Smooth Operators: Small-format retailers simplify ongoing operations with CO2
Over the past several years, some notable trends have brought changes to the retail refrigeration space. Grocery stores are getting smaller, fresh-food options are gaining ground at retailers of every size, and ozone-depleting refrigerants continue to be pushed out by natural and sustainable options. At the spot where small-format, fresh-format, and sustainability converge, retailers may find themselves in unfamiliar territory when it comes to selecting refrigeration equipment for a new location or a store remodel. With the old distinctions between big- and small-format offerings becoming more than a little blurry, retailers are in need of a new kind of refrigeration [...]
Easy Maintenance Is a Bonus with Small-Format CO2 Refrigeration
In 2014, research firm Packaged Facts reported that the average size of supermarkets has been trending smaller since 2006. At the same time, consumers have continued to ask for more fresh and convenient food options, and supermarkets — along with small-format retailers such as drugstores and convenience stores — have responded by increasing their fresh and prepared food selections. And just as space is becoming more limited and offerings are becoming more complex, retailers are trying to keep up with environmental regulations to reduce or eliminate HFC refrigerants. Fortunately, there are new, sustainable CO2 refrigeration systems that make it easier [...]
Video: Is your display case stealing moisture from your meat and seafood?
Video: Is your display case stealing moisture from your meat and seafood? March 29, 2016 | Coolgenix Only Coolgenix deck pans use pulse flow control technology to maintain natural moisture levels and preserve the integrity of meat and seafood. Other conduction cooling cases claim to work like Coolgenix, but they don’t. Cases with our patented Coolgenix technology are the only meat and seafood cases with a glycol-cooled deck pan that releases moisture into the case as it cycles between set points of 29 and 33 degrees Fahrenheit. This continuous cycling is how Coolgenix maintains natural case humidity, preserving product integrity and [...]
Utility Incentives: Lack of standard industry benchmarks still a challenge
If you’re going to reward improvement, you need a baseline against which to measure it. Therein lies one of the many challenges facing refrigeration end-users seeking utility incentives for upgrades and new installations. As utilities, manufacturers and end-users work together to make newer, more energy efficient equipment more affordable through incentives, the lack of standard industry benchmarks makes the process complicated, fragmented and inconsistent. Manufacturer calculations are apples and oranges Within the refrigeration manufacturing industry, there is no uniform energy performance baseline for either CO2 or DX systems. Each manufacturer has its own set of tools for calculating energy consumption, [...]
Ease of Installation Simplifies the Path to Small-Format CO2 Refrigeration
For small-format retailers interested in making the switch to natural CO2 refrigeration, their options just got considerably more appealing. AdvansorFlex, the latest addition to Hillphoenix’s evolving Advansor CO2 platform, is engineered to ensure straightforward installation and smooth operation from day one. Whether part of a new store construction or a remodels, the installation of refrigeration equipment is a major consideration in terms of project costs, feasibility, and completion time—particularly when minimizing downtime is part of the equation. With AdvansorFlex, scalability and ease of installation now go hand-in-hand. Less Onsite Prep Every feature of the AdvansorFlex CO2 system is designed with [...]
Convenience and Drug Stores: Future-Proof Your Business with Natural Refrigeration
By Keilly Witman KW Refrigerant Management Strategy LLC Convenience stores and drugstores have long had the luxury of being blissfully unaware of refrigerant environmental regulations. Historically, most retailers in this sector were able to meet their refrigeration needs with self-contained refrigeration equipment that uses less than 50 pounds of refrigerant, meaning that most of the EPA’s Section 608 regulations did not apply. Some larger convenience stores or other stores with slightly greater refrigeration needs may have used cool rooms and single condensing units, but overall, it was uncommon to hear of a convenience store with a full refrigeration system. But [...]
Small-format stores capitalize on “fresh” opportunities to boost sales
By Margie Proctor Hillphoenix Marketing & Design Specialist Whether they’re stopping at Starbucks or a convenience store, Americans increasingly want fresh options. The desire for fresh and healthy foods runs the gamut from snacks to ready-made meals. Just look at the research: 78% of consumers are on a mission to eat more fresh and fewer processed foods, according to the 2014 Gallup Study of Cooking Knowledge & Skills. “Health” to consumers now is more about food purity than traditional dieting, and they are eating more fresh foods, reports global information company The NPD Group. Fresh-format retail sales are growing 12% [...]
Hillphoenix AdvansorFlex CO2 Brings Sustainable Refrigeration to Retailers of All Sizes
Hillphoenix, a pioneer in designing environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems, now brings HFC-free refrigeration to small and medium-sized retailers. The company’s new AdvansorFlex CO2 refrigeration system delivers all the benefits of natural CO2 refrigeration in a compact and scalable format that is perfect for stores of every size. As part of the evolving Advansor CO2 platform, AdvansorFlex is an environmentally sustainable HFC-free system that uses non-toxic, non-flammable CO2 as its only refrigerant. Both Advansor CO2 and AdvansorFlex CO2 are part of Hillphoenix’s industry-leading Second Nature® line of alternative refrigeration systems. Because it relies solely on plentiful, all-natural CO2, AdvansorFlex is DOE [...]
Securing Energy Incentives Isn’t a DIY Endeavor for Supermarkets
By Leigha Joyal Energy Analyst, Hillphoenix Food retail is among the most electricity intensive commercial enterprises, and store owners want to reduce their consumption and their bills. Utilities want to see that happen, too. Containing consumption is more cost effective for utilities than expanding the electric grid. That’s why they have incentive programs that defray some of the costs of adopting energy-efficient technologies. This, at least in theory, is a win for everyone. But in practice, it’s not always a win for food retailers. The energy incentives landscape Navigating the incentives terrain takes an investment of time, manpower, and even [...]