2026 Food Retailer’s Guide to Frozen Merchandising
Rising grocery costs and a greater focus on balancing convenience and nutrition have driven measurable growth in frozen foods. With frozen sales up year-over-year, food retailers can leverage insights and key trends to create a frozen merchandising strategy that boosts basket size, share of stomach and shopper loyalty. 2026 Food Retailer’s Guide to Frozen Merchandising features actionable takeaways from a partnership of Hillphoenix, the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and FMI. Click here to view the guide
Why a Single-Source Refrigeration Partner Is a Competitive Advantage for C-Stores
Today’s consumers expect more from convenience stores. No longer just a pit stop for fuel and a pack of gum, c-stores have transformed into fast-casual dining destinations, premium beverage hubs and even mini grocery stores. With food and chilled beverage sales driving the highest margins on the retail floor, your refrigeration infrastructure is the backbone of your business. But as your menu and inventory expand, so does the complexity of managing your equipment. The Benefits of a Full-Store Refrigeration Solution Provider If you’re sourcing hot food bars from one vendor, open-air grab-and-go cases from another and walk-in cooler doors from [...]
How to Make Your Deli & Foodbar a Budget-Friendly Meal Destination
Inflation is shifting consumer mealtime behavior, opening up new opportunities for food retailers. Rising restaurant prices and takeout costs are pushing consumers on a budget to rethink dining out. On the other hand, cooking from scratch is time-consuming and it doesn’t always fit into busy schedules. Enter the “Third Way”: foodservice at retail. Consumers are increasingly turning to hot bars, cold bars and deli-prepared foods to get quick, convenient meal solutions without the high restaurant price tag or sink full of dirty dishes. The right merchandising strategy enables food retailers to capture more of this displaced ‘dining out’ budget, winning [...]
Smarter Remodels with Hillphoenix
Food retail remodels are rarely simple. Operators are asked to modernize refrigeration systems while working within the limits of an existing store footprint, an active operating environment, and a defined capital budget. The challenge is not just selecting new equipment. It is finding a path that reduces disruption, supports business goals, and delivers a clear return over time. That is where Hillphoenix brings a practical remodel strategy. Rather than forcing a single design approach, Hillphoenix starts by understanding the customer’s specific remodel goals. From there, the team develops a phased proposal built around store conditions, timing, budget, and long-term refrigerant [...]
3 Ways Natural Refrigeration Can Benefit Your C-Store
The refrigeration landscape is shifting, and it’s changing the game for forward-thinking c-store owners and operators. The past few years have been marked by regulatory changes, price hikes and supply chain challenges in the retail refrigeration industry. We know HFCs are being phased out, but the timeline is uncertain. Meanwhile, natural refrigerants like CO2 are still surrounded by outdated myths and misconceptions. But refrigeration costs can account for up to 60% of a c-store’s energy bill, so the right refrigerant and equipment are essential for long-term success. What C-Store Owners & Operators Need to Know About Natural Refrigeration Natural refrigerants [...]
How Traditional Grocers Can Win Back Wellness Shoppers
Today’s shoppers increasingly see food as a part of their wellness routine. Research from this year’s IDDBA shows that shoppers buying “better-for-you” products tend to have larger basket sizes and higher basket rings, making this a key segment for food retailers. But here’s the catch: these high-value shoppers are gravitating toward club stores and mass-market retailers. Merchandising is the key to traditional grocery stores winning back shoppers focused on health and wellness. Why Is Merchandising the Key to Reaching Health & Wellness Shoppers? With inflation on the rise and more channel competition than ever, traditional food retailers must go beyond [...]
Why Foodservice Merchandising Is Key for C-Store Success
More C-stores are focusing on foodservice, and with good reason. No longer just “gas station food,” foodservice is now the leader of in-store sales. In fact, foodservice accounted for nearly 40% of in-store gross profit dollars in 2025, making it a key pillar of c-store profitability. Here’s how to leverage your foodservice offerings to build customer loyalty and boost profitability. 3 Essential Tips for C-Store Foodservice Merchandising As more c-stores expand their foodservice strategies, it’s not enough to offer quality prepared food and beverages. You need the right equipment and the right merchandising strategy. That starts with creating enticing visuals [...]
A Conversation with Kelly Sayko, IDDBA and Supermarket News Champion of Change
Kelly Sayko’s passion for food retail is contagious, and we are thrilled to see the industry taking notice. As Marketing Manager for Hillphoenix, she brings deep industry expertise and an unwavering commitment to making an impact for our customers. That’s why she has been recognized as a 2026 Champion of Change by IDDBA and Supermarket News. Read some of Kelly’s story in her own words below, where she shares insights into her success. What Makes a Champion of Change in Food Retail? Champions of Change is an award that celebrates emerging and established leaders in the retail bakery, deli, foodservice [...]
How EOL Testing Provides A Seamless Startup Experience
In commercial and industrial refrigeration, reliability is essential. Downtime costs add up quickly, from disrupted operations to spoiled products. Startup is the moment when any overlooked issue becomes immediately visible. For a seamless startup experience, each component of your refrigeration system or refrigerated display case must work in harmony, from wiring and sensors to valves and controllers. Loose connections, miswired components or faulty parts can turn a straightforward startup into an expensive service event. Our team at Hillphoenix works to eliminate those issues long before your equipment reaches the store. Through our End‑of‑Line (EOL) Testing process, every refrigeration system is [...]
Merchandising Trends to Capture Today’s Meal Planners
Today more than ever, shoppers are eating dinner at home. A whopping 4 out of 5 people prepare dinner at home at least 4 nights a week, and more than 1 in 4 prepare dinner at home every night, according to the latest The Power of Foodservice at Retail Report. With more shoppers eating at home, meal planning is on the rise, too—and that’s where food retailers can help. Here’s how you can win over the 38% of shoppers who said they would like their grocery store to be more helpful in meal planning. Create a Destination for Complete Meal [...]
