The Case for Refrigeration Case Doors in Grocery Stores

Written by: Lacey Hayes

According to an ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Research Study, Refrigeration is one of the largest energy consumers in grocery stores and supermarkets, accounting for up to 50% of total electricity use. As energy costs rise, grocery retailers are re-evaluating every opportunity to improve efficiency. 

When you walk through a grocery store, you might notice that some refrigerated display cases have doors while others remain open. This is often the result of an ongoing debate in the grocery industry:  

Do case doors hurt sales, or do they help save energy without negatively impacting the customers’ experience? 

The Real Cost of Open Cases 

Open cases might be perceived to make shopping feel convenient, but they also end up refrigerating the aisles. This cool air spillage means the refrigeration system must work overtime to maintain proper set point temperatures. This results in very high energy consumption and increased utility expenses. 

Installing case doors dramatically reduces this wasted energy. Many grocery stores that retrofit their cases with doors report significant energy savings immediately, more consistent product temperatures, and improved comfort for customers and employees. 

The Sales Challenge 

Many grocery stores and supermarkets are hesitant to add doors to their refrigerated display cases. They believe that customers are less likely to open a door to grab their items, leading to lower sales. 

While this concern is understandable, there is currently no definitive study proving that sales decrease when case doors are installed. In fact, many energy efficiency experts indicate that there are no significant changes in consumer purchasing habits, yet customer comfort levels have increased while shopping. 

The Employee Efficiency Challenge 

Another concern often raised is that case doors may slow down employees during restocking. The perception is that doors create an additional step in opening and closing them repeatedly or propping them open, which could lead to longer restocking times and reduced labor efficiency. 

However, evidence from grocery and supermarket chains that have installed case doors suggests that this impact is minimal when employees follow the store’s stocking procedures. In many cases, stores report that employees adapt quickly, and the process becomes nearly identical in efficiency to open-case stocking. The adjustment period is brief, while the long-term benefits (energy savings, better temperature control, and improved comfort inside of the store) are substantial. 

The Aesthetic Challenge 

Another common hesitation is aesthetics. Some stores feel that open cases create a more attractive, open look that encourages browsing. However, modern refrigeration door designs and technology have come a long way. 

From doors designed to be sleek and frameless to new anti-fog door technology, the aesthetic barriers are eliminated. With these advancements, the “open look” can still be achieved while enjoying the energy savings and comfort that come with cases with doors.  

The Bottom Line 

While perception and misinformation have kept many grocery stores and supermarkets from installing case doors, more data is being collected every year, proving that adding case doors does not in fact hurt sales or negatively impact the customers’ experience.