SUPERMARKET REFRIGERATION


Open display cabinets – the new business case


Adande Aircell’s engineering and development director, Ian Wood, examines the refrigerated display options available to chilled food retailers who are seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs.


Ian Wood Lewis Bourne Notwith-


standing the widespread adoption of cabinets with doors, it is clear that low energy, open front displays are viable options for C-store and large supermarket applications. Lewis Bourne believes that attitudes are changing towards


retail display solutions.


S


ince I last wrote in the pages of ACR News, the country has had a General Election and a change of government. The new administration’s current published policy on the


environment heralds an aggressive stance with ambitious plans for investment in clean energy generation infrastructure to achieve carbon free electricity by 2030 and accelerate the race to net zero emissions. Only time will tell whether these objectives can be achieved whilst balancing the Treasury’s books. In the face of these commitments and the prospect of higher energy costs, forecast to rise by up to 5% in Q4 of 2024 with further increases beyond that, retailers will be prioritising the installation of more effi cient refrigeration solutions, but there are compromises to consider. In recent years OEMs and specifi ers of retail refrigeration have been forced to implement the change to glass doors, because there hasn’t been an alternative delivering suffi cient energy reductions. While this transition to doors has generally proven successful, they are not a panacea for all C-Store and supermarket applications. Retail operators are now experiencing some challenges with doors, in certain applications, that they did not experience with traditional open front cabinets. There are several advantages of open front displays, especially in high footfall stores and departments. They aff ord free and unfettered visual and physical access to merchandise for browsing and shopping, especially for customers with disabilities and mobility issues. Stocking and restocking cabinets is easier and quicker for open front cabinets, reducing labour costs. Order picking for home delivery services is simpler and faster with open front cabinets. Total cost of ownership for cabinets with doors is a factor not often included within energy saving calculations, with the expense passed on to facilities maintenance departments to add to their budgets. Costs for cleaning, re-alignment and replacement of damaged doors, together with energy losses whilst waiting for replacement doors, are vital considerations. The ongoing impact on overall carbon


22 October 2024 • www.acr-news.com


footprint of manufacturing and replacing doors is also not environmentally friendly. Lewis Bourne, CEO at Lucabo International has also


identifi ed optimum use of available fl oorspace as a positive benefi t of open front cabinets. “The cost per square foot of retail fl oorspace has


increased and maximum utilisation of the space is vital to the profi tability of the retailer. Operating within a limited available fl oor area, shopper access, total shopping basket spend and egress may be compromised in narrow aisles when hinged doors are open. This can necessitate wider aisles, resulting in reduced eff ective use of valuable fl oorspace for cabinets and less overall retail display capacity. Open hinged doors can also cause delays for customers wishing to shop from the same bay of the cabinet.”


Notwithstanding the widespread adoption of cabinets with doors, it is clear that low energy, open front displays are viable options for C-store and large supermarket applications. Lewis Bourne believes that attitudes are changing towards retail display solutions. “We have spoken to many retailers, who have recognised that doors are not a solution for every application and are assessing the many advantages of open front displays. We call it the ‘boomerang’ eff ect whereby C-stores and supermarkets are reverting to integral and remote open front multi decks, especially in high footfall areas, where easy access for shopping and browsing is required.” The busiest departments within C-stores and supermarkets


are often the areas dedicated to grab-and-go and promotional sales. For this reason, low energy, integral open front cabinets are becoming an increasingly attractive option. Typically, integral models can operate on a 13 A plug with a standard 230 V power supply and require no external drainage, meaning that they can be easily relocated on the shop fl oor for versatile merchandising and seasonal variations in product off er. Energy effi ciency ensures lower running costs,


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