Cooling fresh fish efficiently – without the hassle of melting ice

In the seafood sector, flake ice is still widely used to keep fish fresh during transport and retail. But there’s a more efficient, cleaner, and cost-saving option: Ice Pack XL. Developed by Inter Fresh Concepts, this innovative cooling mat combines long-lasting performance with practical advantages for processors, retailers, and logistics providers.

How Ice Pack XL works

Ice Pack XL is a flexible mat that is activated on-site in a water bath. The pads absorb water and turn into a gel emulsion. Once frozen, they form a gel ice that keeps fish at a consistent 0°C for up to three days, depending on the insulation quality of the packaging.

Compared to traditional flake ice, Ice Pack XL takes up less space and weighs less, reducing overall transport costs. Plus, the soft, flexible material prevents pressure marks and frost damage to delicate seafood.

Leak-free and customer-friendly cooling

For fish retailers, Ice Pack XL offers a much cleaner and more reliable way to keep fish cool after purchase. “Sorse, lome retailers give flake ice in a plastic bag, but that can turn into a bag of water by the time the customer gets home—or weak onto the fish,” says Leon Hogervorst, product developer at Inter Fresh Concepts. “Ice Pack XL seals itself after filling, so there’s no leaking meltwater.”

Updated design for even better usability

The latest version of Ice Pack XL now features double-sided plastic. This makes the sheets easier to handle and prevents them from sticking together—especially useful in fast-paced production or retail environments.

More space in your freezer, less waste

Unlike pre-filled gel packs, Ice Pack XL is supplied dry. This has a major advantage: you only freeze what you need. “Ready-to-use gel pads take up a lot of freezer space, even when not in use,” explains Hoogervorst. “With Ice Pack XL, you can store up to 500 dry pads in a single box (28x40 cm). Freezing is also quicker, making it ideal for dynamic operations.”