The benefits of energy-efficient multideck fridges for convenience stores

Running a supermarket or convenience store is expensive. Between running all the fridges and freezers, the lighting, the heating and even the air conditioning, you’re already spending lots on your utility bills. Any upgrade in efficiency can make a real difference.

That’s why energy-efficient multideck fridges are such a smart investment for supermarkets and C-stores. Finding the right model helps reduce your electricity use, improve product presentation, support food safety compliance, and lower long-term operating costs, all while keeping your products chilled and on display.

If you need a new energy-efficient multideck fridge, we recommend modern TEFCOLD models. These come with very low energy consumption, with newer models in the range including A and B EU energy ratings.

Lower running costs

Of course, the most obvious benefit of an energy-efficient multideck fridge for your supermarket is reduced energy use.

A multideck fridge’s cooling system runs all the time, and its lighting operates for your entire working day, too. So, any energy savings add up through the weeks, months and years.

Here’s a simple but realistic example. If you still operate a 15 to 20-year-old doored multideck, you likely use around 2,700 kWh per year per fridge. In contrast, the newer TEFCOLD Galaxy+ GP14FGD consumes only around 1,336 kWh per year.

At 16.8p per kWh, you’ll spend around £454 a year to run the old unit, compared with about £224 a year for the modern TEFCOLD. That’s a saving of approximately £230 per annum per fridge. If you run four, five or dozens of multidecks, those savings really start to multiply. 

Better efficiency

Not so long ago, some supermarket owners may have assumed that improved energy efficiency meant compromise on things like worse lighting, weaker merchandising or less convenient access. But that’s simply not true with modern commercial multidecks.

For instance, current TEFCOLD multidecks come with supermarket-friendly display design, including LED lighting, adjustable shelving, excellent visibility and options for continuous runs through multiplexing. All while bringing much better energy efficiency to your shop floor.

In other words, there’s no longer any need to choose between presentation and performance. You can have both at the same time.

Glass doors

You may find that one of the most important changes you make is switching from open-front multidecks to models with doors.

Now, open-fronted units certainly still have their place, especially near the entry and next to the tills. But if energy saving is high on your list of priorities, multidecks with glass doors are undeniably the better option.

Refrigerated air is expensive to maintain. So keeping as much of it inside your supermarket multidecks as possible makes an awful lot of sense.

Night blinds

One thing that sometimes gets forgotten about is night-time efficiency. What happens when you shut your store in the evening?

Well, your fridges must continue to chill the food and drink, of course, even though you’ll switch your display features off. And night blinds can help reduce energy loss when open multidecks aren’t in active use. For instance, several TEFCOLD models that we stock come with soft-closing night blinds (TEFCOLD’s open-front Galaxy+ GP10, GP14, GP20, and GP26 multidecks).

Night blinds effectively work in the same way as glass doors, keeping the cold inside the unit. However, they’re optimised for efficiency, not for display.

Improved temperature consistency

When a manufacturer designs a cabinet properly, efficiency and performance go hand in hand. A modern multideck fridge doesn’t just save energy. It provides more consistent temperatures. This is usually thanks to carefully designed refrigeration systems and optimised airflow.

That’s good news for supermarkets. You likely stock dairy, fresh meat, drinks and other chilled lines. More consistent temperatures mean better quality and better aesthetics for the customer, all while reducing the stress on the system and supporting food safety standards.

A better long-term investment for growing stores

An energy-efficient multideck may cost more upfront than a cheaper, less efficient alternative. But the purchase price is only a small part of the picture. And it’s not where the big savings lie.

Over the life of your new multideck, several factors affect its overall ROI, including:

• Energy consumption
• Maintenance needs
• Suitability for your layout
• A lack of downtime
• Aesthetics
• Volume

The trick, as always, is balancing the upfront cost with the long-term savings. That’s especially true if you’re fitting out a new shop, replacing several multiplexed cabinets, or expanding your chilled display area.

Suitable for a wide range of supermarkets

Flexibility is one of our favourite features of modern multidecks. For example, the TEFCOLD Galaxy+ range is suitable for everything from fresh meat, dairy, drinks, sandwiches and chilled snacks. That makes it suitable for supermarkets in all locations, including small convenience stores, larger outlets, farm shops, motorway services and everything in between.

Such flexibility means that a multideck fridge can support virtually any type of supermarket or C-store, adapting to different product categories and merchandising layouts as your stock profiles change.

What to look for in an energy-efficient multideck fridge

If you’re looking for an energy-efficient multideck fridge for your supermarket or convenience store, focus on the following features:

• Strong energy rating
• Glass doors (where appropriate)
• LED lighting
• Efficient airflow and refrigeration design
• Night blinds for open models
• Adjustable shelving
• Good merchandising flexibility
• Suitable for multiplexing (if you have a large space)

As mentioned earlier, TEFCOLD is an excellent brand to investigate first. Its current multideck range covers many of these features, making it a great choice if your supermarket is hoping to improve display, performance, and efficiency all at once.

Source your energy-efficient multideck from Fridgesmart

Energy-efficient multideck fridges in supermarkets and C-stores offer a very real way to reduce your overheads, improve your chilled merchandising and intelligently invest in your shop floor.

Check out the TEFCOLD multideck fridges we stock here at Fridgesmart. Our team walks you through the process to help you find the perfect model for your needs. We’ve been in business for almost 50 years, which means we bring a level of expertise and customer service that others just can’t match. Plus, you’ll benefit from our fast delivery service, price-match guarantee, and above-and-beyond warranties.

And if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! We look forward to meeting you and helping you source the perfect energy-efficient multideck fridge for your supermarket or convenience store.