What's hot in low-temp?

Store Equipment & Design, Jan, 2001 by Marc Sandofsky

With energy concerns increasing, doors are coming back in a big way. Here's a roundup of trend predictions from major manufacturers.

Recent energy price increases have instigated a move toward more energy conscious purchases in low-temp display cases, according to major manufacturers.

John Behr, director of global research and development at Hussmann, Bridgeton, Mo., says energy efficiency has become the primary factor in low-temperature display cases.

"Situations like California have started people thinking about energy again:' he says. "In San Diego, electricity costs are up 50 percent to 100 percent this year, and some days the electric companies are asking supermarkets to shut off half their lights to reduce their load. It's not like the 1970s yet, but energy is at the forefront of people's thoughts right now."

This trend has coincided nicely with the introduction of Hussmann's line of Innovator doors, which reduces energy use in cases by minimizing the conduction through doors and frames and the use of anti-sweat heaters. By Hussmann's calculations, together those two items account for about 50 percent of the load in a typical case.

According to Behr, Hussmann has shipped Innovator doors for some 1,500 cases already, and anticipates substantial sales increases in 2001.

"Safeway has standardized on the Innovator already," Behr says. "Other chains are trying it now and should adopt the technology in the coming year."

Dave Morrow, national sales manager for Zero Zone, Milwaukee, Wis., reports that one old case maxim continues to hold true: "More capacity in less space with lower operating costs is always better."

Like Behr, Morrow sees energy as the biggest factor in customer purchasing decisions. "Just yesterday, San Diego had a stage-two energy alert; and customers started calling to inquire about putting more doors on cases."

Retailers are also opting to put more products behind glass, according to Morrow. "Part of that is due to customers increasing their frozen food storage capacity at home to meet their lifestyles. In addition, glass helps stores maintain product temperatures," he says.

Morrow also notes more end caps being used this year in the reach-in sector.

Shawn Kahier, director of marketing and business development for the case division at Hill PHOENIX, Conyers, Ga., reports an increasing number of requests for combination units, low-temp and medium-temp cases that have been co-joined. "These are being used for cross-merchandising." he says. "In some instances they are co-joined top to bottom, in others, side by side."

Kahler has seen variations of this arrangement internationally for a while. "Outside the U.S., there tends to be limited aisle space," he says. "Co-joined cases have the advantage of no large swinging doors opening into the aisle."

"Domestically, a typical application might be placing high-end ice cream requiring lower temperatures on one side, and low-end ice cream without the very low temperature demand on the other. Or frozen meat might be placed on one side, and condiments on the other."

Kahler also reports that customers are ordering bigger cases with taller doors.

Rick Waldron, senior product manager for Tyler Refrigeration, Niles, Mich., says that from his perspective, no new trends have emerged.

"Last year's trends are ongoing," he says. "Large supermarkets are still using door cases and coffin cases."

Waldron does note that doors are becoming increasingly popular for energy reasons. "Some stores still use open front cases, but only in high-volume areas where they feel doors won't save energy," he says.