Pros And Cons Of Choosing An Open-Front Display Refrigerator

If you operate a cafeteria-style restaurant, a bakery, or any other type of eatery that prides itself on allowing its customers to get their food quickly, the types of commercial refrigerators that you use will be critical. When it comes to commercial refrigeration, there are many different styles of appliances that you can choose. You'll likely want to give strong consideration to an open-front display fridge or, more aptly, several of them if your establishment is large. Here are some pros and cons of this type of fridge.

Pro: Self-Service

A big benefit of an open-front refrigerator unit is that your customers can serve themselves. This is beneficial for two reasons — customers who are in a hurry can quickly grab food without having to get the attention of one of your employees, and you may be able to employ fewer staff, and thus save money, because you won't have staff members serving your customers. If a customer who is in a hurry is evaluating your eatery versus one at which there is no self-service, the customer may choose yours because it would be faster.

Con: Potential For Theft

One challenge of using open-front refrigerator units is that there's a higher potential for theft. Because people can grab their own food, an unscrupulous guest could technically take a couple of items, hide one on his or her person, and pay for the other one. Fortunately, you can deal with this risk by having security cameras positioned around the fridge, as well as signs that remind patrons they're under surveillance.

Pro: More Visibility

Closed units made of glass can sometimes be difficult to see into. If there's a significant temperature difference between the interior of your commercial refrigerator and the surrounding air, the glass in the former can often fog up. This means that your patrons may struggle to see the food, which could either cause them to leave your restaurant or continuously ask for help. An open-front model allows for perfect visibility, so these issues won't be present.

Con: Higher Utilities Costs

An open-front fridge may result in higher utilities costs for your business. A closed unit does a better job keeping the cold trapped inside of it, whereas an open-front unit is constantly having to generate cold air because of air loss through the front. This could result in higher utilities bills each month — although if your reputation as a quick, self-serve establishment leads to more patrons, the higher revenue will offset the higher costs.

For more information, reach out to a supplier of commercial refrigeration equipment.

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