Fresh Thinking Blog

Fresh Thinking Blog

CARB GWP Refrigerants Ban – Frequently Asked Questions

The California Air Resource Board (CARB) passed a ruling to ban certain high GWP refrigerants, effective JANUARY 1st 2020. Many food retail companies have questions regarding these regulations. The following Q&A should help clarify the type of equipment effected and the timelines involved. If you need more information email us at info@hillphoenix.com or call us at 770-285-3264. Q1: What is the effective date for this regulation? A: The original ruling went into effect on 1/1/2019. The effective dates provided in the table above refer to the date a Purchase Order was received for the equipment. Self-Contained Medium-Temperature Units with a [...]

By |July 29, 2020|

Food Retail Stores and Government Agencies Establishing More Stringent Regulations

Food-retail business strategies have shifted over the past few weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some retail stores implemented online digital platforms to serve their communities in need and some food-retail establishments such as restaurants and brick and mortar shops implemented delivery and take out only to help keep the lights on. However, in grocery stores, where people still go for essentials, shopping as we know it has changed. In-store navigation altered drastically to abide by state regulations and prioritize consumer safety concerns. As the pandemic evolves, so does grocery shopping regulations and restrictions. The Case for Grocery Stores Social [...]

By |July 1, 2020|

Working From Home 101 – Working Outside of the Office Requires Focus and Strategy

The workplace today has changed for the time being due to the recent challenges we are faced with and, for some of us, working from home is unchartered territory. Not only are we dealing with communicating with our customers and colleagues differently, but for some of us, we also have a spouse /partner /children sharing space and either working or struggling with the end of the current school year and trying to find balance. We are not alone in what is going on today, but there are ways to make working from home a little easier, so the transition is [...]

By |April 21, 2020|

Dover Food Retail Communication on the April 7th Ruling on EPA SNAP

The US EPA enacted SNAP rules 20 & 21, intended to reduce green house gas emissions SNAP 20 & 21 were vacated as the result of a suit filed against the EPA by Mexichem Fluor On April 7th, 2020 the US Court of Appeals ruled in favor of reinstating portions of SNAP 20 & 21 The impact of this ruling on GWP regulations is unclear, but Dover Food Retail recommends and supports the use of low GWP refrigerants whenever possible While the future is uncertain, Dover Food Retail will continue to monitor the situation and provide regulatory compliant refrigeration options [...]

By |April 20, 2020|

DOE Compliance Day Approaches for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

With final enforcement dates quickly approaching, many OEMs are now eying the DOE deadlines with new urgency and making the necessary design changes needed to comply. It’s been  more than two years since the commercial refrigeration industry has faced a major regulatory deadline from the Department of Energy (DOE). Since 2017, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of new stand-alone, reach-in equipment. Read More>

By |April 9, 2020|

CO2 Booster Systems Explained

Advances in technology have made the use of environmentally friendly CO2 refrigerant in booster systems practical across a wide range of applications. Since early this decade, supermarkets in North America have increasingly been coming to rely on these systems. Industrial operators are also beginning to appreciate their advantages. But not everyone understands how they work. Since the middle of the last decade, CO2 has been used as a refrigerant in both secondary and cascade-type systems across the grocery and supermarket industry. These approaches rely on CO2 as either a single-phase secondary coolant, or as a lower cascade direct expansion refrigerant. [...]

By |February 5, 2020|

Simplified Lunch – Where Flavor and Convenience Collide to Appease the Family Divide

Let’s be perfectly honest, kids would much rather have the option to eat “kid-friendly” foods than what grown-ups are eating. That pre-packaged snack meal or peanut butter and jelly sandwich are much more appealing than a salad, hummus, and vegetables or yogurt with fruit. Eating a healthy meal is imperative for growing children and providing that conveniently and on-the-go can sometimes be a challenge.  With grab-n-go on the rise, and the more time-starved consumers have become, eating healthy and eating foods we LOVE was recently served up at IDDBA19!  The perfect lunch concept was presented for “Work Lunches” targeted to adults [...]

By |December 20, 2019|

Get Ready For Walk-In Cooler And Freezer Regulations

Enforcement of Department of Energy standard takes effect in 2020. Starting next year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will begin enforcing its 2017 rule that mandates minimum energy efficiency requirements for walk-in coolers and freezers (WICFs). Read More>

By |December 19, 2019|

Analyze This: Refrigerant Purity Is an Ongoing Industry Concern

Counterfeit <a href="https://www.achrnews.com/topics/2703-refrigerants">refrigerants</a> have been in the news a lot lately, as manufacturers contend that record amounts of illegal imports of HFCs are being brought into the U.S. under the radar of customs. While some of these imported refrigerants may be of the correct composition, there is evidence that others may be counterfeit or of low quality. Mixed refrigerants are another problem that contractors frequently encounter in the field, and they are also a huge concern. Not only can mixed and low-quality refrigerants damage HVACR systems, they can pose a safety threat to technicians who are servicing the equipment, particularly [...]

By |October 7, 2019|

Supermarket Fresh Prepared Is Going to the Dogs (and Cats)!

The supermarket fresh prepared area is finally going to the dogs, but in a good way! Earlier this month, the What’s in Store booth at IDDBA s showcased a unique variation on meal kits, and yes, it’s going to the dogs and cats! While meal kits for humans are on the rise, the pet meal kits are a viable option for those retailers looking for ways to maintain a sustainability platform within their operation. By 2024, the global dog food market is projected to reach $100 billion, so this may be a great opportunity for retailers to gain additional sales [...]

By |July 3, 2019|
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