If you’re in the hospitality, food manufacturing, pharmaceutical or aged care industry, then you need to know your stuff when it comes to commercial refrigeration. Not only is adequate cooling a mandatory government requirement, but it’ll also reduce waste and maintain the quality and taste of your produce.
But with so many brands, models, and service providers out there, it can be challenging for a small business owner to make sense of it all.
Here’s everything you need to know about commercial refrigeration for business.
Size Is Everything
Don’t ever let anyone tell you size doesn’t matter. Because in the refrigeration world, having the correct size is crucial. On the one hand, your fridge needs to be big enough to store all your produce inside, even during busy periods. While on the other, an excessively large unit will inflate your electricity bill.
Of course, you’re not going to pack your unit to the brim every single day, which is fine. The worst case scenario is when you have insufficient space which forces produce to spoil.
Another consideration is easy access to your most popular produce. There’s no point forcing your staff to engage in a lengthy game of refrigerator Tetris when they could be more productive elsewhere.
Energy Efficiency Will Save You Money
In Australia, we have a user-friendly government designed Energy Star Rating. Depending on the appliance in question, this rating will be out of either five or ten stars, with higher meaning more efficient. Although they may cost more upfront, it’s sensible to invest in a refrigerator with a good energy rating. After all, energy costs here are sky high and show no sign of slowing down.
The ratings also show how much electricity the unit will consume per year, which you can use to calculate savings over time.
Finally, you’ll also be doing the right thing for the environment.
Fridges Need Maintenance
Even the best products break down from time to time, so you’ll need to budget money for intermittent maintenance. Identify a small local business with plenty of experience, as these tend to provide the best quality to price ratio.
Modern units include in-built temperature control systems that can export data into Excel spreadsheets, which assist in the refrigeration monitoring and maintenance process. Some even send automated SMS or email alerts in the event of a critical failure, which may allow you to rectify the situation in time for the next trading day.
You Need To Comply With Regulations
In Australia, food safety regulations are incredibly strict, including those that apply to refrigeration units. Specifically, food manufacturers and providers are required to obtain and maintain HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) certification.
Ensure your refrigeration units comply with these requirements to avoid being slapped with a nasty fine when the health inspector comes around.
Keep this information in mind when purchasing or maintaining a commercial refrigeration unit. With the help of an experienced commercial refrigeration specialist, finding the best solution for your business will be a breeze.
