What’s So Important About Stopping Global Warming Anyway?
The fight against global warming has been a long-standing crusade for many decades now. Today, the push towards curbing global warming and eradicating climate change is deeply visible in the media, government campaigns, and often included as part of corporate responsibility initiatives. These environmental efforts are so prevalent and already deeply ingrained in our culture that one may ask, “What’s so important about it anyway?” How is global warming directly affecting us in our personal and daily lives? Even in the Arctic Circle, where one may perceive that global warming would not be evident, rising temperatures can be felt. Climate [...]
Food Retailers’ Efforts to Boost Sales of Health and Wellness Foods Online and In-Store
Customers and food retailers have placed much more emphasis on the importance of health and wellness in the past few months than ever before. Due to the growing number of people who are more health-conscious, health and wellness food products are in the spotlight. Retailers should seize this opportunity to continue the momentum. 78% of U.S. consumers say that it is important for them to eat healthy food products for their emotional well-being, according to Mintel’s Future of Nutrition, Health and Wellness 2021 Report. Several meal innovations and food items centered around health consciousness have emerged due to the growing [...]
Supply Chain Shortage—Here’s Why Grocery Stores Are Running Out of Stock
If you have visited your local grocery stores recently, you might have noticed some products, such as pantry essentials, chicken, canned goods and meat are running low in supply with a lot of display cases and shelves empty. Food retailers are left challenged and baffled as to why the supply chain shortage is becoming a more serious issue. This is particularly true during the holidays and busy seasons when customers are expected to stock up and cook food for family gatherings and celebrations. The food retail supply chain consists of an interconnected web of functional areas with each having a [...]
CO2 vs Ammonia—Which Refrigerant Is the Best for Your Business?
Natural refrigerants are found to be viable alternative refrigerants when it comes to industrial applications. First, they are energy-efficient due to their thermodynamic properties. Additionally, they offer a lower total cost of ownership than their synthetic counterparts, such as HFCs. More than that, natural refrigerants are safer for the environment since they have little or no global warming potential (GWP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP), making them a good investment for fighting climate change. When it comes to specific types of natural refrigerants, CO2 and ammonia (NH3) are the two most widely used refrigerants in the industry. Whether for cold [...]
Food Retail Trends to Look Out for in 2022
We are already one month into 2022 and new trends are expected to emerge. This is especially true in the food retail industry where disruptions and innovations are a way of life. Trends are shaping the way grocers operate and strategize their approach to the upcoming year. In the past few years, we have seen some pronounced food retail trends, such as the accelerated adoption of technology and the upswing demand for health and wellness food products. Will these trends continue their momentum in the next year? We’ll find out. New year, new trends. Here’s what food retailers should look [...]
Plant-based Food Sales Continue to Rise—Here Are Ways How Grocers Can Keep Up the Momentum
The growth of plant-based foods over the past few years has been a significant disruption in the food retail industry. As a healthier alternative to meat-based food options, plant-based foods continue to find their way onto customers’ grocery lists. Plant-based category sales grew by 27% in 2020 and are estimated to be worth $7 billion, according to SPINS data released by the Good Food Institute and the Plant-Based Foods Association. This year, plant-based food is showing that it’s here to stay. Whether plant-based milk, meat, or seafood, surely, plant-based food products are not just a trend anymore—it’s becoming a staple [...]
Challenges Surrounding the Use of Industrial Refrigeration Systems and How to Solve Them
Industrial refrigeration systems are a staple in many industries around the world when it comes to cooling operational processes. Whether for cold storage, cold supply chain, or temperature-sensitive products, industrial refrigeration has shaped the global landscape and its demand continues to grow. However, even with its expansive usage, there are still many misconceptions and apprehensions towards the usage of industrial refrigeration applications in various industries and many businesses find employing them to be a little challenging. Here are some of the challenges surrounding the usage of industrial refrigeration systems and how to solve them: High Cost of Ownership Because industrial [...]
Future of Food Retail Reinvented—What Grocery Stores Will Look Like in the Years to Come
Industries have reinvented their strategies and business operations over the years to match the needs of their customers and keep up with the pace of the times. In the food retail industry, advances are not new—and neither disruptions—be it on meal and food innovations or how food categories were reimagined and diversified. However, the recent health crisis has shown us that even though online grocery is an option for customers, people still visit their local grocery stores to check off their grocery lists. This proves that brick-and-mortar stores are here to stay, which opens a myriad of opportunities for retailers [...]
New Year Marks Start of HFC Phasedown In U.S.
R-410A could be phased out in new equipment as soon as 2025. welcome to the first stage of the HFC phasedown as mandated by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. As of January 1, 2022, the production of HFC refrigerants, such as R-410A and R-404A, has been reduced by 10%... Read More>
“Pandemic Snacking” Is a Thing and Here’s How It May Affect Your Food Retail Business
Gone are the good old days when snacking was just for kids when they were bored or for munching something between meals to “tide you over.” Due to the current COVID health crisis, several eating behaviors have changed—and snacking is one of those. Snacking has evolved from typical and sometimes unhealthy snacks to a renewed focus on healthy snacking observed across demographics. Right now, due to the force of the pandemic, snacking behaviors have been smart and intentional. Consumers are looking for snacks that give them value for their money as well as serving to improve their overall health. Several [...]