Vasse Village by Bunbury Farmers Market, Western Australia
We attended the grand opening of Vasse Village by Bunbury Farmers Market on Thursday, this incredible store features so much refrigeration that it’s hard to know where to begin. Our projects and installations teams from Perth worked tirelessly for over the past year to bring this vision to life, seeing it all come together and on schedule is amazing.
Here’s a breakdown of the equipment installed, categorized by temperature and case type;
The low-temperature equipment is designed to maintain cold conditions to ensure the proper temperature of sensitive items. It includes two freezer rooms cooled by Guntner evaporators and a Crystal 2-Door Freezer specifically dedicated to gluten-free products.
The medium-temperature equipment was chosen to maintain optimal cooling conditions while staying above freezing to ensure freshness and quality. Key features include ≈74 meters of Rock by Bonnet Névé, a vertical open multi-deck refrigerated cabinet with glass ends and manual night blinds, ideal for displaying meats and other chilled items. Additionally, ≈30 meters of Bonnet Névé Rock C Multidecks provide cooling for salads, sushi, gluten-free products, eggs, pasta, plant-based milk, beverages and self-serve café drinks.
For deli service, the store is equipped with ≈9 meters of custom Baker Maxiview serve-over counters tailored for the butcher’s servery, designed and manufactured in our South Australian branch. Other highlights include ≈61 meters of Epta Kaleido cases for fresh fruit, vegetables and pasta, as well as prep chillers by Williams and blast chillers by Friginox and Nuovair.
The plug-in cases provide convenient and efficient cooling for a large range of products. This includes ≈16 meters of Bonnet Névé Sound Top and Glide freezers perfect for frozen fish, pasta and ice cream. Additionally, ≈12 meters of existing island cases have been used for fresh cuts, cheese, bakery items and desserts, these will be maintained by our Service team.
In the café area you’ll find the Williams food prep, pizza prep and milk drawer chillers along with a Bromic chest freezer and festive chilled cake displays. Hot food can be found in an FPG hot case, while the Ubert Hot Island Merchandisers (HIM) are ready for hot roast chickens.
Food display is a critical element for a store of this size, and Vasse Village by Bunbury Farmers Market chose top-of-the-line ice machines by Manitowoc and Kloppenberg. The line-up includes a roof-mounted flaker that cascades ice over freshly squeezed bottled juice, enhancing visual appeal and freshness. Additionally, the store features two large flake ice dispensers, a large cuber for high-volume needs and an under-counter ice machine conveniently located at the slushy station, ensuring a long lasting supply of ice for every situation.
Behind the scenes is another world, you’ll find a maze of food prep stations and commercial kitchens designed and manufactured by our Foodservice team in South Australia. You will also discover ≈540 square meters (1625 cubic meters) of cool rooms and freezer rooms with one of them featuring a specialized dry-age meat cool room with a Dry Ager drop-in unit.
Transcritical CO2 Refrigeration System
We installed a state-of-the-art transcritical CO2 refrigeration system with two Epta ECO2 Large compressor packs, and the Carel “Boss” system integrated into the store’s network allowing for remote access and monitoring.
By having remote access, potential issues can be identified and addressed promptly, leading to improved system efficiency and reduced downtime; as well as being able to monitor the system from anywhere in the world.
The use of a transcritical CO2 refrigeration system, coupled with remote monitoring and management capabilities will enable the store to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly installation.
Why Supermarkets Should Choose Transcritical CO₂ Systems:
- Future-proofing: Ready for the stricter environmental regulations.
- Brand image: Demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, resonating with environmentally conscious customers.
- Operational efficiency: Long-term cost savings on energy & maintenance despite a slightly higher initial investment
Benefits of Transcritical CO₂ Systems:
Sustainability: Despite efficiency challenges, CO₂’s low Global Warming Potential (GWP = 1) ensures compliance with environmental regulations, especially in regions phasing out synthetic refrigerants.
Cost Savings in the Long Term: While initial installation cost may be slightly more expensive, the operational efficiency of the system can reduce running costs over time.
Adaptability: Modern CO₂ systems are designed to handle temperature extremes, making them viable for supermarkets in warm or tropical regions. Integration with the air-conditioning system has seen design efficiencies and savings in capital equipment.
It’s hard to believe all this refrigeration is in just one store rather than an entire shopping centre!
Working closely with owners Graham Heath & Kevin Opferkuch and CEO Leith Johnston has been a pleasure for our team. This project is a testament to the seamless service Baker Refrigeration offers.
Thanks to our in-house design, drafting, shipping and installation teams the BFM staff didn’t have to handle the complexities of sourcing, quoting and managing timelines for this array of equipment.
CEO Leith Johnston shared:
“We’re incredibly excited to open our doors at Vasse Village and bring our fresh food offering to this vibrant community. Our goal has always been to deliver extreme value and freshness to our guests. With the opening of this new store, we look forward to sharing the same high-quality, locally grown produce and 100% Market Made products that have made Bunbury Farmers Market a beloved destination in the South West region.”
(Source: Vasse Community Website)
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