Need to Know Info About Multideck Chillers

A multideck display fridge is the best way to boost your sales. Essentially a commercial chiller without a door these units are invaluable in busy retail areas allowing your customers to reach in and serve themselves.

MULTIDECK TYPES

Multidecks are broken down into 7 categories based on cabinet size, function and application. These are General Purpose and Dairy, Low Height, Fresh Meat, Slimline, Shutter, Fruit and Vegetable and Remote Refrigeration. Here is each type in more detail.

GENERAL PURPOSE

Ideal for salads, sandwiches, deli, beverages, alcohol and dairy. A wide choice of options and sizes are available such as the Framec Sunny and Mondial Elite Jolly the most popular sellers.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE

Similar to the fresh meat multideck these are designed specifically to retail fruit and vegetables. These cabinets have baskets in place of shelves and the traditional angled mirror at the top of the cabinet to improve product visibility. The temperature range of these multidecks keeps fresh produce at +2°C/+7°C. The Frilixa Marao is a best seller in this category.

FRESH MEAT

These multidecks are designed for the retail of packaged fresh meat making them perfect for butchers shops, supermarkets and farm shops. In terms of design they have the same features as the general purpose multidecks but have a temperature range of between -2°C/+4°C making them able to store and display fresh meat safely.

SLIMLINE

Available with many of the features in the other ranges but with a shallow footprint, around a depth of 600mm. The Mondial Elite Slim range is only 580mm deep. This makes these cabinets great for coffee shops, cafes and delis where large cabinet volume is not essential.

SHUTTER

Fitted with a lockable roller shutter, these cabinets are the perfect solution for petrol forecourts, school canteens and motorway service stations where extra security is needed outside of service hours.

LOW HEIGHT

These smaller open deck chillers are ideal for cafes, coffee shops or small shops or for end-of-aisle use in supermarkets. Typically standing to around 1.4m in height the units are ideal for dedicated products sales.

REMOTE

This refers to the multideck motor being placed on the outside of the building. Ideal for larger scale operations, these units can be multiplexed. Ideal for off licences, convenience stores and supermarkets.

THINGS TO CHECK PRE-DELIVERY

Once you’ve chosen your multideck, the next thing to think about is where the unit will go. It sounds simple but there are a few things to bear in mind to ensure the unit runs well.

YOUR PREMISES

These units are often large and heavy but also very fragile with breakable glass panels. Delivery teams cannot tilt or lie the cabinet down to go through doorways. Check both the height and width of your doorway with the dimensions of your intended cabinet.

FLOORING

Make sure the unit is placed on a level floor. Uneven flooring by a few millimeters can mean the condensate water cannot drain and can lead to water appearing at the bottom of the unit.

ROOM TEMPERATURES

Unless the unit has remote refrigeration all multideck chillers have a maximum ambient working temperature of 25°C. If room temperature is hotter than this, the cabinet has to work harder and the cabinet temperature will rise. Ensure that any cabinet exposed to these higher temperatures has excellent ventilation. This is really important at night where doors and windows are closed allowing temperatures to rise. Allowing airflow around the cabinet at the back and sides is also important so have a gap of at least 50-60mm at the back and sides to allow proper air flow.

OTHER AIRFLOWS

Other sources of air can have a negative effect on the fridge’s performance. The cabinet has an air curtain running across the front of the display to keep the internal space chilled. Placing the unit near windy places such as an open shop door or directly under an air conditioning unit may remove this air curtain causing temperatures inside to soar.

ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES

If you want a larger sized cabinet (two metres and above) check the electrical supply as some may need a hardwired electrical connection. Check you have space on your mains board and ensure a qualified electrician installs the unit.

OTHER FEATURES

Here are some other features to look out for, which can improve your product display & help you get more out of your multideck chiller. Ticket strips are not a standard on every model but are essential for displaying product pricing. Shelf risers keep products on the shelves. Although the shelves may tilt, risers do not come as standard with every model. If moving your cabinet is a requirement then castors are a necessity. Check the specification as they are not typically offered as standard. The Mondial Elite Jolly SL10 however is supplied with castors. Glass end panels are used for improving the product display.

For the full range of Multidecks click here.