Rising energy costs are putting increasing pressure on foodservice operators across Australia. If you’re running a supermarket, petrol station, convenience store or venue, you know that every dollar counts, but did you know that inefficient commercial cooking equipment can significantly impact your bottom line?
The good news is that advances in commercial cooking equipment technology are helping operators cut energy consumption, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency.
Meris offers several energy-efficient commercial cooking equipment solutions specifically designed to reduce operational costs through multiple innovative features. Let’s explore the five ways these products help businesses reduce energy expenses.
Invest In Equipment Built For Maximum Energy Efficiency
Reducing energy usage is a top priority for foodservice businesses, and equipment that is designed to minimise energy consumption is a marker of a high quality equipment.
The Flexeserve Hub is a prime example, offering an energy-efficient solution for hot food storage.
Unlike standard hot-holding units, the Flexeserve Hub is constructed from highly insulative materials and double-glazed doors to minimise heat escaping. This translates to significant cost savings on electricity bills, as well as keeping food hotter for longer.
Choose Energy Saving Technologies
When considering new equipment for your premises, it’s important to research how the product has been made and the type of technologies used. For example, griddles often use either direct or indirect heating technology. In the case of the FlashGRILL, the griddle uses indirect heating technology, a more controlled method of heating.
The elements are submerged in diathermic liquid, and the heating elements heat the liquid rather than the surface of the grill. This creates a blanket of consistent heat, across the entire griddle surface – no more troublesome hot or cold spots, more consistent cooking results, plus heat doesn’t easily escape – which significantly reduces energy consumption.
Avoid Wasted Energy While Idle
A great deal of energy is wasted on heating up equipment, or while it is in stand-by/idle.
Commercial cooking equipment, such as the SPIDOGLASS Commercial Sandwich Press, uses 60% less energy and half the heat up time of conventional sandwich presses. As well as featuring standby mode, which reduces energy consumption during idle times, without having to turn off the hotplate.
Seek Alternatives to Extraction
Exhaust canopies and extraction attract high costs for operators, both in initial outlay and ongoing running and maintenance costs. Where possible, operators may be able to avoid this expense by seeking out equipment that doesn’t require extraction.
With foodservice operations becoming more compact, and popping up in non-traditional spaces, ventless equipment is becoming more popular and widely available. The Perfect Fryer automated commercial deep fryer and CALDOLUX slow cook and hold oven are examples of commercial cooking equipment that can be safely operated without extraction, and can assist operators with significantly reducing their energy costs.
Use Only What You Need
Often we consume more energy than we need. It can be impractical to turn off equipment when not running, but luckily some equipment brands are making this easier. The Flexeserve Zone hot holding display cabinet range allows operators to set different temperatures for each shelf or zone to suit different food items. As each shelf is individually temperature controlled, shelves can be independently turned off when not required, using only the energy you require.
Practical Tips for Reducing Energy Costs
Beyond investing in energy-saving equipment, you can adopt several strategies to further reduce energy consumption:
- Regular Maintenance: Keeping equipment in top working condition ensures optimal efficiency and prevents costly downtime.
- Staff Training: Educating employees on energy-saving practices, such as switching off unused appliances can lead to significant savings.
- Utilise Energy-Efficient Lighting: Switching to LED lighting is a simple yet effective way to cut down on power consumption while extending the lifespan of bulbs.
- Monitor Energy Usage: Implementing energy monitoring systems can help businesses track consumption patterns and identify areas for improvement.
Success Story – Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets sought an innovative solution to display and maintain the quality of their hot food offerings while expanding their range of hot food-for-now and food-to-go products. They selected the Flexeserve Zone, which underwent rigorous testing to ensure optimal temperature consistency, food freshness, and compliance with safety and usability standards.
Through extensive trials against traditional cabinets and other hot-holding technology, the Flexeserve Zone outperformed in every category. It proved capable of future-proofing Coles’ hot food operations by accommodating various packaging types and holding durations. Furthermore, the supermarket gained these additional benefits:
- Increased range of hot food offerings due to the cabinet’s advanced technology.
- Superior food quality over longer holding times.
- Significant energy savings, especially in sustainable stores like Moonee Ponds.
- Efficient use of space, particularly in smaller-format branches.
Coles successfully integrated Flexeserve into multiple store formats, creating a highly effective food-to-go solution that aligns with their sustainability goals while reducing operational costs.
Read the full case study of this success story here.
Reduce Energy Costs in Your Food Service Business
As the food service industry evolves, staying ahead with energy-efficient solutions is essential for cost-effective operations. Now is the time to modernise your setup and find the perfect equipment that conserves energy, reduces waste, and enhances your bottom line.
Beyond upgrading equipment, adopting best practices such as staff training, energy-efficient cooking methods, and regular maintenance further boosts energy savings. Investing in energy-conscious technology not only benefits profitability but also supports sustainability initiatives.
Ready to upgrade your setup with energy-efficient, high-performance commercial cooking equipment? Meris offers a range of innovative solutions designed to help your food service business save energy, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency. Explore our full range of innovative equipment and take the first step towards a more sustainable and profitable setup.
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