether a customer claims a delivery was missed or arrived late -- Maleny Food Co has photographic evidence and time-stamped data to resolve it quickly. With optimised routes, drivers spend less time on the road, meaning frozen products stay at optimal temperatures throughout the journey.
The frozen food delivery industry operates under constraints that most delivery businesses never face. Temperature-sensitive products like gelato require an unbroken cold chain from production facility to customer. Every extra minute on the road increases the risk of temperature fluctuations that can compromise product texture, taste, and safety.
For wholesale customers in the food service industry, receiving a delivery of partially thawed gelato is not just an inconvenience -- it means product that cannot be served, revenue lost, and menus disrupted. This is why route efficiency is not a luxury for frozen food businesses; it is an operational necessity that directly impacts the bottom line and brand reputation.
When delivering to restaurants, cafes, and retail outlets, the dynamics are different from consumer deliveries. B2B deliveries often involve loading dock access, specific delivery windows, and multiple sign-off requirements. Without proper documentation, disputes over delivery timing, quantities, and product condition can damage commercial relationships and lead to financial losses.
Digital proof of delivery with photo evidence and GPS-stamped timestamps creates an audit trail that protects both the supplier and the customer. For Maleny Food Co, this means every delivery to every restaurant and scoop shop is documented, searchable, and available for review at any time. It transforms what was once a source of friction into a foundation of trust.
"With Locate2u, our customers know exactly when their gelato is arriving, and we have proof that every delivery was completed. It has completely changed how we manage our wholesale distribution."
Frozen food deliveries are susceptible to disputes about timing, product condition, and whether deliveries were actually made. Digital proof of delivery with photos and timestamps provides an indisputable record, protecting businesses from false claims and enabling quick resolution when issues arise.
By calculating the most efficient delivery sequence, route optimization reduces the total time products spend in transit. For frozen goods like gelato and sorbet, shorter routes mean less exposure to temperature variations, ensuring products arrive at the correct temperature and in the best possible condition.
Yes. Locate2u is designed to manage both B2B and B2C delivery operations. Whether delivering bulk orders to restaurants or individual orders to consumers, the platform provides the same route optimization, real-time tracking, and proof of delivery capabilities across all delivery types.
Wholesale customers such as restaurants and cafes can use tracking links to prepare for incoming deliveries. Knowing exactly when a delivery will arrive allows kitchen teams to clear loading dock space, assign staff for unloading, and ensure proper cold storage is ready -- reducing wait times and keeping operations running smoothly.