And the same can be said for the weekly shopping trips to the grocery store most of us undertake. The challenge for the food retailing industry is to make this routine an event to remember since the goal is to keep the customer coming back each week. A new generation of refrigeration units with intelligent glass doors may soon play an important role in turning grocery shopping into a unique experience. They stage products as if they were in a showroom – opening automatically and becoming virtually invisible.
People
„We are always looking to make our products as visible as possible, because, after all, if a customer cannot see a product, they won’t buy it.“Hans-Gerd Jahn, REWE, Head of Shop- and Storedesign.
„We are always looking to make our products as visible as possible, because, after all, if a customer cannot see a product, they won’t buy it.“Hans-Gerd Jahn, REWE, Head of Shop- and Storedesign.
Innovation
The concept: Glass doors which can detect – and then magically open – when a customer wants to take refrigerated food product from the display case. The effect is achieved with an integrated sensor, which is activated by shopper motion towards the door. It reacts to any movement within a defined radius of action. As the hand comes closer within reach, the space-saving doors slide silently open, thus achieving a distinctive shopping experience.
Made entirely of glass and with no frames, these new automatic doors provide shoppers with a panoramic view of food and beverages. An anti-reflective coating makes the glass virtually invisible.
More freshness in the supermarket.
„60% less energy“ compared to open refrigerated units.
A closed cooling system allows for a pleasant room temperature. Ideally, shoppers may stay longer and buy more items under these less stressful conditions.
For produce to maintain its freshness, it is important that the maximum storage temperature is never exceeded. Yet, this has always been difficult for the refrigerated display units to achieve. The longer a door stays open when someone reaches in to grab an item, the harder the refrigeration system has to work to compensate for the loss of cooling. However, with the new sensor-driven doors, which now automatically close, it makes it easier to maintain the required refrigeration temperature.
New cooling units with doors that when opened, slide into the units themselves, create more aisle space. Customers with shopping carts, strollers or walking aids can now position themselves directly in front of the refrigerated display cases. It creates more traffic area in the aisle, making shopping more relaxed.
Next
An idea that is gathering speed.
The concept of associating food shopping with comfort and a unique experience is something the retail food industry has been intensively engaged in resolving. Even the discount markets, which initially were designed to look as though they were simple warehouses with a spartan atmosphere, are now using ‘feel good’ color schemes and creating a pleasant ambience for customers. For food chains, it can often be a balancing act in terms of staying true to their brand identity. That is the reason why SCHOTT is constantly developing solutions which are perfect for any supermarket concept. Providing a totally new design in shopping, yet which still feels familiar and welcoming.
Let’s make food shopping a unique experience.
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SCHOTT’s hands-free opening glass door system SCHOTT Termofrost® Smart Access was awarded the German Design Award Gold 2018.