Supermarkets sell a lot of frozen goods, which means they need a lot of refrigeration, from rows of reach in refrigerators to refrigerated display cases. But if your business isn't a grocery store and you still need refrigeration, how do you know which size of refrigerator you need? Learn more about what you should keep in mind as you shop.

How Much Stock You Have

Refrigeration primarily stores fresh or frozen food items for selling and cooking, so restaurants, cafes, and even boutiques that sell food might need a fridge. In this case, you should consider just how much of your product you have. For instance, a bakery might need a fridge for chilling cold treats, but if you make new items every day, you might not need a large two-section reach-in refrigerator.

Additionally, if your only refrigerated items are a selection of cold drinks, you don't want to spend the money on a large unit when a single-section unit could do the trick. Smaller refrigerators are easier to clean, and they take up less space, which is helpful if you're running short on it.

How Much Storage You Need

Some refrigerators are meant for customers to reach inside and make a selection. Others are meant purely for storage. Whether you need to keep your restaurant's food supply cold to preserve fresh items or you run an industrial service that needs to store chemicals at a certain temperature, your storage space matters.

Walk-in refrigerators offer the best options for storing large inventories. They can be custom-made to fit your building, and they also make organizing the contents simple, which is beneficial if your items have irregular sizes or won't fit in traditional refrigerators.

How Much Demand There Is 

Depending on what you sell or store, you might run into an issue where you overstock your refrigerator and run out of space or understock and have to make more products to compensate. You don't have to judge this amount perfectly, and it might take a while for you to gauge the demand for your product.

In general, you might be better having more options for refrigeration instead of running out. If your product is a huge success, you can eventually expand, and it will allow you to have more storage and avoid running out of your product before you can make more.

How Much Space You Have

If you have a lot of access to commercial space, then you won't have to worry about choosing a refrigerator that fits your space. However, if you're short on where you can put refrigerators, you might have to limit your options to one- or two-section refrigerators. These can range in size from small 24'' x 23'' x 63'' to 35'' x 33'' x 84'', so they'll fit into any convenient corner.

If you need more storage but don't have a lot of space, you might consider shorter display cases that can go under countertops. You'll have more space and still have access to refrigeration.

What Your Budget Is

Different kinds and sizes of refrigerators have different prices, and that can make all the difference to your business. Some of these price points include:

• Reach-in refrigerators: up to $2,000
• Walk in coolers: $1,000 to $10,000
• Under-counter refrigerators: $800 to $4,500

These costs can be even more with maintenance and replacement costs factored in. However, you can buy used refrigerators and fridge equipment to save money while not sacrificing the refrigeration your business needs. 

If you're looking to make a decision about refrigerators for your business, contact AM Refrigeration. We can help you find the right size and type for your needs.