When you operate a food service business, purchasing a commercial refrigerator is a big decision. Convenience stores, cafeterias, restaurants, and micro-markets all rely on commercial refrigeration equipment to keep food at safe temperatures and display food products as attractively as possible for consumer consumption.
When you add in energy costs and environmental concerns, you can see that several factors go into the buying decision.
Here are some common questions buyers ask when purchasing commercial refrigerators.
What Kind of Commercial Refrigerator Do I Need for My Food Service Business?
Food service managers need to examine their operations and then determine their needs before exploring different commercial refrigeration models. If you’re managing a supermarket or convenience store, consider the space you have available on the floor and what space is ideal for showcasing food product so customers can easily see and select the items they want to purchase. If you have limited space, such as in a hotel micro-market or small retail store, consider a countertop refrigerator or a slim model like an Open-Air Merchandiser.
You should also consider how much traffic you can expect at your store. If you have peak shopping times at your store, you may want to consider a 2-door commercial refrigerator or even a 3-door model so people can get the food they want without blocking other customers.
Finally, think about the type of food you will be storing in the commercial refrigerator. For example, if you are storing milk for use in a cafeteria or restaurant kitchen, you may want to purchase a specially designed milk cooler.
Is This Commercial Refrigerator Energy Efficient and Environmentally-Friendly?
Food service businesses often have a significant footprint that require lots of energy to maintain. They also tend to need more than one commercial refrigerator for their operations. That makes energy efficiency a key factor in determining what type of commercial refrigerator to buy. Look for models with built in energy savers like LED lighting and electronic fan motors. These features ensure your commercial refrigeration equipment will use less energy while delivering maximum performance.
Closely related to energy efficiency is environmental impact. Look for models made with eco-friendly components such as CFC and HFC free Cyclopentane Foam. Cyclopentane is a blowing agent that is used during the manufacturing process to push foam insulation to the doors and cases of refrigerators. Using CFC and HFC free cyclopentane reduces the production of ozone depleting substances that are harmful to the environment. Purchasing commercial refrigerators made using an environmentally-conscious manufacturing process is a win for your food service business, your customers, and the planet.
Purchasing a new commercial refrigerator is a big decision but you don’t have to make it alone. Contact Imbera Foodservice today at 678-504-6835 to find out which of our commercial refrigerators best suits your needs.
