Collection: Open Display Fridges

Open display fridges merchandise grab-and-go beverages and food at point-of-sale with no door barrier between customer and product - convenience stores, takeaways, supermarkets, hotel lobbies and self-service cafés. Hospitality Connect supplies the open-front range from Thermaster, Skope, Bromic and Polaris - upright multi-deck and angled-front formats with air-curtain refrigeration in 600-2400mm widths.

Types and configurations

• Multi-deck open fridges: 4-6 shelf vertical units with air-curtain refrigeration; the convenience-store grab-and-go standard.
• Angled-front display fridges: Sloped front for visual product display; favoured in supermarket and hotel grab-and-go.
• Plug-in vs remote refrigeration: Plug-in self-contained units for small format; remote-condenser units for large multi-deck installs.
• Half-height display fridges: 1100-1500mm tall counter-mount units for bakery and pastry grab-and-go.
• End-of-aisle and centre-aisle units: Free-standing units for mid-floor merchandising in convenience and supermarket layouts.

Sizing for SKU range

Match the unit to product mix and traffic. A convenience-store grab-and-go cabinet of 1500mm width holds 80-120 SKUs across 5 shelves. Multi-deck units run 1500-2400mm wide for higher SKU count. Open-front fridges have higher energy load than enclosed units - 30-50% more power consumption for the same volume - so plan for it. Air-curtain efficiency is the key spec: well-designed air curtains hold product temperature within +/-1 degrees C; cheap units have hot-spots at the front edges. LED interior lighting is standard; choose 4000K white for accurate product colour.

Energy and operating notes

• Air-curtain integrity: Air curtains break when product overhangs the shelf edge or staff stands in front - educate staff and shelf-set carefully.
• Night curtain or blind: After-hours blind drops over the open front; reduces overnight energy use by 30-40%.
• Ambient temperature: Open fridges struggle in hot venues (above 30 degrees C ambient); plan air-conditioning around the unit.
• Door-free convenience: Open-front fridges drive 15-25% higher product turnover than door-fronted units; offset against energy cost.
• Stock rotation: FIFO mandatory - older stock to the front, newer to the back. Open fridges stale faster than enclosed.

Specifier checklist for open-display purchase: confirm ambient temperature in venue (open fridges need 22-25 degrees C ambient for spec performance); plan night curtain installation for after-hours; confirm power circuit (multi-deck units run 15-32A 240V); plan condensate drain and floor waste; coordinate with floor plan for traffic flow (open fridges work best on the customer-side of aisle, not back-of-house). Open-front fridges are merchandising tools; budget for branded vinyl wraps and shelf-talkers as part of the fit-out.

Pair with

Combine with drinks fridges, counter display 1 and supermarket refridgeration and freezer for full retail refrigeration.

Why buy open display fridges from Hospitality Connect

• Curated for Australian commercial kitchens: Every line is selected against the realities of AU service — voltage, room dimensions, council rules, ambient temperatures.
• Brand-direct relationships: We deal directly with manufacturers and importers, so you get current models and the right parts when you need them.
• Field-tested specs: Sizes, gauges and capacities listed on each product reflect what actually works in service, not glossy brochure numbers.
• Tech support that picks up: Pre and post-sale phone lines staffed by people who know commercial kitchens.
• Warranty handled here: We process the claim with the manufacturer; you keep cooking.

Open display fridges care and longevity

• Inspect door gaskets fortnightly: A torn gasket forces the compressor to overrun and warms the load.
• Vacuum the front grille: Greasy bar environments block condensers within days; check weekly.
• Don't overload the shelves: Cold air needs to circulate; over-stacking warms the centre stock.
• Verify temperature with a probe: Onboard displays drift; spot-check with a calibrated probe weekly.
• Light the fridge from the inside: LED interior lighting reduces heat load vs older halogen displays.

Need help choosing? Talk to us

Our commercial chefs and fit-out specialists can match the right open display fridges to your menu, footprint and operating budget. Send through your floor plan, service brief or trading hours, or call our Australia-based trade line for a same-day spec quote — we'll line up sizes, brands, voltage and gas requirements, lead times and freight rates before you commit. If you're fitting out a new venue or refurbishing an existing one, ask about multi-line trade pricing and consolidated delivery so the kit lands when the trades do, not weeks later.