Retailers have been urged to stay on top of their chiller and freezer maintenance, following reports of unit costs doubling.

Jim Lowe, head of sales at chiller temperature monitoring company TempLogic, told Better Retailing: “Chiller prices are going up. It could be due to a number of factors, such as rising import costs due to Brexit, the cost of living and general market changes.

“It’s difficult to put a cost on that, and the biggest thing for retailers who aren’t looking to change their chillers is to ensure they’re doing the correct maintenance to avoid major costs.”

Lowe added that climate change was also affecting the condition of chillers, with units unable to withstand several days of heat exceeding 30°C.

TempLogic, which is currently partnered with 50 retailers, claims demand for monitoring services has increased, with chillers becoming one of the largest costs for stores.

The company provides devices which can monitor the ongoing temperature of chillers and freezers.

Retailers are alerted when a chiller’s temperature gets too warm, enabling them to prevent a potential breakdown and stock loss.

A starter bundle of three sensors and a receiver for internet connection costs £800 +VAT, with additional sensors costing £130 each thereafter.

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