Merchandising Refrigeration

Merchandising is the process of presenting products and services to customers and clients in a way that attracts more attention. Merchandising aims to boost sales and increase profitability while raising brand awareness and developing customer loyalty. Merchandising applications include signage, illuminated cabinets or equipment, vibrant and eye-catching color palettes, and many other tactics, such as shelving, product placement, and layout creation.

Merchandising refrigeration refers to commercial refrigeration units designed to display and store perishable products in retail environments, such as supermarkets, convenience stores, and cafes. These units are typically equipped with clear glass doors or open fronts, attractive lighting, and adjustable shelving to enhance product visibility and appeal, encouraging impulse purchases while maintaining optimal temperature conditions to preserve the quality and safety of the products.

Merchandising refrigeration aims to entice customers to buy more items while ensuring the safe storage of temperature-sensitive foods, drinks, and beverages. It is highly significant in retail and food service because it minimizes food loss and prevents public health problems. It enables the foodservice industry to ensure the sale or service of drinks, beverages, ice cream, and other frozen treats at optimal temperatures, thereby maximizing customer satisfaction.

Merchandising refrigeration offers benefits for the foodservice and retail industry, including enhancing product visibility and appeal, extending the shelf life of perishable goods, increasing impulse purchases and sales, and providing energy efficiency and cost savings. Key types of merchandising refrigeration include floral coolers, glass door merchandisers, countertop merchandisers, open-air merchandisers, floor models, refrigerated display cases, and ice merchandisers. These units are designed with illuminated interiors, vibrant colors, adjustable shelving, and advanced temperature control to attract customers and maintain product quality.

When choosing and using merchandising refrigeration, businesses should consider optimal placement and layout, stocking techniques, regular maintenance, and monitoring temperatures to maximize efficiency and sales. Initial purchase costs, installation expenses, and operating costs should be carefully planned and budgeted, with options for financing and government incentives available. Future trends in merchandising refrigeration focus on technological advancements, sustainability, and evolving consumer preferences, driving the industry toward more efficient, eco-friendly, and visually appealing solutions.

4 Benefits of Merchandising Refrigeration

Merchandising refrigeration offers distinctive benefits for the foodservice and retail industry thanks to its characteristic design, which features more illumination, vibrant and eye-catching colors, and transparent front doors.

1. Enhances Product Visibility and Appeal

Merchandising refrigeration is a crucial element in the foodservice and retail industry. Because of its special design, it is among the primary things you see in supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, or bars.

The characteristics of merchandising refrigeration are their vibrant colors, back-lit top, front or side signages, and illuminated interiors. Colors are influential in the purchasing decisions of the consumers in stores and are decisive In the buying decisions of up to 90% of the customers, as explained in the study by Diane E. Moir. Visually appealing displays drive higher quality perceptions in buyers’ minds about product quality, as Michael Colin Cant and Yolande Hefer asserted in their article. Merchandising refrigeration is, therefore, ideal for organizing and storing beverages and foods for more appeal to incoming customers.

2. Extends Shelf Life Of Perishable Products

Merchandising refrigeration refers to freezers and coolers designed for display while maintaining the optimal temperature levels to store and serve perishable products, drinks, and beverages. According to the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, most fresh foods, such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and vacuum-packaged foods, must be stored at 41°F or lower (5°C or lower) to ensure extended freshness.

Most beverages, including beer and carbonated beverages, are best stored at 35°F to 45°F (1.5°C to 7.2°C). Merchandising coolers generally run between 33-54°F while the merchandiser freezers can be as cold as -15°F (-26°C). Your valuable stocks of food, drinks, beverages, ice cream, and other perishables retain their taste and texture with enhanced safety.

3. Increases Impulse Purchases And Sales

62% of people shopping in brick-and-mortar stores make unplanned buying decisions, and 82% make in-store purchasing decisions, according to the POPAI’s Mass Merchant Shopper Engagement Study. Creating an organized presentation with vibrant colors increases impulse sales, raising your profits.

4. Energy Efficiency And Cost Savings

Merchandising refrigeration contains specially designed units engineered to minimize energy consumption even after frequent door openings and glass door interiors. These units have more powerful compressors to prevent fluctuations. In addition, merchandiser refrigerators and freezers are tailored to draw air from the coolest part of the establishment, mostly through the bottom-mounted refrigeration systems. Their interior lighting has LED lights to decrease consumption despite constant use. This reduces the energy consumption and lowers your energy bills.

Types of Merchandising Refrigeration

Due to the high diversity of products, drinks, and beverages that need to be stored in chilled or freezing cabinets, there is a wide range of merchandising refrigeration:

Floral Coolers

Floral coolers are specialty merchandising refrigeration solutions designed to hold flowers and plants safely and display them for higher attraction. These refrigerated merchandisers are set to retain the temperature at 35°F (1.6°C) and 85 to 90% humidity. Hence, floral coolers are ideal for florists, grocery stores, and flower shops to prevent discolorations and preserve their flowers and plants for up to 5 days.

Glass Door Merchandisers

Glass door merchandisers are the most common type of merchandising refrigeration, and you can see them in almost every C-store, supermarket, restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment center. They boast a visually appealing display with an illuminated interior that you can easily peruse the inside through the glass door. These merchandising refrigeration units generally have double-pane glass doors to increase the insulation and keep the chilled air inside for lower energy use.

Glass door merchandisers are available in various sizes to address operational volumes. Single-section units generally have a 24-27″ (60.96-68.58 cm) width and can offer around 23 cubic feet (0.651 cubic meters) of storage capacity. 5- or 6-section glass door refrigerated merchandisers offering up to 133.7 cubic feet (3.785 cubic meters) of storage capacity. Your options are not limited to these ready-to-ship models; you can have larger units with custom-made units that can be extended as long as you need.

• Merchandiser Coolers: Run between 33°F and 54°F (0.555°C and 12.222°C) to safely store chilled products, vegetables, and other fresh perishables.
• Merchandiser Freezers: Operates between 0° to -15°F (18° to -26°C) to hold frozen treats
• Combo Merchandisers: Multi-functional glass door merchandisers that can be shifted from freezer to cooler mode with a switch; ideal for flexible operations

Countertop Merchandiser Fridges

Countertop merchandiser fridges are compact merchandising refrigeration solutions with a lower height and smaller footprint. Hence, they are also called convenience store merchandisers. They are commonly used in C-stores to increase impulse sales of snacks and beverages by being placed next to cash registers and countertops.

Open-Air Merchandisers

Open-air merchandisers have fully open fronts to increase grab-and-go purchases by eliminating the need to open a door. These units cool the interior and capture the chilled air inside with an air stream or air curtain at the front. You must ensure your products are at the optimal serving temperature before stocking them. Perfect for keeping beverages, produce, and dairy products, open-air merchandisers also have night curtains to enable you to cover the merchandiser at night to keep the cold inside.

Floor Models

Floor-model merchandising refrigeration units are free-standing units designed to offer higher stocking capacity. They are mostly used to store and display beverages, drinks, or packaged foods and have glass doors to increase visibility.

Refrigerated Display Cases

Refrigerated display cases are specially designed food retail merchandising solutions designed to direct the focus on food products with illuminated interiors and glass door fronts. They are used to store and exhibit meat, cheese, pastry products, packaged foods, sushi, or croissants. They feature higher humidity levels to retain the products’ freshness for extended periods, making them ideal for bakeries, delis, Asian restaurants, butcher shops, and supermarkets.

Ice Merchandisers

Ice merchandisers are the easiest way to hold, display, and sell packaged or unpackaged ice commercially. They can provide consistent temperature levels between 10°F and 30°F (-12.222°C and -1.111°C) and are available in indoor and outdoor models. Most units show ice type at the front or top to increase visibility for higher sales.

Key Features of Merchandising Refrigeration

Merchandising refrigeration has distinctive features, such as display options, temperature control, energy efficiency, durability, and build quality, that attract buyers’ attention and increase sales while keeping the products safe and cold.

Display Options

Merchandising refrigerators and freezers present a dazzling appearance through visual details with significant functions. Merchandising refrigeration units have either glass doors to fully enclose the cabinet or open fronts, engineered to retain the interior cold through an air stream or air curtain in the front part. This ensures continuous chill inside the cabinet while lowering energy consumption.

Lighting is the prime feature of merchandising refrigeration units. Hence, all merchandiser coolers and freezers feature illuminated interior cabinets. Most units have illuminated panels or signages at the top to increase visibility and enable branding or product promotion. You can also find side-illuminated designs for visual attraction. Merchandising refrigeration units have LED lighting for longer service life, up to 25,000 hours, and higher lighting capacity with around 80% more efficiency.

Merchandising refrigeration is tailored to maximize product visibility, and therefore, it has shelved cabinets to expand the display area. The floor-type merchandising refrigeration generally has 4 shelves coated with epoxy to extend their lifetime. The shelves are adjustable to enable you to change the shelf height for various product groups, and some models also allow shelf slanting to increase loading capacity while increasing visibility.

Temperature Control

Merchandising refrigeration features electronic thermostats for enhanced control over the cabinet temperature, and it frequently has digital thermostats with LED displays to allow you to adjust the temperature as needed.

Merchandising refrigeration units offer versatility for commercial establishments with multi-zone cooling options. Merchandisers with multi-section units can be found with independently controlled cabinets. One section can retain the temperature at freezing levels while the other is set to maintain the chilled temperature. So, you can keep frozen and chilled products in separate sections of the same unit.

Energy Efficiency

Considering the remarkable amount of electricity needed for refrigeration, merchandiser freezers, and refrigerators are engineered to lower energy use. They feature high-density polyurethane insulation construction to minimize the loss of cold. They have snap-in magnetic gaskets made of double-pane glass at the doors to seal them tightly. Most merchandising refrigeration units are Energy Star certified for their low energy consumption.

Durability and Build Quality

Merchandiser refrigerators and coolers are made to last in commercial settings. Their sturdy construction minimizes the total cost of ownership. They are manufactured from stainless steel or heavy-duty stainless steel in the interior and exterior to withstand the rigorous conditions of frequent use in commercial establishments.

Merchandising refrigeration is a part of your sales promotion efforts and a crucial unit in your storage operations. It is designed for consistently reliable operation, guaranteed through regular maintenance and frequent cleaning. Expert maintenance can extend its service time and minimize breakdowns, while cleaning ensures a neat and alluring view for customers.

Popular Brands and Models

Merchandising refrigeration is among the prime necessities of foodservice, hospitality, and entertainment businesses, ranging from small to large-scale facilities. Hence, there are numerous options on the market, addressing all types of needs, budgets, and requirements by leading manufacturers like:

All these brands produce reliable merchandising refrigeration units, and some models stand out in the market with their versatility and efficient use:

True GDM-72 Glass Door Merchandiser Cooler: 3-section floor-type glass door merchandiser refrigerator with 12 shelves (4 in each section); Features LED lights, thermal insulated swing doors; 72 cubic feet (2.038 cubic meters) total storage volume

Atosa MCF8721ES Glass Door Merchandiser Freezer: 2-section floor-type glass door merchandiser freezer with 8 shelves (4 in each section); Features LED lights, thermal insulated swing doors; 54 cubic feet (1.529 cubic meters) total storage volume

Maxx Cold MXM2-48RBHC Glass Door Merchandiser Refrigerator: 2-section floor-type glass door merchandiser refrigerator with 8 shelves (4 in each section); Features LED lights, thermal insulated swing doors; 48 cubic feet total storage volume, black exterior

Atosa USA CTD-5 Countertop Merchandiser Refrigerator: 1-section countertop glass door merchandiser refrigerator with 3 shelves; Features LED lights, thermal insulated swing doors; 4.6 cubic feet total storage volume, black exterior

Best Practices for Using Merchandising Refrigeration

After purchasing your merchandising refrigeration units for your establishment, you can boost their efficiency through smart techniques resulting from long-time observations and experience.

Optimal Placement And Layout In Retail Spaces

A supermarket, grocery store, or restaurant layout is not random. It is driven by increasing sales through applying the perfect layout, which will make the most of your available space and contribute to your sales. Merchandising refrigeration must be placed in front of the walls to facilitate connections. Supermarkets usually have entrances through a door next to a wall, and convenience stores are smaller, allowing customers to see the opposite wall where the merchandisers are placed. This maximizes the visibility of your products and increases the chance of making impulse sales.

Stocking Techniques To Maximize Visibility And Access

Consumers are more likely to buy products they can easily see and grab, called the “Eye Level, Buy Level” rule. So, the products with the highest profit margin must be placed on the upper shelves of the merchandisers to increase the chance of selling. The merchandiser refrigerators for dairy products and meat must be located at the back of the facility to increase the time the customer spends perusing the product shelves to reach their common needs.

Regular Maintenance and Cleaning Schedules

Merchandising refrigeration systems is a costly investment, and it is highly important to keep them in good condition and maintain them regularly. This ensures the constantly high performance of your equipment and prevents unexpected breakdowns. Scheduled cleanings guarantee a hygienic and attractive look in your unit, while regularly cleaning gaskets reduces electric use.

Monitoring and Adjusting Temperatures

Merchandising refrigeration coolers and freezers need to operate on the correct temperature level to ensure the safety of products and optimal serving temperature for drinks and packaged foods. They have digital thermometers to monitor and adjust temperature. You can use temperature data loggers and sensors to check the conditions inside constantly.

Cost Considerations and Budgeting for Merchandising Refrigeration

Merchandising refrigeration requires significant expenditures, so it requires careful consideration and planning to purchase and operate a refrigerated merchandising section.

Initial Purchase Costs

Merchandising freezers and coolers are available in a wide price range, including countertop convenience store coolers for several hundred dollars and 5- or 6-section units for up to $25,000. Hence, you should plan your needs at the beginning and purchase the right size for your operations to avoid redundant spending.

Installation and Setup Expenses

Installation and setup expenses should also be considered when planning to purchase merchandising refrigeration. Installation by an expert eliminates errors and unexpected failures but may cost around $3,000, including electrical, ventilation, leveling, and anchoring.

Operating Costs (Energy Consumption, Maintenance)

The operating costs of a merchandising refrigeration unit include energy consumption for cooling and regular maintenance spending. Preferring Energy Star certified merchandiser coolers and freezers helps you decrease your bills. Regular maintenance can prevent costly and time-consuming breakdowns, but its cost should also be considered during budgeting.

Financing Options and ROI Analysis

You do not have to make all the spending at once and resort to financing options to spread your payments over some time. For instance, Chef’s Deal offers a detailed and expansive catalog of financing options that enable you to pay in up to 72 months. With the help of partners like Credit Key, you can also buy now and pay 30 days later. While this helps you narrow your options to the place that presents you with the best conditions, ROI analysis is a key helper in selecting the model you need by showing the rationality of your selection.

Government Incentives

Check for the local and federal government incentives. For example, you can benefit from Chef’s Deal Instant Rebate Program by paying less for Energy Star-certified commercial refrigeration equipment.

Future Trends in Merchandising Refrigeration

Merchandising refrigeration is constantly changing and advancing with evolving technology and new production and consumption trends.

Technological Advancements

Internet is the key to technology now, and the Internet of Things is also expanding in the merchandising refrigeration industry. Merchandiser coolers and freezers are increasingly equipped with internet connections for remote monitoring and control. They enable stock to follow up with new technologies, helping large companies and market chains with flawless operations. New technologies check the components of the system and provide data for preventive maintenance.

Sustainability Trends

The worldwide alert for global warming is strictly related to the refrigeration industry. Particularly, the coolants used in the refrigeration cycle rapidly shift to natural coolants such as CO2, ammonia, and hydrocarbons, which have lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). In addition, Energy Star-certified products are incentivized to encourage buyers to prefer these units rather than appliances with higher energy consumption.

Evolving Consumer Preferences and How They Impact Merchandising Strategies

Consumer attitudes and shopping styles have remarkably changed, especially after COVID-19. This increased the demand for online shopping, necessitating lower prices in traditional brick-and-mortar stores. The time spent in the stores decreased, pushing businesses to attract consumers’ attention quickly. Lastly, people are increasingly vulnerable to visual stimulants while making decisions or perusing the stores. An energy-efficient, eye-catching, easy-to-reach merchandiser will greatly help your impulse sales.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Merchandising refrigeration enhances product visibility, extends the shelf life of perishable goods, and drives impulse purchases, boosting sales and customer satisfaction. Its benefits include energy efficiency and reduced operating costs, making it a valuable asset in the foodservice and retail industry. Various types of merchandising refrigeration, such as glass-door merchandisers, floral coolers, countertop fridges, and open-air merchandisers, cater to diverse needs and settings.

Key features like advanced display options, precise temperature control, and robust energy efficiency are essential for maintaining product quality and minimizing expenses. Durability and regular maintenance ensure the longevity of these units. Leading brands offer reliable models that cater to different operational volumes and budgets while optimal placement and stocking techniques maximize visibility and sales.

Cost considerations encompass initial purchase, installation, and operating expenses, with financing options and government incentives easing the financial burden. Technological advancements and sustainability trends continue to shape the industry, with innovations like the Internet of Things and eco-friendly coolants gaining traction. As consumer preferences evolve, businesses must adapt their merchandising strategies to remain competitive.

Ultimately, understanding the pros and cons of DIY versus professional installation and an awareness of emerging trends and effective maintenance practices empowers business owners to make informed decisions that enhance their commercial kitchen operations and profitability.