Roundy’s Case Study

Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc. Selects Hillphoenix for Its First CO2 Transcritical Refrigeration System

Under the leadership of Robert Mariano, Roundy’s is reinvigorating several beloved supermarket brands in Wisconsin, Minneapolis/St. Paul and the greater Chicago area. Its family of 160-plus stores includes the Pick ‘n Save, Copps, Rainbow, Mariano’s and Metro Market grocery banners.

Pick’n Save

Following the high-profile success of Mariano’s in greater Chicago, the company opened Roundy’s Pick ‘n Save, one of the nation’s greenest supermarkets on January 14, 2014 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

The Menomonee Falls Pick n’ Save is one of only a handful of stores in the United States utilizing CO2, an all-natural, green alternative to ozone-depleting HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants. Roundy’s is using the new store to test an array of energy efficient and green technologies including Hillphoenix Cases and Clearvoyant™ LEDs, and a Micro Thermo Full Case Controller and Micro Thermo Transcritical Rack Controller designed by Parker Sporlan specifically for CO2 systems.

“We strive not only to give our customers a great shopping experience, but also to contribute to the communities in which we do business. Through our investment in these sustainable technologies we’re also able to do something good for our global community,” said Robert Mariano, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Roundy’s.

Industry Leading Green Refrigeration

Pick ‘n Save Menomonee runs on Hillphoenix’s Advansor Transcritical booster system that entirely eliminates the use of HFCs, which was for decades the refrigerant of choice in the supermarket industry. HFCs contribute to global warming. One pound of leaked HFC refrigerant has more global warming potential than 4,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Increasingly, food retailers are moving toward more sustainable natural refrigerants including CO2, glycol and ammonia. Pick ‘n Save’s Advansor system is expected to yield a total carbon footprint reduction of 25,999,997 lbs. over 10 years — the equivalent of removing more than 430,000 cars from the road for per year.

In addition to the green appeal of CO2, it’s a much less expensive alternative to HFC refrigerants – around $1 per lb. compared to $8 per lb. So why haven’t more retailers made the switch? CO2 systems are still relatively new to supermarket applications, and some question the higher capital cost involved with CO2 systems. As companies like Roundy’s demonstrate the advantages of CO2, industry acceptance will no doubt increase.

Micro Thermo Transcritical Rack Controller

“The technology does cost more money, but the installation cost is lower than for similar systems we’re using elsewhere. Also, CO2 is cheaper on the operation side compared to glycol and other refrigerants,” said James Hyland, Roundy’s vp of investor and corporate communications.

Roundy’s selection of the Micro Thermo Case Controller and Micro Thermo Transcritical Rack Controller optimizes the Advansor system by ensuring precise control over case operation, leading to lower energy usage and reducing temperature shocks to food.

Beverage Case with Clearvoyant™ Lighting

“We will be conducting an energy analysis through all four seasons,” Hyland added. “We know what to expect from the system, and it appears the cost of the system balances out with comparable systems due to lower installation and operating costs.”

Hillphoenix Advansor Transcritical CO2 Booster System Advantages

- The Advansor Transcriical CO2 Booster system ustilizes CO2 as the only refrigerant covering both medium-temp and low-temp loads.

- CO2 has a high temperature heat of rejection, making it ideal for heat reclamation applications and efficient hot gas defrosting.

- CO2 systems operate under much higher pressures than conventional HFC-based systems. Many CO2 systems require steel piping throughout and carry a higher risk of pressure-related system breakdowns. The Advansor system eliminates those concerns by perfecting the use of pressure reducing valves so that everything inside of the store operates under lower pressure, as it would with an HFC-based system. Contractors can use copper piping and retailers can rest easy knowing that their Advansor system maintains pressures within a range normally found in traditional DX systems.

- Hillphoenix R&D capabilities ensure that CO2 technology is a viable option for every merchandising configuration. From walk-ins to custom specialty cases, Advansor technology is available across all Hillphoenix product lines.

Energy Saving Case Merchandising and Walk-Ins

In addition to the refrigeration system, the store is outfitted entirely with Hillphoenix cases and walk-ins. “In the past we have purchased our salad bar, floral and bakery cases from other manufacturers. For this store, we went with all Hillphoenix cases because of their expertise with this technology,” said Hyland.

And every case includes energy saving Hillphoenix Clearvoyant™ LED lights. The custom light rod design of Clearvoyant provides consistent and complete light distribution throughout the display fixture, eliminating dark spots and delivering 15 percent more lumens per watt than competitive systems.

New to the Roundy’s line-up of merchandisers, Pick ‘n Save installed Hillphoenix Narrow Reach-In Low-Temp Frozen Food and Ice Cream Merchandisers with PureView™ Doors. Their unique design ensures uniform case performance, lower average product temperatures, and increased merchandising visibility with optimum energy efficiency.

Low Temperature Cases with PureView™ Doors

“Our merchandisers like the cases because the bottom shelf is higher, so customers don’t need to bend down as much to reach products,” said Hyland. “Also, the shelves are solid so they’re easier to stock. They also like the handle and the look of the glass door.”

While many retailers have come to expect the same-old, same-old when it comes to walk-ins, Hillphoenix is redefining customer expectations with features including improved hinges, handles, seamless jam guards and LED lighting. Pick ‘n Save walk-ins also utilize environmentally-friendly 245fa blowing agent that offers industry leading insulating value, adhesion, strength, density and uniformity.

Source: http://goo.gl/3De6Zb