Whether it’s transitioning towards grab-and-go orders, offering pre-packaged foods, or doubling up on cleaning — the foodservice industry has experienced quite a few changes throughout the pandemic. To assist with these changes, many operators have relied heavily on merchandisers to keep business flowing.
Housing both warm and cold items, these display cases have gone through quite a workout in the last 12 months. They've been a reliable solution in providing peace of mind for consumers and foodservice operations. However, the increase in usage has had a drastic impact on the need for maintenance of these cases. With an increased turnover rate, many merchandisers have been running for longer hours, which has added strain due to the consistent operation. While everyone is doing their best to stay afloat during these times, taking care of merchandisers to get the most out of them has become a priority.
By checking and monitoring the condition of these self-serve cases, you can extend the lifespan of them and worry less about potential outages.
With any equipment, you want to make sure that there’s a strict cleaning routine in place. With merchandisers, this includes more than wiping down shelves or glass. Employees should also focus on filters, condenser coils, door gaskets, and more. This will help prevent bacteria or things like potential spillage from building up and making it difficult to move or run your merchandiser cases.
When cleaning cases, soap and water can go a long way. Rather than consistently using harsh chemicals, it could be beneficial to use light cleaners. This could help prevent potential corrosion from occurring over time.
Merchandiser shelves may be designed to be durable and sturdy, but they do have their limits. Be aware of what you're loading into the case and avoid putting too many items on a single shelf. This could help maintain the shelf life, help you avoid cluttered displays, and prevent unwanted damage.
Additionally, if there are too many items on a shelf, you could potentially be blocking the airflow that helps maintain the temperature throughout the case. This could cause your merchandiser to overwork trying to make up for the lack of controlled temperature, damaging it and potentially hurting the quality of stored food or drinks. It could also lead to potential spills and rust or rot.
Taking care of your merchandiser cases is important, and Federal's cases make it easy to do so. Compared to the competition, they're designed to be simple to clean and maintain, which helps extend the overall lifespan. When servicing your merchandiser 2 major things you need to remember are:
Be careful about blocking airflow. Poor ventilation can cause food spoilage and be harmful to your display case.
Always clean more than the easy parts you see. Gaskets and filters are essential in keeping things running smoothly.
Merchandisers are a great solution during current times. They help manage workflow, increase your ability to handle traffic, and provide you with a safe way to continue serving consumers throughout the day. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your Federal Merchandiser, or you'd like more advice on how to better service them, you can check our free merchandiser tips sheet or contact us. Our support and service team can help you go over everything from daily maintenance to worrisome troubleshooting.