Mr McEwen said the outcome could have been much worse had they not found the man when they did.
"He could have been in a very bad state with those freezers.
"I don't like to endorse cell phone use, they can be a nuisance ... but he used his initiative."
A spokesperson from St John Ambulance said the man was taken to Rotorua Hospital in a moderate condition.
Foodstuffs NZ Ltd corporate PR director Antoinette Laird said there would be an investigation into the incident.
"The staff member was injured in the chiller and a staff member was already with him when the emergency services arrived," she said.
"It's my understanding that the injury is not serious and we are carrying out a health and safety investigation into the incident."
A WorkSafe New Zealand spokesperson said it was also looking into the incident.
"WorkSafe New Zealand has been notified of the incident at the Rotorua Pak'nSave and we are making follow-up inquiries."