When we think about supermarkets in the U.S., we typically think of sprawling suburban stores that utilize complex refrigeration rack systems, which can contain thousands of pounds of refrigerant. These ubiquitous large-format stores are often well over 100,000 square feet in size and offer shoppers virtually everything they need, from fresh produce to dog food to gardening equipment.
While these large grocery stores are not going away any time soon, there is a new trend taking hold in the marketplace: the small-format grocery store. These petite food retailers are usually under 40,000 square feet in size, and they are popping up in non-traditional locations such as urban areas and underserved communities. Refrigeration rack systems are too large for these small structures, so manufacturers are starting to offer new equipment that is designed to fit in these tight spaces.