Before choosing a closed or open cold merchandiser, operators should determine the type of application in which they will use the equipment. While packaged foods can be offered for customer self-service in open-air displays, unpackaged foods must be held in a closed display and served by an attendant.
Operators will also need to look at the types of products the cold merchandiser will house. Unpackaged food is not recommended for storing in closed cases as the cold, blowing air may impact food quality.
Space availability for the cold case, along with whether it will be built into existing cabinetry or fixtures, will provide insight on the size and type that best suits the application.
Capacity is another key consideration. The length of the display and the number of shelves will determine how much product can be presented. Shelf adjustability can provide added flexibility for operators with changing menus and different-size products.
Although glass-door or open-air models are recommended for merchandising product, operators need to weigh energy usage versus convenience. For showcasing items for impulse purchases, a lower-profile glass-door or open-air unit may be more suitable. For optimum accessibility and viewing, product should be displayed at eye level in self-service cold merchandisers when possible.
For merchandising grab-and-go items with different temperature requirements, combination cases without a physical divider that provide one refrigerated and one non-refrigerated section in the same unit are a popular option. These units’ refrigeration coils are inside the case and can be divided either vertically or horizontally. Combination displays can also save space for smaller footprints.
