When acquiring equipment for your Convenience Store, make informed judgments. Learn about the equipment you will need, the normal expenses, and the best sources to get it.
Table of Contents
Materials and equipment required
Most convenience shops sell food, drinks, and other personal items.
Depending on your area, it may make sense for your business to stock mementos as well as essential travel and technology equipment. Here is a list of what you will most likely need to get started:
Dispenser of Cold Drinks
Microwave
Slushy Makers
Coffee/Hot Chocolate Machine
Airpots for Coffee
Dispenser of Hot Water
Organizers for Coffee Condiments
Sleeves for Coffee Cups
Straws for coffee
Cups made of paper
Merchandiser Refrigerated (Beverage)
Warmers for hot foods
Oven Convection Countertop
Bakery/Deli Cases Refrigerated
Shelves/Racks for Display
POS software
Camera surveillance/security system
Bags for To-Go/Take-Out
Dispensers for Napkins
Cutlery made of plastic
Condiments
Commercial Freezers for Ice Cream
LED Signage*
Janitorial Supplies and Disposables*
*Hot Dog Supplies
Important Decisions
Here are some of the most critical purchasing considerations that your convenience business will face. We highlight the essential factors to consider while making these purchases and present some common solutions.
Considerations When Purchasing a Commercial Beverage Cooler
A commercial cooler, also known as a chilled merchandiser, showcases the drinks sold in your business. They vary in price based on the size and type of the cooler, but they often cost more than $1,500. When selecting the correct cooler for your convenience shop, keep the following factors in mind:
Condenser/Compressor Unit Location
This is the mechanical component that keeps the fridge and its contents cold. Coolers are classified into two types: top-mounted and bottom-mounted.
Top-mounted coolers provide greater storage capacity and are less likely to accumulate dirt. They do, however, need high ceilings and may use more energy.
Bottom-mounted coolers use less energy and need less maintenance. The condenser fan, on the other hand, may accumulate dust and need more regular cleaning.
Type of Glass Door
Commercial cooler doors come in two varieties: swing doors and sliding doors.
Swing doors are simple to use and normally self-close, so there is minimal chance of squandering energy if a door is unintentionally left open. They do, however, take up more floor space and may hinder traffic in your business during busy hours.
Sliding doors are a terrific way to save space. However, you should check to ensure that all cooler doors are fully closed on a frequent basis. Otherwise, you risk losing money due to excessive utility expenses.
Warranty
Refrigerated merchandisers are costly and will account for a significant amount of your store’s initial expenditures. Look for manufacturers that have an extended warranty to cover any damage to your cooler’s mechanical components.
Size
Check the precise measurements of the floor area where you want to install your coolers. Consider how many drinks and other chilled inventory products you want to show to ensure you have adequate cooler space to hold everything.
Energy Conservation
Environmental awareness is growing among consumers. Consider an energy-efficient product, such as a cooler with the “energy star” badge.
Considerations for Purchasing a Food Display Case
Depending on the sort of food you want to sell at your convenience store, you’ll need to choose a display case that meets all of your requirements. Here are some things to think about before you buy:
Temperature
At your convenience shop, do you sell sushi, sandwiches, pizza, salad, chicken wings, or baked goods? Determine the ideal temperature for the food you want to serve and get a cool/warm food display cabinet, ideally with an adjustable temperature control.
Humidity
You may wish to store perishable foods at varying humidity levels to keep them fresh.
The majority of sandwiches and baked goods must be kept in high-humidity refrigerated cases. Apples, bagels, and some types of bread, on the other hand, keep well in low-humidity environments.
Depending on the kind of foods you serve, you may want a display unit with humidity controls.
Lighting
The visual attractiveness of the food you’re selling is affected by the lighting in the display case. It is critical that the food in your business appears enticing to your consumers.
Ideally, you should inspect the lighting conditions on the case before making a purchase. Turn on the lights to ensure that the whole case is well-lit and that each item is visible.
Shelving
When done correctly, the perfect shelving for your display case can improve your storage space. Consider the things you’ll be selling and choose the appropriate number of shelves, bearing in mind the required shelf depth and height.
Access to Cases
The display cases may be accessed from either the front or the rear.]
Customers may choose their own things from the front access display case, while the rear access case needs a staff worker to collect goods.
Considerations for Purchasing a Drink Dispenser
Drink Dispenser Types
Your drink dispenser selection will vary depending on the sorts of drinks you sell. Here are several dispensers you may want to look into:]
The soda fountain
Dispenser for hot chocolate/cappuccino
Coffee Machine
Dispenser of Hot Water
Dispenser of Juice
Drink Dispenser Refrigerated
Ice Type and Quantity
If you’re offering cold drinks, acquire an ice/soda combination unit.
Ice machines may make ice cubes, ice nuggets, or a combination of the two. Find the machine with the appropriate ice storage capacity for the volume of beverage you’re selling.
Market Concentration
Doing some study in your community will help you establish if a drink dispenser is needed and what sorts of beverages to provide. During the summer, for example, a soda fountain is frequent in a convenience shop near the beach, but a convenience store near an office building would normally feature coffee machines.
Consider the shop location, season (holiday, winter vs. summer), and local market trends in addition to the demographics of your clients.
Portion Management
Some beverages, such as hot chocolate, need a proportional quantity of water with cocoa mix, hence a drink dispenser with portion control is required. Other beverages, on the other hand, do not need this function.
Best Shopping Locations
There are several convenience store equipment providers online; choose those with well-maintained websites, consistent social media presence (if they have one), and positive client feedback. If possible, phone them and inquire about discounts.
Here are some examples of websites that might be useful for purchasing equipment:
WebStore
Ckitchen
Kitchenall
Burkett
Alternatively, you may purchase recognised brand name equipment for your company; a few examples include:
Refrigerators
True Manufacturing Company
Turbo Air Incorporated
Ice Makers
Hoshizaki
Scotsman
Display Cases and Food Countertops
Nemco
Hatco Corporation
Alto-Shaam
Several well-known trademarks are often held by the same firm. Trimark, for example, owns many companies that provide food-related equipment. These huge corporate websites may be a great resource for locating the many things your shop will need
Note: If your budget is restricted, you may want to look for secondhand equipment first to get started.