True Refrigeration Refrigerator, Merchandiser
What is the difference between a Glass Door Merchandiser and a Glass Door Refrigerator?
Glass door merchandisers and glass door refrigerators look similar, but there are some significant differences that can result in thousands of dollars of expense if not considered prior to purchasing.
Food Safety & Intended Use
The biggest and most significant difference between a Glass Door Merchandiser and a Commercial Refrigerator is the design of the interior of the unit. Commercial Refrigerators are designed with rounded corners and floors designed as a shallow tub to contain any spilled product without the product being able to enter a seam in the interior lining.Commercial Refrigerators are designed and NSF certified for the storage of opened and packaged food containers.
Glass Door Merchandisers are designed and NSF certified for the storage of only unopened packaged food containers.
Price Difference
There is a significant price difference with Glass Door Merchandisers costing less than a similar sized Commercial Refrigerator.Sign Panel
Merchandisers typically have a lighted sign panel and the customer can select from several options of signage depending upon the unit being considered. Refrigerators do not have a lighted sign panel.Lighting Inside the Refrigerator
The age old question of "How do you know the light goes off when you close the door of a refrigerator" is significant when considering the differences between a Glass Door Merchandiser and a Commercial Refrigerator. The light inside a Glass Door Merchandiser is designed to stay on even when the door is closed as the unit is intended to market the well lit product inside to customers walking by for self service. There is a switch inside the unit that is used to turn the light off when the business is closed. The light inside a refrigerator is controlled by opening and closing the door. You heard it here, the light inside a refrigerator goes off when the door is closed.Exterior Finish
Most Glass Door Merchandisers have a glass door and vinyl laminate covering over an aluminum panel on the top and sides. The customer can typically choose from a white, black or wood grain finish. Stainless Steel finishes on Glass Door Merchandisers are available as an added expense on select units. Most Commercial Refrigerators have stainless steel doors standard and either stainless or polished aluminum side and back panels. There are a large number of Commercial Refrigerator models with either a full glass door, or one half door glass and one half door solid.
