FOOD RETAIL Adapting to the heat


Edward Porter, director of IoT Solutions at IMS Evolve reveals how IoT technology can help food retailers manage increasingly extreme temperatures.


S


ince the extreme heats seen in summer 2022, where businesses across the country battled to keep equipment running in the unprecedented temperatures, retailers are


more focused than ever on being prepared for sudden fl uctuations in heat. Planning ahead has long been the cornerstone of retail operations, whether that be altering footfall projections on hot days or preparing to have the necessary stock on hand for barbeque season. However, the need to prepare for future months is becoming more of a priority, as retailers aim to guarantee the functionality of mission-critical equipment in high temperatures to ensure safety for consumers. At the very core of a food retailer’s business is keeping


produce safe, fresh, and available for consumers. Due to microbes thriving in warmer climates, as temperatures rise, optimum conditions are even more imperative, all the way from production to the shop fl oor. To protect the quality and safety of food, refrigerators and freezers storing the produce must work – and work effi ciently – especially during extreme heat events. However, in extreme heat, these machines ultimately have to work harder to maintain the correct temperatures. This, in turn, consumes more energy, puts additional strain on the equipment, and increases the threat of failures and ineffi ciencies. Research from Imperial College London and UK supermarket Sainsbury’s found that during summer 2018 when there was a substantial elevation in temperatures, refrigerators in 20 Sainsbury’s stores in London and South East England were working harder, requiring 5-11 per cent more energy compared


The answer lies in using intelligent systems to digitise machines and processes to eff ectively monitor critical cooling assets.


with summer 2017, when temperatures were considered by the Met Offi ce to be average for the time of year. The researchers also recorded that refrigerator breakdowns were more regular, as they struggled to keep food chilled during hotter days. The results for retail stores were alarmingly negative, leading to more money being spent on repairing assets, higher energy bills, and more food waste being generated from faulty machines and ineff ective cooling. Moreover, during high temperature seasons there is also an


increase in demand for air conditioning to ensure comfortable working and shopping conditions. This again leads to additional strain on another class of retailer’s assets, along with higher consumption and increased electricity bills. These large AC systems that run across multiple sites are complex and energy- intensive, which is only further amplifi ed during particularly hot weather. To meet the increasing need for eff ective and robust cooling while abiding by government sustainability regulations and controlling operational costs, food retailers can embrace technology to safeguard food, mitigate stock loss, protect equipment, and maintain availability for consumers.


Machines working smarter instead of harder Advanced IoT (Internet of Things) technology solutions are


available that gather, analyse, and action asset data, such as refrigeration and AC systems, to ensure that machines are working smarter, not harder, helping to build robust and resilient infrastructure in the face of more extreme heat, along with other operational challenges. By implementing an IoT software layer over existing


infrastructure, retailers can digitally upgrade assets and monitor and manage raw machine data around everything from temperature set points to energy consumption, all without the prohibitive cost of machine and infrastructure upgrades. The collected data from multiple machines is then translated and accessible on a single online platform. This advanced intelligence system can provide real-time insights into machine health and performance, and using integrated Machine Learning (ML) capabilities, can enact instant resolutions to drive fully optimised assets, improve effi ciency, and minimise consumption. For example, traditionally, retailers were unable to manage and confi gure refrigeration units separately to follow individual temperature regimes, so retailers would have to chill all food to the minimum temperature required by the most susceptible food product (meat), rather than the optimum temperature


20 March 2024 • www.acr-news.com Download the ACR News app today


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44