Multideck Fridge Buying Guide: The Complete UK Guide (2026)
- Lisa Craven
A multideck fridge is the multi-shelf chilled display unit used in supermarkets, delis, and food-to-go outlets. This guide covers the critical open-front vs glass-door energy decision — worth up to £803 per year — plus every TEFCOLD model, sizing guidance, and UK compliance requirements.
- Energy comparison: TEFCOLD Galaxy+ GP10 open-front uses 10.83 kWh/day (~£1,069/year); glass door GP10FGD uses 3.25 kWh/day (~£320/year) — a saving of £748/year at 29p/kWh UK commercial rate
- Payback on glass doors: The GP10FGD costs just £109 more than the open-front GP10 — energy savings recover that premium in under 7 weeks
- UK legal temperature: Food Hygiene Regulations 2013 requires chilled display at 8°C or below; raw meat and fish at 5°C or below. TEFCOLD Galaxy+ operates at −1°C to +5°C
- Refrigerant: R290 (GWP 3) — qualifies for HMRC Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) first-year tax relief via the Energy Technology List
- Range: 0.6m compact units from ~£1,500 (PC1250B) to 2m+ supermarket-grade displays over £4,000 (ex. VAT)
- Open front vs glass doors: Glass door models use approximately 70% less energy than open-front equivalents of the same width and brand
- Manufacturer: TEFCOLD (Denmark) — CE marked, Climate Class 3/4, sold and serviced in the UK by FridgeSmart
A multideck fridge is the workhorse of grab-and-go retail — the tall, multi-shelf chilled display that makes sandwiches, dairy, drinks, and fresh produce immediately visible and accessible to customers. Done right, it’s one of the most effective sales tools in any food retail or hospitality setting. Done wrong — particularly with an open-front unit in a warm shop — it’s one of the biggest energy bills you’ll run.
This guide covers the key decision every buyer needs to make first (open front or glass doors), how the TEFCOLD Galaxy+ range works, what the real running costs look like, and which model suits which operation — from the compact PC1250B at £1,736 to a 2m supermarket-style display at over £4,000. Browse the full multideck fridge range to compare all models.
The Big Decision: Open Front or Glass Doors?
This is the most misunderstood choice in commercial refrigeration. Open-front multidecks are not inherently better for sales — and the energy penalty is enormous. Here is the honest comparison.
| Factor | Open Front | Glass Door (FGD) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy (1m unit) | ✗ 10.83 kWh/day — ~£1,069/year | ✓ 3.25 kWh/day — ~£320/year |
| Annual energy saving | — | ✓ ~£748/year vs open front |
| Temperature stability | ✗ Affected by draughts, AC, heat from kitchen | ✓ Consistent — doors contain cold air |
| Customer access | ✓ No door to open — fully grab-and-go | Doors open easily — minimal friction |
| Product visibility | ✓ Fully open view, no glass reflection | ✓ Frameless glass — nearly as clear |
| Ambient sensitivity | ✗ Cannot be placed near heat sources or AC vents | ✓ Much less affected by room temperature |
| Purchase price premium (1m) | £2,457 (GP10 White) | £2,566 (GP10FGD White) — just £109 more |
| Payback on door premium | — | ✓ Less than 7 weeks of energy savings |
| When open front is right | High-traffic supermarket with climate control; very short dwell time | — |
Five Types of Multideck — Which Do You Need?
Open Front
From £2,457 (GP10)- No door — fully open
- Air curtain cools display zone
- High energy use (~11 kWh/day)
- Best: very high traffic retail
- Includes nightblind for closing
Glass Door (FGD)
From £2,566 (GP10FGD)- Frameless hinged glass doors
- Self-closing, double-glazed
- ~70% less energy than open
- Best: most UK food retail
- Same internal capacity as open
With Shutter (MCX)
From £2,895 (MCX90M)- Integral roll-down night shutter
- Secures product overnight
- No separate nightblind needed
- Best: 24/7 retail, petrol forecourt
- 0.9m to 2.0m wide
Wall-Site with Doors
From £2,853 (Framec)- Designed for wall installation
- Rear remote refrigeration option
- Sliding glass doors
- Best: larger retail fit-outs
- 5 shelf display, 1.0m to 1.9m
Compact / Slimline
From £1,736 (PC1250B)- 740mm depth — narrower footprint
- Glass doors, 5 shelves
- −1 to +5°C, B energy rating
- Best: small shops, cafés
- Castors for repositioning
Four Models Across the Range
All Galaxy+ models run at −1°C to +5°C and are suitable for fresh meat, dairy, sandwiches, and produce. All use R290 natural refrigerant. All TEFCOLD Galaxy+ models use R290 refrigerant, which qualifies for the UK’s Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme — allowing 100% first-year tax relief on qualifying energy-efficient equipment. All prices ex. VAT.
- External: 1,310 × 740 × 2,050mm
- Internal volume: 764L net
- Temperature: −1 to +5°C
- 5 adjustable shelves
- Energy: 5.87 kWh/24h
- Refrigerant: R290
- Castors with locking brakes
The most affordable entry point in the range. Self-closing frameless glass doors, under-shelf LED lighting, and castors for easy repositioning. Suitable for fresh meat display (3M1 spec). Black interior and exterior with glass end walls.
View PC1250B →- External: 1,018 × 740 × 2,040mm
- Internal volume: 472L net
- Temperature: −1 to +5°C
- 5 adjustable shelves (7° or 14° angle)
- Energy: 10.83 kWh/24h
- Soft-close nightblind included
- EPOS ticket strips as standard
TEFCOLD’s flagship open-front unit. Mirrored interior end walls, horizontal LED lighting, 40mm insulated end panels. Can be multiplexed into a run of units. Best suited to high-footfall environments with climate control. Also available in Black and Stainless Steel.
View GP10 White →- External: 1,018 × 750 × 2,040mm
- Internal volume: 472L net
- Temperature: −1 to +5°C
- 5 adjustable shelves (7° or 14° angle)
- Energy: 3.25 kWh/24h
- Frameless self-closing glass doors
- EPOS ticket strips as standard
Identical footprint and capacity to the GP10 open front — but with frameless double-glazed self-closing doors that cut energy from 10.83 to 3.25 kWh/day. Just £109 more to buy. The £748 annual energy saving pays back the door premium in under 7 weeks. Available in Black and Stainless too.
View GP10FGD White →- External: 1,330 × 750 × 2,040mm
- Internal volume: 629L net
- Temperature: −1 to +5°C
- 5 adjustable shelves (7° or 14° angle)
- Energy: 3.66 kWh/24h
- Ultra-low front, slim top canopy
- Fits through 750mm doorways
33% more display space than the GP10FGD for just £561 extra. The slim top canopy adds 100mm of internal height. At 3.66 kWh/day it runs at roughly £361/year — still a fraction of the equivalent open-front cost. Available in Black and Stainless. GP14 in GP20 and GP26 also available for larger runs.
View GP14FGD White →How to Read the TEFCOLD Model Numbers
GP = Galaxy+ (Galaxy Plus — the premium multideck range)
10 / 14 / 20 / 26 = Width in decimetres: GP10 = 1.0m, GP14 = 1.4m, GP20 = 2.0m, GP26 = 2.6m
FGD = Frameless Glass Door. No FGD suffix = open front.
White / Black / SS = Finish (all same price except SS which is slightly more)
Example: GP14FGD Black = Galaxy+, 1.4m wide, frameless glass doors, black finish.
PC[width]B — compact/budget multideck range. PC1250B = 1,250mm wide, B = black.
MCX[width]M — multideck with integrated night shutter. MCX130M = 1.3m wide, M = motorised shutter.
Framec SUPER SUNNY[shelves] — wall-site models with sliding doors. 10 = 10 shelves, 14 = 14 shelves, 19 = 19 shelves.
Size Guide: Which Width Do You Need?
| Model Width | Net Capacity | Shelves | Best For | Open Front Price | Glass Door Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.25m (PC1250B) | 764L | 5 | Small café, sandwich shop | — | £1,736 |
| 1.0m (GP10) | 472L | 5 | Small convenience store, deli | £2,457 | £2,566 ★ |
| 1.4m (GP14) | 629L | 5 | Convenience store, food hall | £3,003 | £3,127 ★ |
| 2.0m (GP20) | ~900L | 5 | Busy convenience store, deli counter | £4,346 | £4,695 ★ |
| 2.6m (GP26) | ~1,100L | 5 | Large retail, supermarket aisle | £5,536 | £5,035 ★ |
| 0.9–2.0m (MCX shutter) | Varies | 4–5 | 24/7 retail, forecourt, secure overnight | From £2,895 | |
★ = Recommended — glass door version saves £700+ per year in energy vs the open front equivalent.
The Real Running Cost: Open Front vs Glass Doors Over Time
Before You Order: Four Things to Check
Galaxy+ units are 740–750mm deep externally. You’ll need that plus 600mm of customer access in front and adequate space behind for the compressor to exhaust heat. The units are 2,040–2,050mm tall — check ceiling height and lighting fixtures. For installation through a narrow doorway, the GP14FGD is specifically noted as fitting through a 750mm door opening.
All Galaxy+ multideck units run on standard 220–240V / 50Hz single phase. The GP10FGD draws approximately 150–200W in normal operation. Run a dedicated circuit from a fused spur — don’t share with other high-draw appliances. For a run of three or more units, discuss the electrical load with your electrician before installation.
Open-front multidecks rely on an internal air curtain to contain cold air. Any external airflow — from an air conditioning vent blowing across the front, a frequently opened external door nearby, or radiant heat from a hot food counter — disrupts that curtain and forces the unit to work much harder. This is the single biggest cause of open-front units failing to maintain temperature in UK shops. Glass door units are far less sensitive to placement.
Galaxy+ shelves adjust to flat, 7°, or 14° angles. Angled shelves at 7° are standard for most chilled produce — products face the customer and are less likely to be pushed to the back. 14° works well for drinks bottles and cans. Flat shelves suit prepared meal trays and larger items. Set the angles before the unit is loaded — it takes 5 minutes and makes a significant difference to visibility and accessibility.
The Galaxy+ range is available in white, black, and stainless steel (SS) finishes — all at the same price except stainless which carries a small premium. White is the most common choice for general food retail environments where a clean, bright look matches the shop fit-out. Black suits a premium deli, artisan food hall, or butchery counter where the darker aesthetic adds visual weight and a high-end feel. Stainless steel is the right choice for commercial kitchen or food preparation environments where the surface needs to withstand regular deep cleaning and meets food-safe standards for exposed surfaces. All finishes share the same mirrored interior end walls.
6 Questions to Ask Before You Order
Open front or glass doors?
Unless you’re fitting a large supermarket-style operation with full climate control and consistently very high footfall, choose glass doors. The £749/year energy saving on just one 1m unit is too significant to ignore.
What are you displaying?
All Galaxy+ units are rated −1°C to +5°C — suitable for fresh meat (3M1 spec), dairy, sandwiches, produce, and drinks. If you need a unit specifically for ambient temperature produce (fruit and veg), a non-refrigerated ambient bay or a produce-spec unit set to 8–10°C would be more appropriate.
What width run do you need?
A 1m unit holds roughly 3–4 product categories with adequate depth. A 1.4m unit is better for a convenience store wanting to display dairy, meat, and sandwiches in one run. Galaxy+ units multiplex side by side — you can buy two GP10FGD units and run them as a 2m display.
Do you need overnight security?
If the unit will be in an unstaffed area overnight (forecourt shop, 24/7 convenience), the MCX shutter range has an integral roll-down motorised shutter that secures the display after hours without needing to empty and restock. The open-front Galaxy+ includes a soft-close nightblind but this does not lock.
White, black, or stainless steel?
White and black are available at the same price across the Galaxy+ range. Stainless steel (SS) costs slightly more. White reads cleaner in a bright food retail environment; black looks more premium in a deli or food hall; SS suits a commercial kitchen or butchery context. All have mirrored interior end walls.
Will you use EPOS shelf labels?
All Galaxy+ units include EPOS ticket strips as standard — the plastic price label rails that run along each shelf front. If you’re operating a convenience store with a POS system and shelf-edge labels, these are compatible and included in the box.
Price Guide
All Featured Models at a Glance
| Model | Width | Type | Net Vol. | Energy/Day | Annual Cost* | Ex. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC1250B | 1.31m | Glass doors | 764L | 5.87 kWh | ~£579 | £1,736 |
| GP10 White | 1.02m | Open front | 472L | 10.83 kWh | ~£1,069 | £2,457 |
| GP10FGD White ★ | 1.02m | Glass doors | 472L | 3.25 kWh | ~£320 | £2,566 |
| GP14 White | 1.33m | Open front | ~550L | ~13 kWh | ~£1,282 | £3,003 |
| GP14FGD White ★ | 1.33m | Glass doors | 629L | 3.66 kWh | ~£361 | £3,127 |
| GP20FGD White ★ | ~2.0m | Glass doors | ~900L | ~5 kWh | ~£493 | £4,695 |
★ = Recommended glass door version. *Annual energy cost at 27p/kWh.
For bakery and patisserie display, see our cake display fridge buying guide. Fitting out a convenience store? Read our convenience store refrigeration guide. To maximise energy savings across all your refrigeration, see our guide to cutting commercial fridge energy bills.
A commercial multideck fridge is a multi-shelf chilled display used in food retail, delis, convenience stores, and food-to-go outlets. The most important buying decision is open front vs glass doors: TEFCOLD Galaxy+ glass door models (e.g. GP10FGD) use 70% less energy than equivalent open-front units — saving around £748 per year on a 1m unit at UK commercial electricity rates (29p/kWh, 2026). The glass door premium of £109 is recovered in electricity savings in under 7 weeks. UK law under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2013 requires chilled display food to be held at 8°C or below. For the vast majority of UK food businesses, a glass door multideck is the correct choice. The TEFCOLD Galaxy+ range — stocked by FridgeSmart — spans 0.6m to 2m+ and uses R290 refrigerant (GWP 3), qualifying for HMRC ECA tax relief.
