Commentary

Upgrading your micro market business: Top fridges, freezers for optimal performance

Guaranteeing the safe and dependable storage of perishable goods and health or medical supplies enables a more stable and efficient supply chain, minimizes waste and spoilage, and ultimately saves money.

Image provided by Due North.

June 26, 2023 | by Randy Skyba, Due North

Securing the best commercial fridges and freezers for your business selling refrigerated or frozen items is key to success. High-quality, versatile refrigeration merchandisers not only provide reliable storage but also contribute to operational efficiency and cost savings.

Instead of just acquiring a fridge, you're investing in the finest available option, which comes backed with expert knowledge, technical support and a range of features.

As a convenience services provider, you know this is more than just a purchasing decision and represents an investment that will serve your business for years to come. That said, let's review what should be on your mind as you look to make the highest-value purchase possible.

With numerous choices in the market, how do you pick the best fridge or freezer for your needs? Let's explore aspects specific to your situation, as well as those that apply to everyone.

Understand your business needs

The type of products your business handles will heavily influence the ideal fridge for your situation.

Whether you're a convenience services operator, grocer, pet food retailer, convenience store owner, gas station operator or pharmacy, the items you stock daily and the way you deliver them to customers will determine the most suitable fridge or freezer, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Industrywide considerations

Despite the differences in industries some factors are universally important. The selection of top-quality fridges and freezers vary in shape, size, color and function, but share common features we consider essential when seeking the best fridge or freezer for any business. These generally take the form of efficiency and reliability.

In pursuit of efficiency

Commercial fridges and freezers can be significant energy consumers, especially for businesses that require large volumes of cold storage.

There are many models on the market; however, top tier units feature cutting-edge energy-efficient technologies, such as high-efficiency compressors, fans, LED lighting and low-emissivity glass. These features help reduce energy consumption and pass savings onto business owners, which, over time, can really add up.

Reliability is key

In addition to directly saving costs thanks to reduced energy usage, high-quality commercial fridges and freezers help businesses avoid indirect costs that would be the result of total equipment failures.

A fridge or freezer unexpectedly breaking down in the middle of the night could lead to spoilage of perishable goods and incredibly expensive losses. But choosing a unit with bulletproof reliability and advanced monitoring capabilities can help your business avoid expensive incidents and reduce disruption to your supply chain.

The best fridge or freezer, then, is one which consistently saves you money, and sometimes saves you a lot of money.

Keep an eye on what's going on

To prevent the previously mentioned perishable product disasters, it is wise to invest in commercial fridges and freezers which have advanced IoT monitoring capabilities. The best fridges and freezers come equipped with hardware and technology which can track temperature, door status, evaporator temperature, power failures and compressor and defrost cycles.

The more information the better, and advanced technology grants access to current and past reporting for individual units, as well as customizable text and email alerts to keep track of your fleet of commercial fridges and freezers. The best available technology can remotely lock and unlock doors.

IoT capabilities can also help businesses make more informed decisions about their operations. By tracking temperature data over time, businesses can identify trends and patterns that may indicate issues with their fridges or freezers, such as frequent temperature fluctuations.

This data can help businesses identify areas for improvement and make more informed decisions about maintenance and repairs.

Take a breath

Finally, selecting a flexible commercial fridge or freezer can also give you peace of mind. A quality fridge backed by a comprehensive warranty and technical support program lets you relax when it comes to maintaining your unit for years to come.

A company's website should be comprehensively constructed to support existing customers. It should be easy to navigate through a wealth of technical support, so that every small issue does not necessitate a service call. In the case of (hopefully rare) significant issues or technical problems, companies should be ready to deploy experts who can get you back up and running as soon as possible, while covering your concerns in an easy-to-understand warranty.

Tailored designs and solutions

In some cases, your needs might not be met by an off-the-shelf solution, possibly requiring a highly specialized or non-standard shape or size. When that happens, a customized merchandising program is necessary.

Top-tier refrigerated merchandiser manufacturers will have years of experience consulting, designing and building custom commercial fridges and freezers for various industries and applications, allowing you to receive the best possible solution for your business.

Custom merchandising programs

Look for commercial fridge and freezer manufacturers that consistently go above and beyond what is expected of them. The best companies work to understand the individual needs of customers and provide them with the most suitable refrigerated retail custom merchandising program that helps them maximize sales, craft a superior consumer brand experience and enhances the overall performance of their business.

Find someone ready to assess your unique space, considerations, needs and goals as part of a long-lasting partnership.

A wide range of applications

Another advantage of premium commercial fridges and freezers is their ability to store diverse products properly. Depending on your location and business needs, you might require storage for sensitive products, necessitating that it maintains consistent internal temperatures, is locked remotely on a timer and alerts are sent when temperature parameters change.

In the end, investing in a top-quality, versatile commercial fridge or freezer supports your business's success. Guaranteeing the safe and dependable storage of perishable goods and health or medical supplies enables a more stable and efficient supply chain, minimizes waste and spoilage and ultimately saves money.

Randy Skyba is the vice president of sales and marketing for Due North, which creates refrigerated, retail merchandising solutions.

Photos provided by Due North.