The commercial refrigeration market is undergoing rapid change. Regulatory changes, digitalisation and the search for energy efficiency are marking a turning point in the way supermarkets and convenience stores design, operate and upgrade their facilities.
In this context, as a starting point, Infrico Supermarket participated in a webinar entitled ‘From data to decision: refrigeration with criteria’, organised by FENALCO, to share a clear vision of the present and future of the sector, especially in Colombia.
During the session, Julio Beceiro, Director of Business Development LATAM at Infrico Supermarket, and Víctor Roldán, Director of Marketing and Product at Infrico Supermarket, addressed the trends that are guiding decision-making in refrigeration, as well as the solutions that Infrico Supermarket has developed to accompany chains in this process.
‘Our goal is to transform market uncertainty into competitive advantages for our customers,’ said Roldán.
Innovation, efficiency and sustainability: the three forces driving the market
Commercial refrigeration is no longer a purely technical area; it is a strategic hub. Chains are looking to reduce operating costs, adapt to international regulations and improve the customer experience.
According to Roldán, these transformations can be summarised in six major trends. First, energy efficiency as a priority. Here, manufacturers are working to offer increasingly efficient equipment, especially in closed cabinets, which are key to reducing daily consumption. Technologies such as LED lighting, electronic fans and variable speed compressors enable significant savings to be achieved.
‘We are all looking to reduce operating costs without compromising product preservation, and that can only be achieved with real efficiency and applied technology,’ said Infrico Supermarket executives.
As for natural refrigerants, the European F-Gas regulation promotes the use of refrigerants with a lower environmental impact, favouring CO₂ (R744) and propane (R290). Infrico already complies 100% with these guidelines thanks to its commitment to natural, safe and highly efficient technologies.
Another important trend is sustainability throughout the entire life cycle. From manufacturing to recycling, the greatest energy impact occurs during the daily use of the equipment. Therefore, solutions must focus their efforts on minimising consumption without sacrificing performance or product visibility.
Digitalisation and smart monitoring are another important aspect. In this regard, remote monitoring helps prevent failures, reduce maintenance and improve efficiency. Solutions such as Infrico Cloud or Grado respond to the growing need to collect real-time data in order to make informed decisions.
The application of Artificial Intelligence is another aspect to consider, as it allows settings to be adjusted automatically, consumption patterns to be detected and incidents to be prevented. For Beceiro, this is a natural evolution: ‘Artificial intelligence is not a future trend, it is part of everyday life in cold management.’
We must not forget the customer experience, because consumers demand visible, accessible and fresh products. This drives the creation of more attractive furniture, with panoramic doors, greater capacity and designs integrated into the visual identity of each store.
The impact of the new regulations: towards a market without HFCs
The webinar also analysed the leading role of environmental regulations, especially in Europe, which acts as a global benchmark. The phasing out of fluorinated gases (HFCs) is forcing all facilities to move towards natural resources.
There are two dates that mark the route. On the one hand, 2030, which marks the end of the installation of remote equipment with refrigerants above 150 GWP. And, on the other hand, 2050, the year in which the goal of climate neutrality and the total disappearance of HFCs is set.
Although these regulations are more stringent in Europe, they directly influence markets such as Colombia, which works with manufacturers and brands that already operate under this regulatory framework.
New systems for more flexible and efficient retail
The presentation also provided an overview of the most commonly used installation models today:
- Plug-in and semi-plug-in with R290, perfect for small or convenience stores.
- Waterin system, a water condensation solution developed by Infrico Supermarket that reduces gas load by 75%, eliminates the need for refrigeration installation and improves energy efficiency.
- Indirect installations with glycol or liquid CO₂ for medium and large supermarkets.
- Transcritical CO₂, currently the most widespread option in large European stores.
This map of solutions allows chains to choose the most suitable system according to their surface area, climatic conditions, efficiency objectives and budget.
Infrico Supermarket: innovation applied to retail
To close the meeting, the speakers shared the main innovations that Infrico Supermarket has developed in recent years. One of the most notable is the incorporation of variable speed compressors (Inverter technology) in all closed refrigeration units.
The result is decisive: up to 45% energy savings in many models, fewer temperature fluctuations, greater durability and less noise. ‘We are entering a new era of refrigeration: more efficient, smarter and more sustainable,’ said Infrico Supermarket.
Added to this are the new ECO-T doors, with greater product visibility and improved airtightness, and the continuous development of solutions based on natural refrigerants.
The session concluded with a shared idea: commercial refrigeration is undergoing a profound transformation, but one that is also full of opportunities for those who know how to anticipate and choose efficient, sustainable and future-proof solutions. ‘The key is no longer just choosing equipment, but making strategic decisions that impact daily operations, energy efficiency and business profitability,’ added Beceiro.
In this mission, Infrico Supermarket positions itself as a partner that not only manufactures technology, but also accompanies its customers through every stage of the process: from project conceptualisation to implementation and continuous optimisation.
Refrigeration is changing. At Infrico Supermarket, we work to ensure that this change is always an opportunity.