Refrigerant regulations are another reason why change is coming, as HCFCs will be phased out by 2020, and given their high global warming potential (GWP), HFCs will likely be phased down in the near future as well. At some point, supermarkets will need to start considering low GWP alternatives such as HFO blends, as well as so-called “future-proof” refrigerants such as ammonia, CO2, or propane.

Amazon is set to usher in the next generation of “smart” convenience stores with the launch of its Amazon Go concept, replacing traditional checkouts with smart technology. The store concept works by automatically logging purchases to the user’s Amazon account when a product is removed from the shelf. 

The global refrigerated display case market is expected to garner $20.8 billion by 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8 percent during 2016 to 2022, according to a new report published by Allied Market Research titled "Global Refrigerated display cases Market - Opportunities and Forecasts, 2015-2022."

The global commercial refrigeration market was valued at $34.43 billion in 2015 and is likely to reach $45.06 billion by 2020, reaching a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.53 percent during the forecast period, according to a report from Technavio. 

World demand for refrigerated display cases is expected to increase 4.2 percent per year through 2020 to $7 billion, approximating sales advances for commercial refrigeration equipment as a whole, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

The U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market is projected to expand at a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2 percent in terms of value through 2025, according to a report from Future Market Insights.

Many supermarkets converted their chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigeration systems to hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) systems only to see HFCs targeted for a phaseout. Now, they’re hearing about natural refrigerants, distributed refrigeration, and cascade systems.