Buyers Guide: Choose The Right Display Refrigeration
A clear, practical guide for business owners and operators. Use this to match your needs with the right solution so you can make a smart long-term investment.
1. Why the right display fridge matters
The right display fridge does more than keep food cold. It showcases your range, speeds up service, reduces power use, and protects product quality all day. Choose well and you lift basket size, cut waste, and keep your brand looking sharp.
SKOPE Promise: Quality you can trust, energy efficiency that helps reduce running costs, and support that stays with you for the life of the equipment.
2. Define your needs
Use this checklist before you compare models.
a. Goals
What matters most? Uplift in sales, speed of servicing, low power costs, strong merchandising.
b. Products and users
What product will you be displaying? How do you want customers to access it: quick self-serve or controlled doors?
c. Placement
Where will your display fridge be? Front of house, behind counter, self-serve island. Plus, what space do you have available? You'll need to consider the space, plus airflow available including footprint, clearances and ventilation.
d. Performance in use
What do your peak periods look like? Think about door openings and restocking rhythm, plus the noise level of the fridge and temperature stability that you need.
e. Running costs
Think about power costs and the energy efficiency requirements you have. How efficient do you need your fridge to be?
What are your top priorities?
- Product sales and presentation: clear sight lines, effective lighting and products at hand height to encourage impulse purchase
- Keep running costs down: energy-efficient operation and stable temperatures that help reduce waste
- Fit tight spaces and workflows: compact footprints, minimal ventilation clearances and door swings that suit your layout
- Keep service quiet: low operating noise for front of house and conversation-friendly spaces
- Make cleaning and care simple: easy access to shelves, filters and seals, with finishes that wipe clean easily for food safety
3. Understand the main display types
| Display type | Description | Best for | SKOPE fit |
| Glass door upright |
Enclosed, |
Drinks, packaged foods, supermarkets |
ActiveCore, EziCore |
| Open front or open deck |
Easy grab-and-go with strong merchandising |
Quick-serve, convenience, impulse sales |
OpenDeck |
| Back bar or under counter |
Fits under |
Bars, cafés, hospitality |
BackBar |
| Premium showcase | High-visibility, presentation-led display |
Bakeries, patisseries, boutique retail |
Ascend, ActiveView |
4. Explore SKOPE ranges at a glance
These ranges are engineered for real-world performance. You get commercial build quality, intelligent airflow, and controls that help you run a more efficient, reliable operation.
ActiveCore
Engineered for high performance with low power costs. Combines advanced efficiency technology, premium build quality and natural refrigerant for excellent temperature consistency. Plus, the modular refrigeration cartridge helps simplify maintenance, making it quicker and easier. Multiple colour and door options available.
EziCore
A value-packed upright that keeps visibility and day-to-day practicality front and centre. Options include single or double doors, top and bottom mount, adjustable shelving and easy care.
BackBar
Performance, efficiency and merchandising for bars and hospitality venues. Front-breathing design helps save space, frameless glass doors and dimmable lighting lift product visibility, and SKOPE-connect smartphone functionality adds noise control for customer comfort.
Ascend
Compact, everyday display matched with reliable performance. Energy-conscious and clean presentation to help maximise sales while controlling operating costs.
OpenDeck
Premium grab-and-go refrigeration for high-traffic areas, with wide-angle product visibility and bright shelf lighting, ideal for impulse sales.
ActiveView
Premium front-of-house display with full-height lighting and frameless glass to highlight product and drive sales in high-end environments.
| Range | Best for | Energy efficiency | What stands out |
| ActiveCore | Premium use | ★★★★★ | Flagship efficiency and easily serviceable cartridge |
| EziCore | Value segment | ★★★ | Practical visibility and easy care |
| BackBar | Hospitality | ★★★★ | Front-breathing, bar-ready control |
| Ascend | Retail showcase | ★★★★ | Counter and bar compact display |
| OpenDeck | Grab & go | ★★★ | Open access with high product visibility |
| ActiveView | Front of house | ★★★★★ | Premium visibility for food display |
5. Match scenarios to products
Small café with limited floor space
Constraints: tight service area, limited storage, quick staff access
Recommended: ActiveCore, EziCore, Ascend or BackBar
Why: compact footprints, easy loading and fast service
Supermarket beverage aisle
Constraints: heavy traffic, broad range, strict energy targets
Recommended: ActiveCore or OpenDeck
Why: ActiveCore for high efficiency, OpenDeck for grab & go merchandising
Bakery or patisserie
Constraints: premium display and gentle airflow for product integrity
Recommended: ActiveView
Why: showcase design that highlights product while protecting finish and texture
Busy bar environment
Constraints: under-counter space and frequent door openings
Recommended: BackBar
Why: built for hospitality service patterns with rapid recovery and quiet operation
6. Plan for installation and lifetime value
Think about the below requirements before making your decision
Installation readiness
- Power supply and outlet type
- Ventilation and clearances per specification
- Load-in routes, door widths, lifts and floor strength
- Network connectivity if using monitoring
Maintenance and running costs
- Cleaning access, coil or filter servicing, door seals and hinges
- Regular temperature checks and controller updates
- Estimate daily energy use
- Preventive maintenance schedule and record keeping
7. Questions to ask before you buy
Here are six outcome-focused questions that keep the conversation simple and practical.
- What problem does this range solve best for a business like mine?
- How will it impact my sales and my power bill over time?
- What do I need on site for smooth delivery and installation?
- How easy will it be for my team to use and maintain?
- If something goes wrong, what is the warranty and who will be able to help me and how quickly?
- What makes this the best choice when thinking about total cost of ownership?
8. Next steps
- Talk to a SKOPE expert about layout, capacity and specification
- Compare models using range and size filters
- Get a tailored quote
Why SKOPE
Quality and reliability proven in busy environments. Energy efficiency that helps reduce running costs. Innovation that makes daily operation simpler. Partnership and support from a local team.