Making the most of refrigerated display cases allows the customers the freedom to serve themselves. Display fruit juice, soda, cold sandwiches, pre-packaged salads, luscious desserts, energy drinks or flowers that appeal to consumers. A display refrigerator enhances the look of beverages and food items, making them appear cold and frosty. A beverage display refrigerator is perfect for selling bottled beverages instead of investing in labor to operate and refill equipment. It’s imperative that a cooled display case maintains the proper temperature for the freshest specialty items.

Place a refrigerated case in a highly visible area to generate add-on purchases. Add a glass display refrigerator to feature healthy alternative food selections, trendy beverages and popular cold foods for sale. Stock food in a refrigerated display and influence patrons to grab something extra with their purchase. Making the most of refrigerated display cases saves on labor cost and increases the opportunity to promote specific products for sale.

1. Take advantage of merchandise visibility with a counter top refrigerated display.

2. Showcase specialty foods with a commercial display refrigerator.

3. Purchase refrigeration cases specifically made for food and beverages.

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Capitalize on visual appeal with a counter top refrigerated display

Merchandise visibility is key to making the most of refrigerated display cases. Keep sodas chilled and beer frosty while displaying last minute items for purchase. Counter top displays are excellent for last minute sales.

I recommend: Industry Kitchens features a variety of refrigerated displays as well as counter top displays that are refrigerated. Restaurant Source has handy counter top refrigerated display cases aptly named Impulse Freezers.

Buy refrigeration cases specifically made for chilled specialty items

Choose refrigerated equipment made for the particular item specialized by your business. Show your chilled food items in a cooled display case or refrigerated bakery cases to entice customers. Offer decorated birthday cakes or party platters filled with meats and cheeses or vegetables.

I recommend: Bush Refrigeration features various display cases including bakery display cases. KaTom has space conscious refrigerated display cases and even sushi display cases.

Use a cooled food display case to encourage impulse shoppers

Place the display case where customers can easily view it to encourage them to make additional purchases. Offer decadent desserts or frosty drinks to generate up selling opportunities. Make sure your display is well organized and attractive.

I recommend: Big Tray has a variety of refrigerated display cases to show off your different food and drink items. Sevel USA has combination display cases so you have more than one option on storage.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always keep refrigerated cases clean and well organized to encourage shoppers to purchase items inside.
• •  Use a glass display refrigerator to sell flowers or trendy drinks as an extra incentive to purchase impulse item.

Refrigerated display cases are a great way to boost sales of food and drinks. A well-stocked beverage display refrigerator is inviting to customers, while refrigerated bakery cases tempt a patron's sweet tooth. No matter what sector of the food and beverage industry your business is in, refrigerated display cases can help increase sales and profits.

A display refrigerator is ideal for self-service eateries, convenience stores and even upscale dining establishments.

Refrigerated display cases include:

1. Dessert cases, ideal for upselling in restaurants.
2. Beverage display refrigerators, perfect for sandwich and pizza shops.
3. Fresh produce cases, which can enhance the look of specialty and gourmet stores.

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Increase restaurant sales with refrigerated display cases

Positioning a well-stocked dessert display case or refrigerated bakery display near the waiting area of a restaurant will turn customers thoughts to dessert, before they even sit down. Customers will even get up from their tables to see what treats are in your refrigerated bakery case. What better way to increase lunch and dinner sales?

I recommend: Find a display refrigerator at Top Jet Sales and at A City Discount, which carries a large variety of refrigerated bakery cases.

Boost liquor sales with refrigerated cases

An attractive refrigerator display case behind the bar, filled with bottles of beer, will advertise itself to patrons. Upright wine coolers are another attractive option for displaying your beer or wine selections in a refrigerated case.

I recommend: BigTray.com carries several different sized industrial refrigerators including glass front wine coolers. The Beverage Factory carries a wide variety of attractive wine coolers that compliment any restaurant décor.

Keep your refrigerated cases clean

Even if your display cases hold all prepackaged food and beverages, you still need to keep them clean. A monthly washing with a sanitary cleaner is an easy way to keep your display cases looking new. Routinely cleaning the grills and fans will also keep the refrigeration motor running efficiently.

I recommend: Instawares carries a line of easy-to-clean refrigerated display cases, as does KaTom Restaurant Supply.

Save money with used refrigerated display cases

Refrigerated cases are one of the most popular items with used restaurant suppliers. This is partly because they work for a long time, and partly because so many different businesses require refrigerated cases, from convenience stores to florists.

I recommend: BakeDeco.com carries a wide variety of used refrigerated display cases, including counter top refrigerated display cases. Find more used refrigerated cases at Brrr Refrigeration & Design.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your refrigerated display cases are at safe temperatures for food storage. A refrigerated display or refrigerated case should be kept at 41 degrees for proper food storage.

When you're thinking about ways to increase sales, take some time to consider refrigerated display cases pricing and costs. An attractive display refrigerator filled with tempting drinks, baked goods or other foods is a great way to get customers to notice products they might not otherwise purchase. Those in the food industry know well how important impulse buys can be; a display refrigerator, well placed, is one excellent way to increase sales through impulse buys.

Before you start shopping, however, carefully consider the cost of running a display case. New cases generally are more energy smart than old ones. Big cases usually take more electricity than small ones. Lighted cases are preferred, as they make the merchandise more appealing, but consider the cost of replacement bulbs, too. Then, stop to consider the initial cost of the type of refrigerated cases you need:

1. What does a medium to large cooled food display case cost new?

2. How much is a counter top cooled display case?

3. What is the cost if you buy refrigeration cases used?

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Research the cost of a commercial display refrigerator

A four door refrigerated display case with wire shelves and a stainless steel interior runs about $4,000 to $5,000. A six sliding door refrigerated case with wire shelves and stainless steel features is more like $5,000 to $6,000. Tall, glass door refrigerated display cases cost about $1,000 to $3,000, depending on size.

I recommend: TopJetSales offers several types of medium to large sized display cases. Brrr Refrigeration and Design carries just about any type of refrigerated display case made, including those suitable for the floral industry, bakeries, delis and food marts.

Investigate the cost of a counter top refrigerated display unit

Small, counter top style refrigerated cases, not unexpectedly, cost less. A 25-inch case, ideal for displaying cakes, pies and pastries, costs about $1,400 to $2,000. A curved-front, 29-inch refrigerated case runs around $4,500 to $5,500.

I recommend: Instawares has a large collection of refrigerated display cases, including counter top models and refrigerated bakery display. Industry Kitchens has a small but quality collection of counter top refrigerated display cases for sale.

Consider used refrigerated display cases

Generally speaking, a good quality used refrigerated display case costs about half what a new version would. For example, a 48-inch large refrigerated display case costs about $1,500 to $3,000 used. A 40-inch open refrigerated display case is around $1,700 to $2,500. A high-quality, 47-inch refrigerated display case runs about $2,500 to $4,000.

I recommend: ACityDiscount Restaurant Equipment & Restaurant Supply carries a nice line of used refrigerated display cases, as does Kerekes Bakery & Restaurant Equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Cleaning your display refrigerator regularly not only keeps it appealing to customers but also costs you less money. Clean coils and any part of the refrigerated display case the instruction manual suggests; this will make the machine consume less energy.

Whether you use refrigerated display cases to store and sell merchandise for your floral, retail or restaurant business, learning key industry terminology related to the equipment allows you to order the best unit to suit your needs. Knowing related terms like “open air,” “stainless steel deck” and “magnetic seals” will not only help you select the proper refrigerated display case, but also assist when you’re discussing equipment troubleshooting or parts replacement with technicians, vendors or manufacturers.

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Digitally controlled uniform temperature

Ensure you keep your products fresh with a refrigerated display case that has a digitally controlled uniform temperature unit. The feature will maintain an even temperature for the entire case to prevent warm spots that can lead to spoiling.

I recommend: See refrigerated deli case displays with digitally controlled uniform temperature features through Brrr Refrigeration and Design.

Open air

For retail establishments that allow customers to pull their own food and beverages to purchase, open air refrigerated display cases provide simple convenience. Because the units don't have glass-front swing doors, there will be less overall maintenance.

I recommend: Discover the benefits of open air refrigerated display cases through the product descriptions at KaTom.

Magnetic seals

Reduce the energy consumption of your refrigerated display cases by purchasing units with magnetic seals to keep doors securely shut. The seals prevent cold air from escaping between uses.

I recommend: Industry Kitchens offers refrigerated display cases ideal for retail food shops that feature doors with magnetic seals.

Stainless steel deck

Ease clean up and improve the longevity of refrigerated display cases by purchasing units with stainless steel decks. Units that have decks with multiple levels will allow you to display items of varying shapes and sizes.

I recommend: Learn more about stainless steel deck features of refrigerated display cases through Restaurant Source.

Sliding drawers

Sliding drawers make it easy to load and retrieve refrigerated food products on the bottom shelf of refrigerated display cases. Unlike units that feature glass doors that open in front, sliding drawers allow you to add content without disrupting clients standing near the unit.

I recommend: Check out photos of sliding drawers in action through the Bakery Cases website.

Countertop refrigerated display case

Shops with limited floor space can showcase additional products with slim countertop refrigerated display case models that house sample dishes or special products of the day.

I recommend: Find several countertop refrigerated display case models on the Central Restaurant Products website.