Date Announced: 14 May 2010
-- LED Retail Lighting Leader and Top Case Manufacturer to Retrofit Medium Temperature Cases With Energy Efficient Lighting in 159 Locations
CHARLOTTE, NC -- Representing a retail food industry first, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market -- US subsidiary of Tesco plc, one of the world's largest supermarket groups -- will have its medium temperature cases in its 159 stores retrofitted with LED lighting, a landmark project made possible by the partnership of Nualight Ltd, a leading manufacturer of LED lighting solutions for retail, and Kysor/Warren, one of the top manufacturers of refrigerated cases in North America.
For Kysor/Warren and Nualight, the project marks an extension of both companies' work with Tesco, and another step forward in their effort to offer food retailers a new choice in upgrading their refrigerated cases by creating more vibrant and brighter displays that are also energy efficient. All meat, dairy and fish cases will be upgraded to LED replacing the existing T5 Fluorescent canopy and undershelf lighting. Fresh & Easy currently uses LED lighting in external signs and freezer cases.
"Nualight's energy saving lightbars and unrivalled understanding of retail merchandising is already helping our corporation globally to reduce costs and meet its environmental objectives," said Steve Hagen, who heads Fresh & Easy Procurement. "Fresh & Easy is delighted to build on this work and our existing relationship with Kysor/Warren."
"Kysor/Warren is extremely proud of our partnership with Nualight in creating this solution for our customer," said Jim Knudsen, vice president of sales and marketing for Kysor/Warren. "It is an example of our ongoing commitment to listen, respond and deliver for our customers while providing an innovative approach to energy efficiency."
Nualight is recognized as a specialist in LED lighting for food retail and the leading global supplier to refrigerated display case manufacturers. The company's LED lightbars are installed in a growing number of international food chains, including Tesco plc, Switzerland's Migros and Co-op chains and Rewe in Germany. Nualight is already shipping in volume from its local assembly base in Michigan to major case manufacturers supplying retailers in North America. Nualight also supplies under private label contracts to leading global companies.
"Nualight is obviously delighted with this Fresh & Easy decision, and it is a great endorsement of our strategic partnership with Kysor/Warren," said Nualight VP Bruce Schneider, who heads the company's operations in the US. "Our success retrofitting the Group's Tesco stores internationally led to this opportunity, and this newest assignment provides a valuable springboard for our expansion into the US market."
Nualight focuses exclusively on food retail, and its Vantium product series is constantly evolving to deliver greener, brighter and more cost-effective solutions demanded by retailers. Identified as one of Europe's most innovative companies, Nualight has worked with retailers around the world looking to invest in greener and cost effective solutions to meet their social and environmental commitments which are now a key consideration for consumers when deciding where to shop.
Fresh & Easy is already seen as a US industry leader for its environmental efforts. On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket, which helps customers save money -- and also helps the environment. Fresh & Easy offers customer recycling in every store, and uses advanced refrigeration and freezer units, and uses skylights and windows to cut back on energy usage. The company also recycles or reuses all of its display packaging.
LED fixtures allow energy savings of up to 60 percent, both from lighting and refrigeration energy. LED technology also eliminates maintenance costs due to the longer lifetime. Retail stores are among the highest commercial users of energy with lighting and refrigeration accounting for 78 percent of all energy usage in supermarkets.