Open-front vs glass-door multidecks: which should you recommend?

Now, your customers might worry about energy consumption with open-front units. It’s a valid concern, as some models do tend to use more energy than their glass-door cousins. However, modern air curtain technology has come a long way. Today’s units are far more efficient than models from even five years ago. And when you factor in the potential sales uplift, the equation often still works in their favor.

When glass doors make more sense

Glass-door multidecks have really come into their own recently, and for good reason.

The energy efficiency can be substantial. For retailers watching every penny of operational cost, that’s hard to ignore.
But it’s not just about energy bills. Glass doors maintain much more stable temperatures, which is crucial for products like premium ready meals, fresh meat or delicate desserts. Your customers will see less product waste and longer shelf life, which directly impacts their bottom line. There’s also a significant noise reduction, which is vital for smaller stores, where the hum of refrigeration can dominate the shopping environment.

Shoppers also increasingly want to support businesses that take sustainability seriously. Reducing energy consumption is a visible way for your customers to demonstrate that commitment. Independent retailers with a focus on quality, farm shops and stores in residential areas often find glass-door units align with their customers’ expectations and perceptions.

Addressing common customer concerns

“Won’t glass doors hurt my sales?” is probably the first objection you’ll hear, and it’s worth taking seriously. However, well-lit glass-door units with good product presentation often maintain or even improve sales. The key is ensuring excellent lighting and logical product placement, for example placing products at eye level.

“My staff are already stretched. Won’t doors slow everything down?” is a fair point, especially for busy convenience stores. But modern glass doors are lightweight and self-closing, so restocking isn’t the hassle it used to be, however there is still the need to keep the door open during restocking.

“Can I retrofit doors to my existing open-front units?” is another common query. While it’s technically possible with some units, it’s rarely a straightforward operation. The refrigeration system in an open-front unit is calibrated for air curtains, not for the sealed environment that doors create. While retrofit kits exist, you’ll often find that the energy savings are less impressive than with purpose-built glass-door units, so it’s usually better to advise your customers to replace their existing units.

And condensation used to be a significant issue with glass-door multidecks, but modern anti-fog technology has largely solved this problem. As long as the units are correctly installed and maintained, visibility remains excellent.