There are a wide variety of applications that use refrigerated merchandisers, including c-stores, quick serve restaurants, cafeterias, cafés, coffee shops and grab and go self service models. They are a great way to drive impulse sales at checkout as well as to improve your offering to your customers who are now doing take out rather than dine-in. So, what should you think about before you go shopping for a refrigerated merchandiser to your operation? Here is a quick list that will get you started. Once you start looking at different models and manufacturers you will develop more targeted questions that the manufacturer or your dealer can assist you in answering.
Where do you want your display and how much space do you have?
It is best to consider where you want to locate the merchandiser before you start shopping so that you know how much space you can allow for the unit. You also want to have an idea of the position so that you choose a model that is best suited visually for the area that you will be placing the unit and for the products that you will display. If you are selling soda at the to-go counter, the Turbo Air CRT-77-IR Glass Merchandiser with four glass sides may be a great choice. Other features you may consider include an air curtain allowing customers to reach directly into a unit without a door in the way or a pass-through unit so that it is easy to refill at one end as product is removed from the other.
What Will You Be Refrigerating and What are the Temperature Requirements?
It’s important to know that most refrigerated merchandisers are built for packaged food products and drinks. If you will be offering food items like cakes, pies or other food that will be exposed to open air, that needs to be included in your requirements when you go shopping. Many refrigerated merchandising units have a general cooling requirement but must stay at a temperature that can hold foods at a safe temperature and preserve semi-perishable food. Typical foods offered in refrigerated merchandisers include grab and go packaged sandwiches, salads or snacks, cold drinks or pre-packaged meats and cheeses. If you were to offer ice cream cakes or other frozen items, a unit like the Everest EMGF23 Reach-In Merchandising Freezer is a good choice.
What type of Access to Product Do You Want?
To support increasing revenue though impulse buys is a great idea and to execute well on this, it is important that it is easy for your customer to access the products. But it is just as important that products are held at food safe temperatures all day. If you’re selling sodas and you want to make it as easy as possible for your customer, don’t make them search through a large amount of wall units that are difficult to get into to get your favorite product. Units like the Everest EOMV-60-B-28-S Open Air Merchandiser gives customers easy access to sodas or other packaged goods with no door to open or close.
Energy Star or other Certifications
Finally, if you are shopping for a new merchandiser, you should look for the most energy efficient model available. Reducing energy consumption for restaurants can lead to ongoing cost savings and expense reduction. These values can most likely be found with your customers and can help you attract new business. You might even consider units that are rated for zero ozone depletion potential or zero global warming potential. Sustainability has been working it’s way into the customer decision making criteria and you don’t want to be on the opposite side of this trend.
