Which Refrigeration to Choose - Remote or Self-Contained?

 Every business operating in the food industry, whether it’s owning a small cafe, managing a restaurant, or a supermarket, requires proper refrigeration systems. However, choosing a refrigerator, whether it's a deli case, deep freezer or a heated display case can be confusing due to the myriad of options available out there. There are two types of deli cases, in particular, popular among restaurants, cafes, i.e., remote and self-contained.

Now, there is much confusion afloat regarding the pros and cons of choosing either deli case for a business based on its usage. Hence, let’s take a quick look at their functions to best determine which one is the more suitable choice for your business.

Remote Refrigeration System
These commercial refrigerators are designed with a condensing unit fitted outside of the refrigerator itself. It is made up of a fully insulated cold storage unit with built-in evaporators. However, the condenser and compressor are located in an entirely separate unit. These units require to be installed in basements or roofs, away from the hustle and bustle of customers. Thus, these refrigerators are an ideal choice for displaying a large amount of food in a limited space such as in a supermarket, deli, or similar food service establishments where ventilation is an issue.


Self-Contained Refrigeration System
A more popular choice among commercial kitchens is the self-contained refrigeration systems. These refrigerations have the entire system, i.e., from the condenser to evaporator, all built into its cabinet. The location of the condenser may differ as per the make and model, however, the evaporator is always on top of the unit. This explains why almost 90% of commercial kitchens prefer self-contained refrigeration systems simply for their ease of use.


Which is better?
Evidently, self-contained refrigeration refrigerators are a popular choice because of their simple plug-and-run functionality. Additionally, self-contained refrigerators have lower installation and maintenance hassles. However, the chances of a hefty electricity bill and heating emitted by the systems inside your cafe or deli are higher.
On the other hand, remote refrigeration systems may appear to be a huge task in terms of installation, the daily operations are noiseless and cost-efficient in the long run.

Hence, ask yourself what are your goals in terms of product display and space allowance, and the choice would be evident. Marc Refrigeration offers high-quality deli merchandise like self-contained and remote refrigerators in various interesting designs and colors to best suit your establishment. So, explore our collection online or reach out to our team to get more information.

What are the different types of refrigerated merchandisers?

 Deli merchandisers are essential for foodservice establishments such as bakeries, convenience stores, and delis to stock various food items. These can either be refrigerated or non-refrigerated, depending on your specific business requirements. Refrigerated deli merchandisers are used not only to display the food items but also to attract more customers and prevent the food from spoiling for longer. So, if your deli merchandiser is not providing enough cooling or the food is spoiling before its expiry while staying in the refrigeration unit, it might be time to replace it. But before making a decision, you might have to decide what type of refrigeration unit you should buy.

Following are the various types of refrigerated merchandisers:

Reach in refrigerated merchandisers
These are only used to store packaged goods, cakes, pastries, and other baked goods. They usually either have swing or sliding doors to allow customers to easily reach in and grab the food items they want to buy. These are often used in convenience stores, delis, and gas stations.

Enclosed-top display cases
These display cases are used to display food items, such as salads, cakes, pies, beverages, seafood, or raw meats. They often have a curved or angled glass front and top or side lighting. They are available in various widths, heights, and models to fit your specific storage needs.

Open-type merchandisers
These types of merchandisers are designed to encourage impulse buying. As these types of merchandisers are designed to be easily used by customers to grab what they like, they cannot refrigerate warm food items. Thus, the items must be cold before storing. These are used to display pre-packaged goods.

Counter high-merchandisers
This type of freezer is great for displaying your most popular ready-to-go food items. They usually come equipped with adjustable shelves. Counter high-merchandisers are designed to keep the temperature at a specific optimal temperature to keep the food items fresh and attractive for buyers.

Walk-in refrigerated units
These are commercial refrigerated units that are most frequently used in big food establishments such as commercial restaurants. These are designed to store bulk quantities for food and provide large storage space.

1, 2, or 3 glass door refrigerators
These are a top choice for delis, convenience stores, cafes, bakeries, and small restaurants. These are pretty durable and usually have double pane glass doors. They are used to display packaged or sealed food items.

So, if you are considering buying a new refrigerated deli merchandiser such as a reach-in, walk-in, or counter high-merchandiser, get in touch with our team for the best deals.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bakery Case

 The tantalizing display of baked goods is probably the first thing that catches everyone’s eye when entering a bakery or a coffee shop. These displays serve multifunctional purposes for a business and help the customers decide their pick of the day. Hence, a business owner must put careful thought into choosing the right bakery cases for their store.

Why are display cases important for a bakery?
Display cases are vital tools in creating an aesthetic appeal of the products a business is selling. Primarily used in bakeries, coffee shops, and grocery stores, display cases create a tempting presentation that promotes sales by sometimes making the clients indulge in impulse buys. Therefore, bakery cases must be installed in an easy-to-spot location and can prove to be the USP of a business.

What are the key points to check for when selecting a bakery case?
The refrigeration and display cases market is brimming with various options fit for different businesses. Understandably, it can be hard to decide which one is perfect for your business. Therefore, choose a case that will meet your business’s current requirements based on various factors outlined below:

Size. The size of the bakery case you choose should be determined by the space your shop has. However, it is also essential to weigh in the goods that you make daily. A baker understands the importance of keeping his baked goods fresh for long. Hence, a suitable sized bakery case, whichever type you choose, will significantly impact your daily operations.

Type. The classification of your goods for sale will decide the kind of bakery case you need. There are three types you can choose from - refrigerated cases, non-refrigerated cases, and heated cases. A bakery can use all three types; however, it ultimately depends on which products you want to prioritize displaying and wish to keep fresh.

Refrigeration cases are mostly popular among bakeries and groceries stores as they can keep cakes, pies, and other baked goods with frosting and additives fresh and cool for a long time. Moreover, smaller and quick bites like bagels, donuts, etc., can be displayed in a smaller non-refrigerated case.

Maintenance. When choosing a case for your bakery or store, you need to consider the time and personnel required for cleaning and maintenance of these cases. Hence, you should choose a case that is easy to clean as display cases need to be in pristine condition all the time. A glass or a stainless steel case can be quickly wiped out and cleaned, requiring less amount of time invested by your staff.

Warranty. When we buy equipment for our business, cost and budgeting are something that takes a higher priority. But, a warranty is something that you must not be overlooked. A reliable refrigeration company will provide a warranty on its products which may include routine maintenance by professionals and also repairs in case of any damages.

Therefore, it’s vital to consider all these factors carefully to choose the right bakery case for your business. Marc Refrigerations are experts in the industry, with a wide variety of refrigerated and non-refrigerated display cases for all food businesses. Explore our website or call our team for the best assistance and high-quality equipment.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Meat Display Case

 Every hungry customer who comes to your deli leaves with a belly or bag full of amazing delicacies you serve with dedication and fresh ingredients. But, before placing the order, almost everyone takes their time scanning the display to choose from the range of cold cuts you’ve offered to them. Hence, a meat display case is a key element for both you as a provider and your consumer in getting what they want.

So before you pick a meat display case for your deli, factor in these aspects to make a more suitable choice:

Case Size. This may seem like an obvious point but there are two things to consider here. First is the size of the meat display case that will fit your deli space. And second is the size of the case according to the meat arrangement you’re aiming for. The former will take precedence, but you can get various sizes that can perfectly fit your designed space, all the while fulfilling your display expectations.

Shelving & Storage. Speaking of the display, the number of shelves is also to be considered when choosing a meat display case. In addition, you should also know about the option of a single-duty and double-duty case. These are simply terms given to the refrigerated cases which have just shelves to display the food or come with additional storage at the bottom.
Lighting & Style. This is more of an aesthetic choice than a technical one. Your refrigerated deli case options offer many styles to suit all designs and decors of a restaurant. So, keep the dominant color scheme of your deli in mind when selecting a meat display case. Similarly, you can decide on the lighting if you want to highlight the authentic color of the meat or enhance it with different options.

So, keep these fundamental factors in mind before buying a meat display case. You can also explore the range of deli cases offered by Marc Refrigeration at unbeatable prices with exceptional client support.

How to Increase the Life of Your Deli Refrigerator?

 In today’s global food culture, the aesthetic appeal of food – cooked or raw - is crucial to persuade people to buy more. Hence, a refrigerated deli case is an investment every business owner in the food-service industry makes to increase sales. But, as with every investment also comes certain risks. In this case, the risk of your deli refrigerator breaking down can potentially cost you a significant loss of revenue, in addition to thousands of dollars in repairs or worse, replacing the equipment.
 

Fortunately, such incidents can be avoided to a great extent by maintaining the equipment in good shape. A well-kept deli case refrigerator will demand lesser repairs and last you a good many years. So, keep this checklist by Marc Refrigeration handy to get the best out of your deli cases.
Regular Cleaning. Well-maintained equipment will serve your business longer than an overused, neglected one. Hence, it is vital to thoroughly clean out any splatters from the counters, doors, etc.
Avoid Overstuffing. With a deep clean, it’s also worth mentioning not to fill the deli refrigerator to the brim. No matter how big a case you have, remember its main purpose – display items, not storage. So, avoiding overloading the case will not only save on energy but will also be less likely to break down.
Check for Leaks. Keep an eye out for any signs of malfunctions. For example, puddles of water inside or outside the unit could be caused by a leak in the drainage. All seals must be inspected professionally monthly to ensure zero leakings from any pipes or doors too.
 

Temperature Settings. Follow the equipment’s user manual to maintain stable temperature settings ideal for the contents of your refrigerator. A lower temperature setting may cause overload on the machinery. Also, take note of the defrost settings too. Defrost as per the recommended schedule as doing it frequently is not good for the life of your deli refrigerator.
 

Placement Matters. Where you decide to put your deli case is a personal decision. You can choose according to the space allowed or the floor plan of your store. Just remember not to put your refrigerator in a corner with no room for ventilation. You can risk breaking down the compressor if the fans are obstructed. So be careful with the place setting.

Lastly, every piece of machinery can last you long if maintained well. So, care for your refrigerated deli cases well and they will serve you for years to come.

Tips to drive more sales during COVID-19

 The outbreak of coronavirus has taken the world by storm. It has not only taken millions of lives but also affected many businesses around the globe. The good news is that the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing in different parts of the world. Thus, the nation has started lifting some of the restrictions, enabling businesses to resume their operations safely.

However, even though the situation has improved significantly, the war isn’t over yet. If we are not careful enough, we may encounter the second wave of the virus. In simple words, we are not out of the woods yet, and it’s extremely important for businesses to be cautious and smart with their implementation of merchandising moving forward.

Let’s face it - even though everything is returning to a new-normal, it has become impossible for businesses, especially foodservice businesses, to drive foot-traffic and sales.

Here are some tips that will help you drive more sales even during COVID-19.

Make your bestsellers more accessible
Once you know what your bestsellers are, make sure you dedicate more appropriate space on your counter high merchandiser for those items. During the pandemic, this could mean having more space for your money-makers instead of displaying different products alongside each other.

Whether you are running a bakery shop or a departmental store, understanding how to display your products can change the entire game. You can consider investing in glass display cases to ensure your products (money-makers or otherwise) are more accessible to your customers. Display cases not only entice customers into making a purchase but also ensure your products are stored at optimum temperature.

Better hygiene and sanitization practices
Unfortunately, now is not the time to run “business as usual”. Even though everybody is sick of lockdowns and staying home, they are still afraid and don’t want to take their business to somebody who can’t provide them a safe and clean environment. Therefore, it is crucial to have better hygiene and sanitization practices in place. From your commercial kitchen to display counters, clean, disinfect, and sanitize every nook and cranny.

Minimize high-touch displays
While consumers are usually big fans of interactive elements in the store, they are a big no-no during the pandemic. It’s important to remove any items or elements that invite touching, such as product samples, ketchup bottles, menus, and more. You can integrate technology into your business operations to simplify things. For instance, instead of providing your customers with a hand-drawn menu, you can have them scan it from their phones, providing a safe environment.

Running a business successfully in the age of the COVID-19 requires clear communication with the customers, smart store planning, and easy accessibility through counter high merchandisers.

When is the right time to replace your refrigeration unit?

 Refrigerated bakery display cases are quite durable and last many years. However, like any other appliances, they also need to be replaced at some point. Old and inefficient refrigerated bakery display cases may consume more electricity, start getting overheated, need frequent repairs, and may cost more to maintain than the cost of replacing the bakery case with the new one.

Here are a few signs which will tell you when it is time to replace your bakery display case:

High electricity bill

Old refrigerated bakery display cases often need to use more energy to maintain the cool temperature for the bakery goods. As the insulation capacity may reduce over time, the refrigeration unit utilizes extra energy to maintain the cooling at desired levels. It usually results in high electricity bills. So, if you notice your business’s electricity bills increasing dramatically it might be time to replace your existing refrigeration unit.

Extra frost buildup or leaks

Well-functioning refrigeration units keep the temperature to appropriate levels. However, if you start to notice excessive moisture and frost buildup, it might lead to an air leak problem or indicate a fault in the cooling system of your refrigeration unit. It may reduce the ability of the refrigeration unit to maintain the freshness of food products.

Recurrent leaks and repairs

During the starting years, the refrigerated bakery display cases don’t need much maintenance. However, after a few years, your refrigeration unit may start to have recurring leakage problems. It might need frequent repairs, which is a sign that it might be time to replace it for good.

Reduced/fluctuating temperature

Old refrigerated display cases may start having faults in temperature control. You may notice that the food is staling before the expiration date in the refrigeration unit if there’s a problem with the temperature. You may also notice the unit’s temperature fluctuates frequently and needs to be adjusted manually. It is a major indicator that it is time to replace it.

So, when your refrigeration unit needs to be replaced, contact our team to explore our high-performance and energy-efficient refrigerated bakery display cases.

What are the different types of refrigeration merchandisers?

 Refrigeration merchandisers are a necessity in convenience stores, delis, and any type of foodservice establishments. Refrigerated display merchandisers are needed to preserve the freshness of different food products and attract more customers. Well-designed open meat merchandisers allow customers to easily access the food products from the display case and make their shopping journey much smoother. While there are enclosed display cases that allow attractive display but only staff can access them when the customers want to buy something. Thus, there are many different kinds of refrigerated merchandisers available in the market equipped with many different features and functionalities to meet your particular refrigeration needs.

The following list can help you learn about different types of refrigeration merchandisers to choose the right one:

Open display merchandisers

These merchandisers are designed to encourage impulse buying while reducing labor costs as the customer can simply reach out to grab the food items. Open display merchandisers such as open meat merchandisers are also used in meat shops and delis to keep the meat fresh and preserved from spoilage for longer.

Reach-In Merchandisers

These are mostly used in convenience stores, delis, bakeries, and large-scale retail stores. These have sliding or swing glass doors and are usually equipped with features such as LED lights, mirrored panels, and transparent shelves for brighter illumination and to attract more customers. These are mostly used to store packaged food products and beverages or fresh bakery products such as cakes, pastries, etc., as per the retail store’s particular requirements.

Table-top display cases

Tabletop or enclosed-top display cases are designed for showcasing food items, such as salads, cakes, pies, seafood, raw meat, etc. It keeps your baked goods and raw meats protected and are enclosed fully or partially to ensure maintaining the proper cooling inside the display case. These often have a curved or angled glass front to attract buyers. Enclosed-top display cases use two types of refrigeration methods forced air and gravity coil to keep the ideal temperature and moisture for specific food items.

Hybrid/dual temperature merchandisers

These combine the capabilities of open and enclosed-top merchandisers. These are often used in cafes and delis for storing fresh food products, beverages, and snacks. It has a lower open display so customers can easily grab the beverages. It also features an enclosed top that staff can access from behind for displaying food products.

If you are looking for quality bakery display cases or open meat merchandisers, get in touch with our team for the best deals.

Dry vs. refrigerated bakery cases

We have all been in a grocery, bakery store, or coffee shop and been tempted by baked treats in a display case. It comes as no surprise that almost everyone loves baked goods. From fresh bread to croissants and pastries, there is always something for everyone.

The smell of fresh-baked goods in the air, the early mornings, the handcrafted dough - there is something fulfilling and universally appealing about having your own bakery. However, running a successful bakery requires a lot more than a passion for baking. If you want your customers to try your baked goods, you need to invest in the right pieces of equipment for not only baking and cooking but also to capture the attention of your customers. And this is where bakery cases come into the picture.

Bakery stores use bakery display cases to merchandise their products and showcase them for sale. These glass displays are utilized to create tantalizing presentations for customers to make impulse buys while they are waiting in line to check out. When it comes to bakery display cases, there are different options to choose from such as small countertop cases, refrigerated floor cabinets, and more.

However, there are two main categories of display cases - dry cases and refrigeration cases. If you are new to bakery cases and don’t know the difference between the two, we are here to help.

Dry or non-refrigerated cases
Dry or non-refrigerated bakery cases are designed for bakery goods that don’t need constant refrigeration to remain fresh. You can display items such as croissants, muffins, bagels, cookies, and donuts in dry cases. Such items stay fresh and delicious without constant refrigeration. In fact, some cupcakes, cakes, and pies can also be stored and displayed in these bakery cases. However, make sure you consider the type of filling, ingredients, and frosting added to your products before storing them in non-refrigerated cases. Remember, these bakery display cases are designed for fast-moving baked goods. This means if you are baking and serving multiple times a day, they are an ideal option.

Refrigerated cases
On the other hand, refrigerated cases are designed for bakery goods that need constant refrigeration. They are ideal for items that are more perishable such as whipped cream desserts, buttercream cakes, meringues, fruit pies, cheesecakes, and mousse cake. If you have items that need to be served chilled, you will benefit from such bakery cases.
While it usually depends on the type of bakery you are running or the items you serve, investing in both bakery cases is not a bad idea as long as you have the budget for it.

We hope now you know the difference between dry and refrigerated bakery cases and can make an informed decision.

Why must large fish vendors invest in double duty fish display cases?

 If you own a meat or fish store, you will likely need to install a fish display case in your store for displaying fish meat. Fish meat can smell bad and look unsightly if it is not stored and preserved in a good quality display case. Although there are many kinds of display cases, such as fixed and remote display cases available in the market, it might be rather expensive to invest in several regular display cases. Not only that, but they would also take up a lot of space. On the other hand, double-duty fish display cases provide large storage capacity and exceptional display, ideal for large fish vendors. If you own a big store, it is an excellent idea to invest in double-duty display cases for maximum space utilization and many other benefits that these display cases provide.

Following are the major benefits of investing in double duty fish display cases.

Spacious storage capacity

Double duty fish display cases are designed keeping in mind the specific needs of large fish vendors. Therefore, these provide a large storage capacity while you can beautifully organize the fish meat for display on the shelves. It makes it easier to manage your inventory and restock the items on the shelf once the previous fishes have been sold.

Keeps fish meat fresh for longer

Double duty fish display cases feature advanced refrigeration technology to ensure an even cooling flow and preserve the fish meat for longer on all levels. It keeps the smell securely trapped inside and does not let the seafood spoil while the display looks attractive.

Capturing customers’ attention

An attractive double-duty fish display case also acts as an advertising tool and captures your customers’ attention. It helps fish vendors present their fish and raw meat products in excellent lighting and a clean display that looks presentable and appealing.

Improve your store’s appeal

A high-quality double-duty fish display case not only helps display the seafood in a more presentable way but also enhances your store’s appeal. A store that looks spacious and has clean and attractive large display cases exudes an inviting atmosphere in your store and attracts more customers.

Protection from bugs and animals

When you are selling seafood at your store, it is natural to attract the attention of flies, bugs, and animals such as cats and dogs, etc. A double-duty fish display case securely stores your food products and makes them inaccessible for bugs and animals.