New technology which does away with the need to have doors on beer caves has made a successful debut in a forecourt store, with beer sales increasing at the site by 35% in its first month of installation.
The AirDoor Curve is described as using ”sophisticated aerodynamics” to create an invisible door that keeps cold air in, and warm air out of the the walk-in refrigeration section of a store.
It also helps to keep humidity out of the store, preventing condensation from accumulating and freezing produce or refrigeration pipes, says its creator former Formula 1 race car designer Wirth Research.
And because the AirDoor uses no heating or cooling components it is energy efficient, says Wirth Research. Instead, it uses fans to manipulate air flow, using far less energy than having to cool warm air entering the room, it adds.
24-hour petrol filling station and supermarket Hanlon’s Gala in Longford, Ireland, was the first retailer to install the equipment in July.
Its owner Patrick Hanlon attributes the higher sales in being able to keep an entire beer range chilled. Equally, he adds, the lack of a physical door is more inviting for prospective clients, while preventing spillage of any cold air into the wider store.
“Being the first of its kind, I have been blown away by the increase in beer sales, especially during the summer months,” says Hanlon. ”Being able to sell the larger cases of beer really helps our store to stand out.”
Wirth Research president Nick Wirth adds: “It takes early adopters like Hanlon’s Gala to show that these types of products deliver such a solid ROI. Refrigeration remains a major source of energy usage for retailers. We want to prove that we can create products that use less energy and also improve customer comfort, and ultimately sales.”
