Open Multideck vs Glass-Door Display Fridge: Which Should Your Store Choose?

Open multideck fridges drive more impulse sales because customers grab products without opening a door, while glass-door display fridges use noticeably less energy because the doors keep the cold air in. For most Australian supermarkets and butcher shops, the right answer is a mix: open multidecks on high-turnover fresh lines, and glass-door uprights for packaged and grab-and-go stock.
If you're fitting out or upgrading a supermarket, butcher shop or deli, the open-versus-doored decision affects both your sales and your power bill — so it's worth getting right. This guide compares the two formats and shows how to choose for each section of your store.
What is an open multideck fridge?
An open multideck (also called an open-front merchandiser) is a tall, shelved refrigerated cabinet with no doors. Customers can pick up products instantly, which maximises impulse purchases. Chill Pro open multidecks come in widths from roughly 1000mm to 2565mm and are popular for fresh produce, dairy, drinks and grab-and-go meat.
What is a glass-door display fridge?
A glass-door display fridge is an upright refrigerated cabinet with hinged or sliding glass doors. The doors keep cold air contained, so these units are the most energy-efficient option and are ideal for packaged drinks, dairy and meat. Chill Pro uprights come in 1, 2, 3 and 4-door widths (630mm to 2520mm), all running eco-friendly R290 refrigerant.
Open vs doored, side by side
Impulse sales: open multideck wins — instant access, no door barrier. Glass-door is slightly lower on high-turnover lines.
Energy efficiency: glass-door wins clearly — an open front continuously loses cold air, so an open multideck costs noticeably more per year to run.
Merchandising: both display well; open multidecks feel faster to shop, glass doors keep shelves tidier and temperatures steadier.
Best for: open multideck — fresh produce, dairy, drinks, grab-and-go meat. Glass-door upright — packaged stock, drinks and anything on a tight energy budget.
Our guide to reducing refrigeration running costs covers what the open-front energy penalty looks like in dollars.
The middle ground: multideck with doors
If you like the shelved multideck format but want lower running costs, a multideck with sliding or hinged doors gives you most of the merchandising benefit with much better energy efficiency. As electricity prices rise across Australia, many stores are choosing doored multidecks for exactly this reason.
How to decide, section by section
High-turnover fresh produce and dairy: open multideck — speed and impulse sales matter most.
Drinks and packaged grab-and-go: glass-door upright — efficiency wins with no real sales penalty.
Butcher or deli fresh meat: a serve-over display case at the counter, with glass-door uprights behind for packaged lines.
Tight energy budget or a remote, high-power-cost site: doored multideck or glass-door throughout.
That mix is what working shops actually install. Southside Quality Meats in Dalby runs three 2.5m multidecks jointed into one continuous run, and GJ's Organic Meats on the Gold Coast pairs its deli display cases with upright cabinets — both chose formats line by line, not one format for the whole shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an open multideck or a glass-door fridge cheaper to run?
A glass-door fridge is cheaper to run because the doors keep cold air in. An open multideck uses more energy but typically generates more impulse sales, so the best choice depends on the product and turnover.
Do open fridges make more sales?
Generally yes — removing the door barrier increases impulse purchases on high-turnover lines like drinks, dairy and fresh produce, which is why supermarkets use them in busy aisles.
What's the most energy-efficient display fridge option?
An upright glass-door display fridge is the most efficient. Among shelved merchandisers, a multideck fitted with sliding or hinged doors is the most efficient choice.
What should a butcher shop use?
Most butchers use a serve-over display case for fresh meat at the counter, plus glass-door uprights or doored multidecks for packaged and grab-and-go products.
What sizes do multidecks and glass-door fridges come in?
Chill Pro uprights come in 1–4 door widths (630–2520mm) and open or doored multidecks from roughly 1000–2565mm wide. Measure your wall run and allow clearance for airflow. Our display fridge buying guide covers sizing in detail.
Ready to Talk?
Need help choosing the right mix for your store? Chill Pro supplies open multidecks, doored multidecks and glass-door display fridges from QLD and NSW with freight Australia-wide and a 2-year parts and labour warranty.
Call us on 0456 680 882, email sales@chillpro.com.au, or use our Get a Quote form for a delivered price and advice on the right format for each line.
Chill Pro Refrigeration supplies premium, energy-efficient commercial refrigeration to supermarkets and butcher shops across Australia.