Dairy & Milk Display Cases

Dairy Cases: What You Need to Know

The milk refrigerator is one of the largest drivers of in-person grocery store visits and a very profitable area of the store. Keeping it fully stocked with a wide array of milk types, flavors, and sizes is vital to netting maximum sales from this section. Purchasing the best size milk display case to hold a good variety of product in a visually pleasing manner while ensuring all product remains chilled to the appropriate temperature is a lynchpin factor in milk sales at any location.

Common Questions About Dairy Display Cases

Do I need a milk display case?

Any establishment that sells groceries can benefit from a dairy display case. Such locations include gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores. Making dairy products highly visible to customers encourages shoppers to stock up on milk, butter, and cheese. Placing the display case in an accessible, high-traffic area makes it simple for shoppers to grab what they need and go. In today's fast-paced world, buyers gravitate toward locations and floorplans that streamline their shopping trips, and a well-placed and stocked milk refrigerator does just that.

What can I store in a dairy display case?

Increasing competition in beverage retail environments and changing consumer diets have led to a boom in dairy-free and plant-based milk alternatives. It's a good idea to stock these products alongside the traditional milk varieties to capture more sales. Other products that can be stored in a milk fridge include cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream cheese. Keeping a variety of different products displayed alongside one another makes it quicker and easier for shoppers to locate all the dairy supplies they need.

How do dairy display cases work?

Most dairy display cases have an open front, eliminating barriers between customers and product. To keep milk cold and fresh, many cases use air-curtain technology to retain and circulate cold air within the case and prevent warm air from entering. Due to this style of operation, it's important to monitor the temperature inside dairy cases and repair or replace units that can't effectively maintain temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Dairy products are especially susceptible to unpleasant changes in flavor as a result of temperature fluctuations, so choosing and maintaining a high-quality milk fridge preserves product value and extends its shelf life.

How do you keep milk fresh?

Several factors affect milk's flavor and freshness, including the temperature it's stored at, how much light it's exposed to, and how it's placed inside the milk and cheese display.

To keep milk fresh, it's important not to overstock the case. Packing containers of milk too closely together blocks the flow of refrigerated air, causing warm spots to develop inside the case. Milk must be kept at temperatures between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit to minimize spoilage, so it's essential for cold air to circulate on all sides of product.

Placing milk bottles too close to the shelf's edge can also affect temperatures by disrupting the air current, enabling warm air to reach the products. Ensure at least 1 inch of space between each container's top and the shelf above, and don't place products on or over the edge of shelves. Consult your milk fridge's user manual to determine the best product placement for your unit.

Light exposure can also cause milk to spoil faster. Most dairy products are packaged in opaque containers to block light; to protect those that aren't, consider ways to minimize light exposure. Choosing a case with automatic lights that turn off when no one is in front of the case is one way to prolong milk's freshness.

If you need a case where the lights stay on, consider which type of lighting it's equipped with. Some cases use lighting specifically designed to reduce the rate of spoilage caused by light exposure.

Finally, stocking new product from the back of the case for a first-in, first-out rotation won't make the milk stay fresh longer, but it ensures older product can be sold before it spoils, reducing food waste.

Which dairy display case should I buy?

Selecting a dairy display case is an important decision. Dairy product purchases are listed as the primary reason for many grocery store visits, and most customers who visit for other reasons will also stop by the dairy case as they shop. Since it's a high-volume sales point, it's vital to select the best model for your needs. Below are some factors to consider when shopping for this type of merchandiser.

• Size/capacity: If your dairy case is too small, it won't hold enough milk to keep up with demand and will run out of product or need to be restocked frequently. If it's too large, it might protrude into walkways or be unable to fit into your current floorplan. Identify the amount of space available for a milk and cheese case and compare this to the volume of dairy sales you'll receive. Choose a case that can keep up with demand, doesn't require excessive restocking, and fits into the flow of the shopping space.
• Color/style: Milk cases typically come in black, white, tan, or stainless steel. Some options have clear side panels to promote visibility, making them a prime choice for placement on endcaps or as standalone units. Other options have reflective side panels, creating an endless visual effect as customers look into the case. Some models have removable ends, enabling installation in a continuous lineup.
• Electrical connection: Depending on the location, there may only be a certain type of electrical connection available. In some instances, electrical outlets can be modified, but this makes installation more expensive and complicated, so it's better to purchase a case compatible with your current setup.
• Refrigeration: Many models are made with self-contained refrigeration systems, but remote systems are also available. For large locations where several units will be installed side by side, remote cooling can lower utility costs, reduce noise and heat output, and save space.