Retrofit ice making and bagging apparatus and retrofit method of installation on aisle freezer

A retrofit ice making and bagging apparatus for installation on an existing aisle freezer, comprising:

• an outer housing having a lower end of predetermined shape and dimensions configured for securing on top of the existing aisle freezer, the outer housing having a lower end which is at least partially open to provide a passageway into a freezer compartment through an opening in an upper end of the existing aisle freezer;
• an ice making unit mounted in the outer housing and having an ice outlet through which pieces of ice are dispensed;
• and
• a bag making and filling station located above the lower end of the outer housing and including a bag forming device which is configured to receive film material from a film supply and form film material into bags, the bag forming device having an inlet which directs ice from the ice making unit into a partially formed bag, and a bag sealing and separating device adapted to seal a bag containing ice and separate the bag from the supply of film material supplied to the bag forming device, the bag sealing and separating device communicating with the passageway whereby bags of ice fall into the freezer compartment when separated from the bag sealing and separating device.