Why is Open Display Chiller Better?

When it comes to Commercial Refrigeration for food retail business, the visual appeal of display fridges are a contributing factor in maximising sales and as such are an important investment. The success of your business is not only dependent on the products you're selling but also on how effective you are at capturing and retaining customers' attention so as to encourage purchases.

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The selection of display fridges on the market is generally divided in two types “ open displays and glass door displays. One of the main features for both doored and open-fronted display cases is how accessible they are to the consumer for selecting the product. Both may provide suitable solutions for a wide range of commercial refrigeration products and yet both have their pros and cons.

Open Display Fridges

Open display fridges are commonly used in supermarkets, fruit shops, take-aways and convenience stores which gives the customer an unobstructed access to chilled products.

Open display refrigeration works by circulating cold air throughout the cabinet with an invisible air curtain creating a barrier between the outside ambient temperature and the desired operating temperature of the cabinet. This ensures the preservation and longevity of the product on display.

One of the main advantages of open displays is the impulse buy factor which encourages customers to effortlessly grab the items without having to open/slide a door to access. You can get a more efficient traffic flow in your store, thus reduce long queues and in turn maximise your sales.

It also encourages the marketers to promote impulse buying by positioning the units near queuing areas. You would often see open display fridges near the registers in supermarkets where you can often see a customer instinctively reach for a drink, sandwich, salad etc. while queuing up.

However, there are some down sides to open display fridges that need to be mentioned, and one of the main ones is that they're less energy efficient than their glass door equivalents. Latest advancements in technology with cleaner, natural refrigerants has improved the energyefficiency not only helping to reduce running costs required to run an open display fridge, but also to lower the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

Regular maintenance will be required to clean condensers since the location of the condensing unit is close to the floor where dust can accumulate over time. If the condenser is blocked, air will struggle to circulate which can also cause the compressor to overheat and short cycle. This can affect the efficient operation, increase running costs and enviably reduce the operational life of the cabinet. By consistently cleaning the condenser will increase the lifespan of the fridge and in turn reduce maintenance and running costs over the lifetime of the fridge.

Glass Door Display Fridges

Glass door fridges are suitable for all type of refrigerated products, and can be ideal for any retail food store such as groceries, supermarkets, convenience stores, etc.

Glass door fridges are equipped with internal LED lighting which create a well-lit and attractive visual appeal to promote the products on display with the intention to be eye catching to potential customers.

The main advantage of glass door fridges over the open display equivalents is that due to the insulating barrier the doors provide, the retention of the cold-air within the cabinet means the compressor will not be required to run as often, thus making glass door fridges up to two-thirds more efficient than open cabinets, which in turn reducing your overall running costs.

The glass doors protect the products inside the fridge from dust, dirt, or any outside manipulation, whilst also allowing customers to have a clear view of what's inside.

Glass door fridges can be deemed less impulsive than an open display fridge as consumers are required to open or slide a door to reach the products inside; however the higher energy efficiency of the glass door fridges outweighs the minimal inconvenience of access the doors create.

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Price comparison

The cost of glass door chillers with a similar ˜footprint' to an open display can be between 12% - 45% more expensive depending on the model and capacity, however the initial purchase price must be offset against the long term energy efficiency and lower running costs which are up to two-thirds less than an open display fridge.

The above information provided may assist you in determining the correct refrigeration cabinets as the success of your business depends on selecting the most appropriate, fit for purpose equipment to showcase the variety of your products to the customer and to entice them to purchase.

Whether you are opening a new store or considering new equipment, you want to make sure you choose the best equipment for your needs. You not only have to consider what types of display refrigeration will be best for energy efficiency, but also what commercial refrigerator will help improve sales. You also need a commercial refrigerator that is convenient for customers and will keep food safe. In this article, we will look at the difference between open and closed display refrigeration units to help you find the best one for your needs.

Energy Efficiency

This is a very important consideration, as energy efficiency directly impacts your bottom line. The more display refrigerators you need, the more energy they consume. This can really hike up your energy bills. So, when it comes to display refrigeration, which is better at saving energy?

At first glance, you might think the open display case is less energy efficient. Still, there are a few things to consider. First, display fridges that are open are designed to help contain cold air. However, there is no denying when you walk down the aisles in a grocery store with open displays, there is a distinct chill in the air. With doors, you also face issues, though. The constant opening and closing of the doors actually reduces energy efficiency. The busier the area, the more energy is lost, which affects fridge temperatures and the quality of your food.

The best choice is to go with the closed display refrigeration with proper self-closing doors. This way, the cold air is contained when the fridge doors are closed, and you also reduce risk for cold air being wasted by doors that aren’t properly shut. Otherwise, you have to invest in expensive features for your open display fridge, such as shelf edge technology or night blinds so that you can close off the displays when the shop is closed.

Customer Convenience

Open doored display refrigerators do have easier access for customers; they can just grab and go. However, on the negative side, that easy access also makes your cold storage aisle very uncomfortable for customers with all that chilly air. In the winter, this isn’t quite as noticeable, as people are dressed warmly. In the summer months, though, when people are dressed in light clothing, and the air conditioning is blowing down on them, shopping in the refrigerated aisles can be downright uncomfortable.

This can make customers feel the need to leave quickly, so they miss out on opportunities to browse the choices available. This is not only bad for them, but also bad for sales. Additionally, as mentioned above, if you choose display refrigerators with easy access sliding, or self-closing doors, it is really not difficult for customers to just open the door to grab their food or drinks.

Placement

Closed display refrigerators can be placed anywhere, while open display refrigeration cannot. If open display fridges are exposed to external air flow and drafts, it can lead to malfunctions. So, if you want your display case at the front of the store, for example, this could be problematic for open display cases. This is especially risky in the summer months when warm air can come into the store and affect performance.

Other risks for airflow include air conditioning, windows, and fans, which can all negatively impact an open display case’s performance. The more drafts and temperature changes there are in the area, the more difficult it becomes for the open display refrigerator to maintain ideal temperatures.

Stocking Shelves

Stocking shelves is a big consideration, as it takes time to complete this everyday task. Doors can get in the way for staff trying to keep the refrigerators stocked, so at first glance it seems the open display fridge wins out. However, while air flow is important for both open and closed fridges, you can’t block the return air flow for an open display refrigerator, as it overworks the system and leads to temperature fluctuations.

Because of this, it can take longer to stock the fridge properly, as staff have to make sure they are leaving proper gaps between items. Worrying about air flow can take up more room, which means you might have to stock less items in the open display case. As a result, your team is stocking more often while also fussing over spacing. Your closed display refrigerator comes out ahead, as it might have a door, but it doesn’t take time trying to leave proper spaces to maintain air flow. 

Another consideration is square footage. Open fronted display cases don’t require door space, which can make them a good choice if you have tight aisles. However, two-door coolers come with sliding doors, so the tight aisles aren’t an issue.

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