Carrier Corp. stands ready to meet the latest trend in fresh and ultra fresh food with an innovative range of refrigerated cabinets based on its new NC (No Ceiling) product family of Linde’s successful Evolution 5 program. A selection of the NC product cabinets for the fresh range, including a solution for cut flowers, was displayed at Carrier’s EuroShop exhibit, Hall 16, Booth A02. With a total of 37 cooled cabinet meters, ultra freshness is one of Carrier’s highlights at the show. Carrier Corp. is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
The NC cabinet range was designed without a canopy on the top of the case and provides a great deal of flexibility for interior fittings. For wall placement or semi-vertical presentation in the center area of the store – with container trolleys or with shelves – the new NC refrigerated cabinets can be used for all fresh assortments, whether packaged or not. The design will suit every modern store’s architecture. By using special separation glass walls inside the display case, product lines with different temperature needs can be accommodated at one single point of sale.
Ultra-fresh for ultra value
Fruits and vegetables is one of the most promising product groups in the food retail business. One of the latest trends is ultra freshness. This special group of fresh food includes traditional fruits and vegetables and convenience food, but also new products such as ready-to-cook vegetables, herbs, fresh cut fruit, salads-to-go, sushi, fresh pasta, smoothies, and cut flowers. Ultra freshness is a dynamic segment with a large potential for value creation and competitive differentiation.
Fresh goods go through numerous steps along the supply chain before reaching the consumer. An interruption within the cold chain - for example, due to a dry presentation at the point of sale – will stress these living goods and ultimately lead to a drop in quality and to inventory losses.
For the successful handling of these temperature-sensitive products, a fast and effective supply chain is needed in combination with a professional, high-quality presentation focused on preservation at the point of sale. If this is not provided, the consumer will likely leave the store and not return. These quality issues can trigger a decrease in aesthetic appeal, flavour and nutritional value for the consumer. For the store manager’s goods inventory it means weight losses and shelf-life reduction, which reduces turnover and margins.
Ultrasonic humidification enhances presentation
For unpackaged goods, such as radishes, lettuces or carrots with greens, Carrier offers a new, ultrasonic humidification system, relying on the combination of cooling and humidification to enhance the presentation. The system displays high standards of functional and system quality.
All Carrier display cases at EuroShop were fully operational, and the new ultrasonic humidification technology was displayed as well. As always, at the end of the fair Carrier will donate the fresh food on display to charities located within the Düsseldorf area.
