The “world’s largest” autonomous supermarket, which opened in January in Leiria, Portugal, is being served by propane (R290)-based plug-in display cases, according to a statement from the units’ Portuguese manufacturer, Jordão.
Thirty four of Jordão’s self-contained Futuro 2 cases – totalling nearly 70m (230ft) in length – have been installed around the new 1,200m2 (12,917ft2) Continente Bom Dia store, which uses cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence to offer shoppers a “smart checkout” experience.
“Jordão provided a comprehensive array of solutions from our Futuro 2 range, including refrigerated vertical displays, bi-temperature promotional horizontal islands and refrigerated, freezer and hot-holding mid-high displays,” Mário Rodrigues, the manufacturer’s Head of Marketing, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
The units are used throughout the store, displaying a variety of products including meat, fish, dairy, produce, frozen foods, wine and hot and cold takeout items.
To boost energy conservation, the majority of the display cases have been installed with doors or lids, he added.
“This store is utilizing cutting-edge technology that brings numerous benefits, including exceptional performance, industry-leading energy-efficient merchandisers, extended capacity in a compact self-contained unit and simplified hygiene and maintenance procedures,” he explained.
Rodrigues noted that the supermarket has also installed units from other manufacturers. NaturalRefrigerants.com has contacted the retailer for more information about these additional units, as well as its HVAC system.
Natural refrigerants in supermarkets
Across Europe, an estimated 17 million hydrocarbon-based self-contained cabinets have been installed in food retail stores, according to the 2024 Market Report from ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com. Additionally, some 90,700 stores use CO2 (R744)-based refrigeration technologies, be they centralized systems or condensing units.
“Ninety-nine percent of our self-contained [units] are sold with natural refrigerants,” said Rodrigues, noting that R290 is the most widely used refrigerant for these cases. “For remote units, the primary request has been for CO2.”
Over recent years, a number of European retailers – including ALDI UK, Switzerland’s Migros Ticino, METRO and Carrefour Belgium – have reported their progress in transitioning away from synthetic refrigerants to natural alternatives like propane and CO2.
Rodrigues has attributed these trends to the need for retailers to improve operational efficiency and manage energy costs. He also linked the increasing adoption of natural refrigerants to changing regulations.
“Regulators have been pushing towards more sustainable stores and reducing the environmental impact of refrigeration equipment throughout its life cycle, which has been embraced across the entire cold chain,” he explained. “The future is sustainable; no [doubt] about it.”
To support the transition to natural refrigerants, Rodrigues said that Jordão has invested “significant efforts” in education and awareness raising.
“Regulators have been pushing towards more sustainable stores and reducing the environmental impact of refrigeration equipment throughout its life cycle, which has been embraced across the entire cold chain. The future is sustainable.”
Mário Rodrigues, Head of Marketing at Jordão
