22nd December 2025
What’s next for commercial refrigeration? Trends to watch in 2026 and beyond
7 Years parts & labour warranty
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7 Years parts & labour warranty
Brand and Marketing Manager EMEA
Display units and commercial fridges with glass doors offer a range of benefits. A glass front means that you can clearly see items without opening the door, which is ideal for checking stock levels, displaying products and maintaining temperatures.
However, glass door refrigeration sometimes gets bad press, with misconceptions around energy performance, efficiency, durability and its value as a merchandising tool.
At True, we’ve been building glass door units for many years, serving some of the world’s largest retailers, commercial kitchens and food service operators, so we know what matters most to successful businesses when purchasing equipment.
Here we draw on decades of experience in manufacturing and supplying commercial refrigeration to explore five of the most common myths and give a ‘True’ take on how innovative, glass door merchandisers and storage units can be the foundation of a successful catering kitchen, quick service or retail set up.
With advances in technology, glazing and energy efficiency, glass door refrigeration and display units are increasingly comparable with solid door models for performance.
Glass-door refrigeration and freezer units provide an excellent solution for storing and selling food products that require specific temperature control, while displaying products in a busy food service space.
True’s range of commercial glass door fridges are designed for maximum visibility and food safety, making them ideal for the grab-and-go, catering, retail and supermarket sectors. Built to maintain optimal temperatures, these retail units ensure that packaged food and beverages stay fresh, appealing and ready for immediate sale.
Through continuous innovation, all glass door True products maintain the same strict temperature range and fast pull-down times, offering the best in food preservation. All models feature “Low-E”, double pane thermal insulated glass and patented True RCU Technology, which helps to reduce debris build-up on the condensing coil, increasing durability and reducing energy consumption.
Energy saving, low UV emitting LED lighting showcases products with even, brilliant illumination and enhance also product appearance and increase shelf life. The use of more modern ECM motors also improves energy efficiency and enable precision temperature control, while Ecomate foam provides ecofriendly, environmentally sound insulation foam.
Through our hydrocarbon (HC) development initiative, True now produce several of the most energy efficient commercial refrigeration products currently available on the market, providing a truly sustainable option for your commercial kitchen.
True balances hydrocarbon refrigeration systems with the latest in energy-efficient components and our own patented technologies developed through innovative product design and extensive testing. Our latest glass door merchandiser range maintains consistent, accurate, and safe storage temperatures in any environment.
In the UK, the Co-operative incorporated glass door refrigeration in its stores to save on energy costs and reduce the amount of breakdowns their refrigeration experienced in hot weather. Aldi also introduced doors to its fridges as standard in its new and newly refurbished stores, aiming to save an equivalent of over 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.
In short, yes. Good quality, modern glass fronted, under counter refrigeration units or full height chiller cabinets from trusted manufacturers can maintain the same holding temperatures as solid door equivalents.
True’s glass door products uphold the same strict temperature range and fast pull-down times as our commercial kitchen storage cabinets and are all fully in-line with the current legislation.
Low cabinet temperatures are ideal for packaged food merchandising in fast-moving customer facing and self-serve environments. True products use high-density insulation and energy-efficient components, with a focus on maintaining precise temperatures even in demanding commercial kitchen environments, where ambient temperatures can reach up to 40°C.
True Refrigeration also tests its commercial units against rigorous ANSI/ASHRAE standards (like 72-2022) for performance, energy efficiency (EEI) and stability, using controlled ambient conditions (e.g. 25°C/60% RH for glass doors) and specific loading methods (Tylose gel bricks) to ensure consistent cold temperatures (e.g. 1°C-5°C for retail).
This level of testing validates performance in demanding foodservice environments, focusing on temperature accuracy, energy use, and reliable component operation make glass door refrigeration comparable with its solid door counterparts.
No, not all units are made the same. With toughened glass, high quality materials and innovative technology many of the latest glass door commercial refrigeration and chilled display units are superior to older, solid door models.
The most common cause of equipment failure across all commercial refrigeration is restricted airflow to the condenser. Without the periodic cleaning which all products on the market require to operate efficiently, the performance and the overall longevity of the cabinet can be severely impacted. To support with ongoing maintenance and upkeep, True’s glass door refrigeration ranges include in-built fans and ductwork which distribute cooled air evenly, maintaining consistent and safe holding temperatures for food preservation, preventing restricted airflow.
Designed with specific airflow systems, True refrigeration systems also include self-cleaning, patented RCU (Reversing Condenser Unit) technology which reverses the condenser fan motor’s direction during off cycles to reduce energy usage.
During the development of this technology, two True GDMs were tested side by side – one with the RCU self-cleaning motor and one without. The units were left to run for four years without any condenser cleaning. During this time, the unit with the technology consumed 20% less energy, on average than the one without.
When looking for glass door units, especially ones customers will be interacting with directly, it’s essential to choose equipment which has been designed to be highly durable, or it could cost significantly more to maintain in the long term.
Absolutely not! While visual display is vital in retail, self-service environments and grab and go restaurants for customers, glass fronted chiller units, prep tables and under counter fridges can also be a game changer in food prep and back of house areas.
With the greater visibility afforded by a glass front on an undercounter unit or full height glass door display unit there are multiple benefits. When staff and customers can see what’s on the inside, the door needs to be opened less resulting in relaxed browsing and increased sales, improved energy efficiency, enhanced temperature hold, easy stock checks and inventory management, as well as reduced waste.
In food service and prep areas, glass doors or lids enable quicker stock replenishment in busy periods and a reduction in over preparing in slower times, keeping service quick and perishables in peak condition.
Using a combination of glass and solid door prep and display areas, the team at La Place in Amsterdam successfully created a space with food stations dedicated to showcasing and celebrating freshly prepared produce.
Without a doubt. Research by The International Business & Economics Research Journal shows that visually appealing displays often boost the perceived quality of a product. They also lead to a stronger brand reputation, increased customer loyalty and higher conversion rates. So, glass door displays play a huge role in creating impact, showcasing product offering, while maintaining quality and freshness.
Refrigeration has moved from being a hidden necessity to a visible part of the customer experience. Sleek, modern and innovative units not only keep products at the right temperature, but they also shape the way customers perceive your brand. The right equipment will keep your offering fresh, visible and within easy reach, making it easier for shoppers and diners to make purchasing decisions.
However, a display unit needs to do more than look good.
Equipment with clean lines, bright lighting and excellent visibility draws attention to the items inside and encourages browsing. Modern display units, like True’s TVM, combine style with functionality, helping your products stand out and encouraging quick interaction. Featuring an illuminated sign panel they are customisable to your brand and messages. The TVM also includes low-profile, thin-frame doors that maximise product visibility and catch the eye.
Studies show that 70% of purchasing decisions are made in-store. True’s GDM swing and slide door range ensures your products make an excellent first impression. With high-illumination LED lighting, eye-level shelving and a sleek finish, products ranges are showcased effectively the moment customers walk in – whether your business is a supermarket, petrol station, convenience store, bakery or café.
Visually, accessible displays can help drive impulse purchases and boost overall basket value. True understands how important this is in influencing customer behaviour and driving sales, so have recently launched the contemporary visual merchandiser (CVM) range. With bright, safety shielded, energy efficient, LED lighting the CVM range is ideal for creating the most illuminating displays. It’s sleek and modern aesthetic with curved-edge door design also adds customer appeal.
Previously having used open multideck units, Treffpunkt switched to True’s GDM-72, resulting in significant energy savings and better product presentation. Customising the units with their signature graphics further enhanced their product visibility, drawing customers’ attention to key selections.
By investing in True’s GDM-72 units, Treffpunkt saved over 27,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which equates to savings of around 6,000 Swiss Francs.
Whether you need in-aisle displays, countertop solutions or larger capacity coolers, True’s comprehensive range of customisable, glass door refrigeration units are designed for performance, efficiency, durability and maximising product display.
