Waitrose is preparing to roll out new fridges that can withstand temperatures of up to 48ºC as supermarkets come under mounting pressure from extreme heat.
The retailer joins Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s in upgrading its refrigeration to better cope with hotter temperatures. M&S CEO Stuart Machin admitted its stores struggled during the nine days of extreme heat in June.
Waitrose is developing new technology that will combine heat pumps with refrigeration to keep chilled products cold during periods of severe heat.
It has also redesigned its existing fridges so they retain cold air more efficiently and withstand “Mediterranean-level heat”. More than 100 branches have now installed these fridges while the business develops the more advanced technology.
Supermarkets are having to act after this summer’s heatwaves caused refrigeration failures across many stores and forced closures of chilled and frozen aisles.
The UK is set to experience more spells of extreme hot weather due to the climate crisis yet earlier this year, the Climate Change Committee warned the UK was “built for a climate that no longer exists” and needed urgent change.
Waitrose retail director Tina Mitchell said: “As hotter summers become more common, we’re continuing to invest in technology to keep products at peak freshness, help our stores perform reliably and improve energy efficiency.
“This summer shows our latest refrigeration technology is more resilient than older equipment, and we’re continuing to accelerate investment across our estate.”
The upgrade comes as part of a broader £1bn investment programme that will also see new store openings and refurbishments.
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