Foster KORE vs EcoPro G3, Which Range Suits Your Kitchen?
KORE and EcoPro G3 are Foster’s two main ranges of upright fridges, freezers and refrigerated counters, and the right choice comes down to how hard your kitchen works its refrigeration.
EcoPro G3 is built for heavy workloads, frequent door openings and demanding conditions, and it is the more efficient of the two to run. KORE brings Foster refrigeration to kitchens with lighter workloads at a more affordable price, and its 600 litre uprights are designed to fit through standard doorways.
The short answer
- Choose EcoPro G3 for heavy workloads, frequent door openings and hot kitchens
- Choose EcoPro G3 for lower running costs and the widest choice of models
- Choose KORE for Foster refrigeration at a more affordable price
- Choose KORE when a full-size upright has to fit through a standard doorway
What KORE and EcoPro G3 Share
Both ranges run on R290 refrigerant and carry a Climate Class 5 rating. Both are stainless steel inside and out as standard, sit on castors and come with a two year parts and labour warranty, and the uprights in both ranges can be hinged on the left or right.
Upright Fridges and Freezers Compared
The KORE KU1H and EcoPro G3 EP 700 H are both 600 litre upright refrigerators.
| Feature | KORE KU1H | EcoPro G3 EP 700 H |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | +2°C to +8°C | +1°C to +4°C |
| Gross volume | 600 litres | 600 litres |
| Net volume | 433 litres | 479.9 litres |
| Dimensions (w x d x h) | 700 x 870 x 1965mm | 700 x 855 x 2080mm |
| Energy grade | B | A |
| Maximum ambient | 40°C | 43°C |
| Shelves supplied | 3 | 4 |
EcoPro G3 holds a colder, tighter +1°C to +4°C, carries the higher energy grade, gives you more usable space inside and is rated for hotter kitchens. The KU1H stands 115mm lower than the EP 700 H and is designed to fit through standard doorways, which makes delivery easier on sites with restricted access.
The freezers follow the same pattern. The KORE KU1L and EcoPro G3 EP 700 L both hold -18°C to -21°C with 600 litres of gross volume. The EP 700 L gives you more usable space, at 479.9 litres net against 433 litres, and is rated energy grade B against grade C for the KU1L.
Refrigerated Counters Compared
The KORE KC2H and EcoPro G3 EP 1/2 H are both two door refrigerated counters with 280 litres of gross volume.
| Feature | KORE KC2H | EcoPro G3 EP 1/2 H |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | +2°C to +8°C | +1°C to +4°C |
| Gross volume | 280 litres | 280 litres |
| Net volume | 192.9 litres | 172.3 litres |
| Dimensions (w x d x h) | 1330 x 700 x 850mm | 1365 x 700 x 865mm |
| Energy grade | C | A+ |
| Maximum ambient | 40°C | 43°C |
| Shelves supplied | 2 | 4 |
At three doors, the KORE KC3H and EcoPro G3 EP 1/3 H both offer 435 litres of gross volume, but the KC3H gives you more usable space, at 289.4 litres net against 250.6 litres. The KC3H is also 40mm narrower at 1775mm, and the EP 1/3 H is rated energy grade A against grade C.
EcoPro G3 counters can also be specified with drawers or a saladette cut-out, and the range includes freezer and meat/chill counters as well as a four door model.
Why EcoPro G3 Handles Heavier Workloads
EcoPro G3 is engineered for kitchens where doors open constantly and temperatures need to recover quickly. Its airflow is designed using CFD modelling to bring temperature back down quickly after each opening, and the intelligent PureControl controller has a display that can be read at a glance from almost anywhere in the kitchen.
Its +stayclear condenser is easier to keep clean, which cuts maintenance and helps the unit stay efficient over its working life. With the addition of a gateway, EcoPro G3 can also record HACCP temperature data and energy use, and it can be upgraded to 304 grade stainless steel inside and out.
When KORE Is the Better Choice
KORE suits kitchens where refrigeration is opened less often and the budget points to a more affordable unit. It gives those kitchens a Foster cabinet or counter, built in Foster’s UK factory, with stainless steel inside and out and the same two year warranty as EcoPro G3. On the counters, KORE also gives you more usable space than the matching EcoPro G3 models.
Its uprights are also a practical answer for sites where a full-size 600 litre cabinet has to come through a standard doorway, keeping delivery and installation simple without giving up capacity.
Compare the full ranges in our KORE refrigeration cabinets, KORE refrigerated counters and EcoPro G3 refrigeration cabinets, or call our team on 01582 865050 to talk through your kitchen.
KORE vs EcoPro G3 FAQs
Which range costs less to run, KORE or EcoPro G3?
EcoPro G3 costs less to run, because it carries the higher energy grade on every matching model. KORE costs less to buy. A commercial fridge usually stays in service until the end of its working life, so the saving from EcoPro G3 builds up year after year, and it matters most in kitchens that work their refrigeration hard.
Which range gives you more usable storage space?
It depends on the model. The gross volumes match, but the EcoPro G3 uprights give you more usable space, at 479.9 litres net against 433 litres for the KORE uprights, and come with four shelves rather than three. On the counters, KORE has the edge, with 192.9 litres net in the KC2H against 172.3 litres in the EP 1/2 H, and 289.4 litres in the KC3H against 250.6 litres in the EP 1/3 H.
Which range is better for a hot kitchen?
EcoPro G3, by some margin. It is rated for ambients up to 43°C against 40°C for KORE, and it has the features to keep performing in that heat. The intelligent PureControl controller manages temperature closely, and the uprated +stayclear condenser resists dust build-up and blockages, so airflow stays strong even when the kitchen heats up.
Can I use KORE and EcoPro G3 in the same kitchen?
Yes. You can match each unit to its workload, with EcoPro G3 on the busiest stations and KORE for storage that is opened less often. Choosing both ranges from Foster also has practical benefits, giving you one manufacturer and the same two year parts and labour warranty across every unit.