Food displays are appliances that keep your food at the optimal serving temperature after you’ve prepared it, allowing you to showcase your goods to customers. They can be used for self-serve or staff-served setups in cafes, delis or shops to keep food either warm or cold, depending on the model you choose.

At Restaurant Equipment Online, we stock a wide range of food displays to cater to the needs of commercial establishments. These displays are available in countertop models and larger, free-standing models, and they can be used for hot, cold, or ambient (room temperature) food. There are models available for broad, general use, like glass door fridges along with options more specific in functionality, like pie warmers. 

If you’re looking for brands with comprehensive options to choose from, we highly recommend Bonvue, Polar, AG Equipment and Anvil. 

Commercial food displays can help facilitate easier customer purchases. They’ll display your food in a clearer, more visually appealing way, with some models allowing for self-serve capabilities that require less labour time when it comes to serving. 

Depending on the nature of your business and where you place your drink or food displays, they can promote impulse buying decisions. Whether that’s getting a drink at the point of checkout or getting something for lunch on their way through your shop, they’re easily accessible both on the shop floor and at counters. 

Many food displays also have lighting that serves to enhance the appearance of food, with options to adjust to either warm or cool lighting. They also enhance convenience for customers, making it easier to get something to eat without needing to order and wait for it to be prepared first. 

First, you’ll need to consider how much space you have available. You may have ample space for something like a chilled deli display or a free-standing drink fridge. If you’re considering a larger, free-standing model, make sure it’s a suitable size for your staff to use. They should be able to restock it easily when needed. It’ll also need to be the right size for easy accessibility for your customers. 

For spaces with more limited room, a countertop model may be better. Again, ensure you’re choosing a model that customers can easily access when they’re selecting their food. If your staff are serving them, make sure the visibility of the food on display is at a suitable level for your customers to browse before ordering. 

Secondly, you’ll need to consider which kind of food display is best for your stock. Factor in whether you want heating, chilling or an ambient display. Having a mix of both for things like cakes and hot chips or deep fried products may be necessary if you have a diverse menu. 

First, you’ll want to ensure you’re regularly rotating food and removing anything that’s been in your food display beyond the food-safe timing it allows for. This will help reduce the chances of cross-contamination and ensure your customers are getting only the best quality food. 

Next, you’ll want to make sure you’re regularly clearing out your food display fully for a deeper clean. At the end of the day, remove any food that hasn’t been sold and either store it in your commercial fridge or dispose of it. If your display has tray shelves that have food resting on them, you’ll want to take them out for a deeper clean. 

After your food and shelving have been removed from the display, you’ll want to wipe the interior down thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Wipe it down again fully with fresh water to remove any soap residue before letting it air dry or wiping it down with a clean, dry cloth. 

Yes, food displays are designed to use less energy with the addition of insulation and other features like energy-efficient LED lighting. To ensure your food display is as cost-effective to run as possible, we recommend keeping the doors closed - regardless of whether it’s warming or chilling your products - and keeping it out of direct sunlight. This also ensures more consistent internal temperatures, maintaining the quality of your food to a higher standard. 

It depends on how much space you have and what kind of products you’re selling. The larger the model you go for, the more food you can display while also ensuring that it stays at the optimal temperature. 

We recommend considering the flow of customers, where and how they’ll access your stock and where you have space to place a food display. From there, you’ll be able to decide what kind of capacity you need and can accommodate. If you want a personal recommendation, contact the team at REO for help. 

As standard practice, you should follow the guidelines of HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) that are standard for good food hygiene and safety. Depending on what you’re preparing and selling, you’ll need to account for and adjust to each product's unique needs. Monitoring your food and engaging with proper storage practices is key for food safety. 

For example, if you’re preparing cakes, you’ll want them to be chilled without getting too cold, or they’re more likely to dry out. Equally, you’ll need to ensure things that are being kept warm are hot enough to prevent food safety issues.