Today’s competitive retail landscape demands that convenience stores and supermarkets effectively capture the attention of consumers. That means that commercial refrigeration equipment has to do more than simply chill food products.
Unfortunately, not all commercial refrigerator manufacturers have kept up with the times. These days, commercial refrigerators must feature advances in design, technology, innovation, reliability and sustainability in order to meet the needs of the modern retail store.
What to Look for in a Commercial Refrigerator in 2016
Here’s what to look for in these areas:
Design: Commercial refrigerators must be more than just cold boxes. They must stimulate sales using visual merchandising. Models featuring high efficiency glass doors and LED lighting enable store managers to attractively display food items. Commercial refrigerators should also be designed to make the most of whatever physical space is available without compromising visibility. Compact design allows models to be strategically stationed in high traffic areas that encourage impulse buys even in floor plans with limited space. This is what makes countertop refrigerators a must have for micromarkets.
Technology: Convenience stores and supermarkets need to display the right food products at all times to leverage customer traffic. Look for a commercial refrigerator featuring data collection technology that monitors unit performance in real time. This enables store managers to track inventory levels, optimal temperature and purchasing trends. These metrics allow store managers to adjust stock quantities and prevent food spoilage.
Innovation: Total cost of ownership captures all of the expenses that occur beyond the initial purchase price. This includes installation, operation, energy consumption and maintenance. Today’s commercial refrigerators must use innovation to provide real time information from the point of sale to retail managers. By continuously monitoring the performance of multiple units within a retail space and reporting data back to store managers, staff can be alerted to potentially adverse conditions immediately. This reduces the hidden expenses that can eat away at a store’s profitability.
Today’s Commercial Refrigerators Must Stand the Test of Time
Reliability: A good commercial refrigerator should be built to last. However, there may be times when a unit breaks down. Breakdowns means down time when food items can spoil and can’t be sold to customers. Having a commercial refrigerator with a strong warranty from a manufacturer that offers solid technical support and maintenance makes a huge difference. Look for a manufacturer that offers service coverage nationwide. This is especially valuable for convenience store and supermarket chains operating in multiple regions of the United States.
Sustainability: Energy efficiency doesn’t just apply to the commercial refrigerator when it’s in the retail space. It should be a standard embedded into the model from its creation on the factory floor. Look for commercial refrigerators made with eco-friendly components and equipped with energy management and maintenance devices. Also, seek out models that use the latest CO2 natural refrigerant gas. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere and promotes a healthy environment.
Commercial refrigerators have come a long way since they first arrived on the scene in the mid-1800s. In 2016, coolers have to do more than keep food cold. Commercial refrigerators built for the 21s century must offer advances in design, technology, innovation, reliability and sustainability to meet the needs of the modern retail store.
To learn more about Imbera Foodservice’s state of the art commercial refrigerators, contact us at 678-504-6842.
