Luxury supermarket brand Waitrose is paving the way in energy-saving products by introducing shelf-edge strips to its fridges in a bid to improve the customer experience and save energy.
Racing cars in supermarkets?
In what has been termed racing car technology, the strips will reduce the amount of energy used by up to one-quarter compared with current products. We all know how chilly it can feel walking down the supermarket aisles with the cooler cabinets. These new strips will make the aisles feel warmer and remove the need for the fridges to have doors yet keep the temperature constant. This will be a real boon for customers with children or baskets, as anyone who has tried to negotiate those sliding doors and carry more than a small handbag will testify.
Warmer aisles
Warmer aisles may not be what springs to mind when marketers talk about in store media; however, if we define it as something that improves the retail experience, this innovation must qualify. This seems like a win-win for the supermarket chain. According to Environment Times, energy consumption accounts for a significant proportion of a supermarket’s running costs, so anything that helps to reduce this is good for the company and good for the environment.
Best customer experience
Waitrose is a leader in the in store media stakes generally, with its bright, clean stores and uncluttered aisles. Like all retailers, Waitrose is always trying to keep ahead of the game. One of the ways in which it does this is by using in store media options found online at Mood Media and other specialists.
Cutting-edge technologies help to keep Waitrose in the supermarket top ten. Waitrose does not have it all its own way, however, as other stores are trying similar products. Let’s see what else they have up their sleeves.
The EcoBlade – aka the shelf-edge strip – is not only going to save energy but can also be re-used at the end of its life, as it is made of a recyclable polycarbonate. This is another plus for the environment. The EcoBlade will be rolled-out in Waitrose stores from March.
This is just one of a number of projects that the retailer is working on to reduce its environmental impact. Waitrose has reason to be proud of itself for what it is doing.
