Refrigerated merchandisers and freezer merchandisers share many similar components with other commercial refrigeration products. This guide will show you some of the similarities and differences between types of merchandisers and commercial refrigerators, and also help you select the right type of merchandiser for anything from ice cream sandwiches to fresh baked goods!
Even though a glass door merchandiser and a glass door reach-in refrigerator might be the same size and look very similar, the biggest difference is in what types of food products they are able to hold.
Merchandising refrigerators and freezers come in a dizzying range of sizes and shapes, from countertop models to large 3 section floor units. Like air curtains, these pieces of equipment are only designed for packaged products. Eye-catching, lighted top sections, bright interior lighting, and exterior color choices are designed to catch customers' attention and help your products look their best.
Convenience store merchandisers look like miniaturized versions of traditional merchandisers. Their lower height and smaller footprint help to increase visibility throughout the store, and maximize space usage in C-stores or other locations where space is an issue.
Glass sided merchandisers are often used for baked goods and show off your freshest products from multiple angles. Some even have revolving shelves.
Wine merchandisers substitute standard wire shelves for racks that hold wine bottles at just the right angle for optimum visibility. They are also designed to maintain the best temperatures for storing wine, so as to preserve the quality and integrity of your stock.
An air curtain merchandiser is one of the most popular styles of food display cases in use. Because they allow customers to easily view and select products like bottled beverages, pre-packaged salads or entrees, without having to open a door, you can achieve great increases in traffic and sales while simultaneously reducing your labor costs. Vertical and horizontal styles are available, both of which come in various sizes and capacities.
An air curtain merchandiser works by circulating air across the front of the unit, keeping the bottle beverages or packaged foods inside at safe holding temperatures. Because of the velocity of the air that moves across the front of the unit, it works as a barrier to reduce temperature exchange between the interior of the unit and the surrounding environment.
Air curtains, like most merchandisers, can't display open (unpackaged) foods, or raw items.
You should always make sure that the products you are putting into your merchandiser are already cold. Air curtains (and most merchandisers for that matter) are not designed to chill warm product to cold temperatures, they are simply for holding already cold products, and keeping them cold.
Because air curtain merchandisers keep their contents cool with a screen of air and are mostly open, where you place the merchandiser is crucial to maximize efficiency, as well as maintain satisfactory and food-safe product temperatures. Most manufacturers make the following recommendations as far as placement:
A night cover is a good option to conserve energy during off-hours. Many manufacturers offer two types: a roll-down cover that primarily keeps cold air in, and lockable, secure types that prevent theft as well as conserve energy.
Popular in coffee shops and delis, dual service merchandisers combine an air curtain lower section where customers can grab their own bottled drinks or prepackaged items, with an enclosed top section for displaying fresh bakery items your staff can serve via sliding rear doors.
The top section can be refrigerated or unrefrigerated; some models are "split" and you can have one half refrigerated and the other half unrefrigerated. Most of the same purchasing considerations apply to this type of merchandiser as to full size air curtain merchandisers.
Ice merchandisers come in both indoor and outdoor models and a range of sizes, and let you easily sell bagged ice. Indoor models are perfect for use inside a grocery store, liquor store, or convenience store. Outdoor ice merchandisers are made of durable materials and are made to withstand the elements for convenient placement outside your business.
When you want to sell bagged ice, an ice merchandiser is a must-have. Customers need bagged ice for many purposes like keeping food cold or chilling beverages, so providing this option at your grocery store, market, or liquor store is a great way to boost sales. Choosing the right merchandiser can help you capture ice sales and make the most of this addition to your business.
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