Lighting plays a more important role in creating a pleasant grocery shopping experience than you might think. Proper lighting not only ensures that products are more visible and appealing to customers, but it can even affect the quality of the food. Cooler lights, for example, help maintain the proper temperature in refrigerated and frozen food cases, ensuring that food remains fresh and safe to consume.
In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits and considerations of using lights for coolers in grocery stores, with a focus on selecting energy-efficient and appealing cooler lights.
How Cooler Lights Help Grocery Stores Drive Sales
Cooler lights play a vital role in promoting food safety by ensuring proper temperature control in refrigerated and frozen food cases. They also create a visually appealing shopping experience for customers, drawing attention to products and thus increasing sales.
Cooler lights can enhance product visibility and attractiveness, particularly in meat cases, where color rendering is used to showcase the freshness and quality of the products.
Below is a photo of a project our Solais team recently completed. Notice how the lighting solution we provided (on the left) enhances the natural color of the meat better than the warmer lighting previously installed, giving the cooler a cleaner look and making the products more visually appealing.
Two Most Common Types of Commercial Refrigeration LED Lighting
The two most common types of cooler lights used in grocery stores are vertical reach-in lights and horizontal canopy and shelf lights. Vertical reach-in lights are positioned facing inward at the front of the cooler or freezer cases. They are particularly useful for displaying beverages, dairy, and pre-packaged goods, and can enhance the visual appeal of products and packaging with vibrant colors.
Horizontal canopy and shelf lights are mounted below each shelf of the cooler cases and shine downward to illuminate products on the shelves. They provide uniform illumination and enhance the visibility of products in refrigerated display cases. These types of lights are particularly useful for displaying fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy.
Considerations When Choosing Lights for Coolers
When choosing lights for coolers, grocery store owners and designers should consider several factors. One of these key factors is the temperature requirements of the products being stored in the cooler. As previously mentioned, some products require specific temperature ranges, and using light can raise or lower the temperature, affecting the quality and safety of the food.
Another important thing to consider is energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as lighting can account for a significant portion of a store’s energy costs. The maintenance and replacement costs of the lights should be taken into account as well. Store owners should consider whether the lighting works well with their existing lighting systems to decide if they need just a refitting project or some more detailed electrical work.
Installation and Maintenance of Grocery Store Cooler Lights
Given the moisture-rich atmosphere of coolers, the proper installation and regular cleaning and maintenance can be crucial to ensure optimal performance and safety of cooler lights. It’s recommended to hire a professional electrician for installation, and to replace light fixtures as needed.
Additionally, regular cleaning and maintenance of the lights can help prevent dust buildup and other debris that can hinder their performance. Store owners should also regularly replace light fixtures as needed to promote consistent lighting and prevent energy waste.
Cast Your Food in the Best Light
Hopefully, this helped explain how selecting energy-efficient and appealing cooler lights can greatly benefit your grocery store. Cooler lights help maintain food safety while enhancing the visual appeal of products, increasing sales, and improving the shopping experience for customers. Choosing the right fixtures and ensuring their proper installation and maintenance are crucial for the optimal performance and safety of cooler lights.
If you’re interested in upgrading your cooler lighting systems and improving the shopping experience for your customers, feel free to reach out and we can help you choose the best lighting for your business.