Europe 1 - UK 0 in Ice League
By Chris Davis, Commercial Director of Hubbard Ice Systems, the UK distributor of worldwide brand leading Scotsman Ice Machines.
Having just visited a fantastic ‘supermercato’ (supermarket) in Scaglie, Italy whilst visiting the Scotsman Ice Systems European plant near Milan, I was overwhelmed with the sheer level of presentation afforded to the fresh food displays.
In fact it is true that, visit any European out-of-town supermarket and you’ll invariably find, along with the usual boxed and tinned goods, a bountiful array of fresh produce laid out on beautifully presented counters. They do it in style on the continent: just-baked breads, just-picked fruits and fresh fish and meats, stretching back as far as the eye can see. The fish nestles on a bulging bed of ice and you wonder how do they manage to get such quantities of perfectly presented ice there without backbreaking work.
The answer is sometimes an ingenious conveyor belt system that circles the entire ceiling over the shop floor, with chutes dropping down fresh ice at various points as needed. A false ceiling can be installed over counter areas, hiding ice-making equipment and, again, meaning that ice can be delivered from it on demand via a chute, rather than having to lift or cart heavy loads of ice to the counter each morning, or even throughout the day in a 24 hour supermarket.
The question, therefore, must be why do we not have such displays in the UK? Surely if the fish is presented in such an attractive way more customers would be enticed to purchase and a good margin could be made. Perhaps lack of space or money is seen as an obstacle to investing in such a system of ice production but by installing an ice machine, such as the one mentioned above, in a false ceiling no extra storage space need be taken up.
It is also possible to install split units with the noisy compressor away from the display area and the evaporator and chute conveniently located directly above. These split units, advantageously, also have the ability to be connected to the central cooling system, thus saving energy and cutting costs. Importantly though is the fact that operator working time is dramatically cut, as is the effort and physical work that has to be put in, which could potentially lead to health and safety issues.
A large system such as an overhead conveyor belt will not be feasible in the vast majority of UK supermarkets, unless they are installed when the store is built, and most UK stores will only have room for one or two ice counters, negating the need for such a costly and extravagant method of ice distribution. However, for many a Flake ice machine installed in a false ceiling is a great small-scale alternative.
Flake ice is ice in its most natural shape. Extruded at a temperature just below zero degrees it is available from Scotsman Ice Systems in two different levels of moisture, with superflake having the driest and most compressed individual flakes of ice, providing a slower melting time and lengthening the life of the ice as well as the produce. Flake ice offers the best solution for maintaining refrigerated and moisturised perishables where long-lasting freshness and natural appearance need to be guaranteed, so it is perfect for fish counter displays.
Traditional static evaporators are unable to cope with the natural shape of flake ice, however the Scotsman Co-Axial-ice system incorporates a vertical, cylindrical evaporator with an auger that extrudes ice flakes through a bronze ice-breaker, removing excess humidity from the ice flakes. This proven technology is acknowledged as the best guarantee of constant ice quality and long lasting, reliable operation.
Another unique feature of Scotsman machines is their advanced solid state control, which prevents freeze-ups usually associated with vertical auger style evaporators by measuring the speed of rotation of the auger shaft and adjusting the machine’s functions according to operating circumstances.
Scotsman Ice Systems has been a leader in the manufacture of ice machines for over 50 years and Scotsman flake ice machines offer the widest range of machines and production capacities available. Compact or split, self-contained or modular, Scotsman machines will fit virtually any space and capacity requirement, and the fact that they have been selected as the choice of the most demanding food processing and industrial production companies around the world highlights their quality and production capabilities.
The Scotsman modular flake ice machine range, available in the UK from Hubbard Ice Systems, includes nine models with a daily ice production from 120kg to a massive 2500kg. The Scotsman superflake ice machine range comprises of four modular models with a daily production from 320kg to 2500kg as well as three split models with a daily production from 600kg to 2500kg. So for an ice counter of any size it’s easy to see why Scotsman machines are so often specified. In fact, Scotsman machines are supplied to the European counterpart of one of the UK largest supermarket chains in Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey.
Further enhancing their suitability, each Scotsman machine is built with stainless steel frames and side panels for rust-free durability, ease of cleaning and hygiene. Large and accessible ice storage areas allow for quick and easy sanitising routines.
The MF models, which include all Scotsman superflake machines and the two smaller flake ice machines, are governed by an electronic control board that monitors the production process. The resulting high performance gives a substantial production capacity and ensures short periodical service down times with low operational and maintenance costs.
A Scotsman flake ice machine installed in an overhead panel provides an easy delivery system for the perfect ice to keep your fish fresh for longer, creating gleaming displays where size is no obstacle. No valuable storage space need be used and the system means the minimum of exertion for your staff. So it seems the question is most definitely no longer ‘Why?’ but ‘Why not?!’
