With sustainability driving national and global agendas – chiller door expert DoubleCOOL stands at the forefront of exciting developments in the world of convenience retail. We caught up with Business Development Manager Zoe Colman to find out more.
How big is the energy saving opportunity for Scottish convenience retailers?
It’s a huge opportunity – sustainability is such a big issue for Scotland and beyond and refrigeration accounts for by far the biggest energy consumption within the convenience channel. Adding doors to chillers is an immediate way to curb energy usage, saving power – and money.
Why is it more important than ever for retailers to consider retrofitting doors to their open chillers?
Energy costs are constantly rising, and since 1 April, retailers also have the UK National Living Wage increases and a hike in employer’s National Insurance (NI) contributions to contend with. So anything retailers can do to cut down on energy usage and bring costs down is a plus.
How much money can retailers save by adding doors to their chillers?
Obviously the saving depends on how many chillers are retrofitted with doors, but we have documented proof of a customer who saved 50% on their energy, and one Boots site saw a 63% saving!
What is the average return on investment and payback period for convenience stores who invest in chiller doors?
It very much depends on the length of the run, the per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate, etc. We installed doors along an 18m run of chillers at a Nisa Local in Blackpool, Lancashire, which was forecast to pay back in well under two years. Whereas we added 14 DoubleCOOL Swing 1 doors to chillers at a forecourt in Derbyshire and the installation paid for itself well within a year, and will continue to keep paying back, year upon year.
Are there any additional benefits to retrofitting chiller doors?
There are numerous extra benefits beyond the energy and cost savings. Retrofitting chiller doors enables retailers to keep their fridges clean for longer. It also helps to reduce food waste because products have a longer shelf life when they are kept at optimum temperature. Another major plus is that theft is reduced because doors act as a barrier to would-be shoplifters. In addition, keeping the cold air in the fridge means that the chiller aisle isn’t too cold. A more comfortable shopping environment encourages customers to browse and increases the chances of them buying more products.
What makes DoubleCool chiller doors suitable for a convenience store environment?
Our lightweight chillers are made with shatter-proof, double-pane cast acrylic doors and guaranteed to be condensation free.
What does the future hold for refrigeration within the Scottish convenience channel?
It’s hard to say what the future holds, but sustainability will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of people’s minds, so it is crucial that retailers’ consider their energy consumption and consider different ways to minimise their carbon footprint.
