Do open air coolers keep food safe without doors?

They can, when the case is stocked with pre-chilled product up to its marked load line and kept in the room conditions it is rated for. Stocking past the load line, blocking the return air grille or placing the case in a draft breaks the air curtain and warms the front rows. Check temperatures at the front of the shelves, not only on the display.

Do open air coolers use more energy than glass door coolers?

Generally yes, because cold air spills from the open front all day. Night covers, careful placement and keeping product within the load line narrow the difference. Operators who choose open cases usually do so for easier access and faster self-service rather than running efficiency.

How much do commercial open air coolers cost?

List prices on Norpex range from $500 to $36,439.99 CAD, with a median of $18,360.78 across 336 priced models; prices are list prices before tax and shipping. Models without a listed price are quoted on request.

Which brands of commercial open air coolers do you carry?

Norpex lists 358 commercial open air coolers. The brands with the most models listed are Turbo Air with 255, Hydra Kool with 26, COLD with 25, Hit-Line with 22 and Omcan with 9.

Do you ship commercial open air coolers across Canada?

Norpex ships to delivery addresses across Canada. Equipment ships from distributor warehouses, so dispatch timing depends on the supplier and the destination. For items that can be bought online, shipping is calculated at checkout from live carrier rates for the delivery address and confirmed before payment. There is no automatic free-shipping or flat-rate offer.

Commercial Open Air Coolers in Canada

Open air coolers, also called multi-deck merchandisers, hold packaged food and drinks on open shelves behind a curtain of cold air, so customers take items without opening a door. Grocery stores, convenience stores, cafeterias, campus food outlets and cafés use them for impulse and grab-and-go sales. They depend heavily on the room around them, because drafts and heat disturb the air curtain.

About commercial open air coolers

Before you buy

Check the room conditions the case is rated for, and keep it away from entrance doors, ceiling air diffusers and direct sunlight.
Load only product that is already cold, since open cases are designed to hold temperature rather than to bring warm stock down.
Look for a night curtain or cover to close the front after hours, which reduces the load on the refrigeration when the case is not selling.
Confirm whether the model is self-contained or needs a remote condensing unit, since a remote case requires a refrigeration contractor and refrigerant lines.
Measure the shelf depth and number of shelf levels against the packages you sell, and check whether the shelves tilt for better product visibility.

Common questions

Do open air coolers keep food safe without doors?: They can, when the case is stocked with pre-chilled product up to its marked load line and kept in the room conditions it is rated for. Stocking past the load line, blocking the return air grille or placing the case in a draft breaks the air curtain and warms the front rows. Check temperatures at the front of the shelves, not only on the display.
Do open air coolers use more energy than glass door coolers?: Generally yes, because cold air spills from the open front all day. Night covers, careful placement and keeping product within the load line narrow the difference. Operators who choose open cases usually do so for easier access and faster self-service rather than running efficiency.
How much do commercial open air coolers cost?: List prices on Norpex range from $500 to $36,439.99 CAD, with a median of $18,360.78 across 336 priced models; prices are list prices before tax and shipping. Models without a listed price are quoted on request.
Which brands of commercial open air coolers do you carry?: Norpex lists 358 commercial open air coolers. The brands with the most models listed are Turbo Air with 255, Hydra Kool with 26, COLD with 25, Hit-Line with 22 and Omcan with 9.
Do you ship commercial open air coolers across Canada?: Norpex ships to delivery addresses across Canada. Equipment ships from distributor warehouses, so dispatch timing depends on the supplier and the destination. For items that can be bought online, shipping is calculated at checkout from live carrier rates for the delivery address and confirmed before payment. There is no automatic free-shipping or flat-rate offer.

Guides

Buying guide

Refrigerated Display Case Buying Guide: Deli, Gelato and Grab-and-Go

7 min read · Updated September 25, 2026

Turbo Air – 28.2″ Silver Horizontal Open Display Merchandiser with 3 Solid Flat Shelves – TOM-30SS-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 50″ White Open Display Sandwich & Cheese Merchandiser – TOS-50PN-W (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 30″ White Open Display Sandwich & Cheese Merchandiser with Single Pane Tempered Glass – TOS-30PN-W (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 35″ Low Profile Black Horizontal Refrigerated Open Curtain Merchandiser with 2 Shelves – TOM-36L-UF-S-3S-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Hydra Kool KGV-MR-4-R 100″ High Volume Open Merchandiser for Remote Condensing Unit

Turbo Air – 63.4″ Silver Horizontal Open Display Merchandiser With 3 Solid Flat Shelves – TOM-60SS-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Hydra Kool 60” Low Profile Open Merchandiser – KGL-OF-60-S

New Air NCC-48-SS 48″ Dual-Temperature Open Display Case

Hydra Kool KGH-ES-50-S 50″ Open Merchandiser with Electric Shutter

Turbo Air – 71.6″ Black Low Profile Drop-In Horizontal Open Display Case with 1 Tier 2 Glass Shelves + Deck – TOM-72L-UF-B-2SI-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 64″ Black Vertical Open Air Display Merchandiser with 4 Levels – TOM-60MSEB-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – Slim Line 75″ Black Horizontal Air Curtain Display Case – TOM-75SB-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 59.6″ White Low Profile Drop-In Horizontal Open Display Case with Deck Only – TOM-60L-UF-W-1SI-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 59.6″ Black Low Profile Drop-In Horizontal Open Display Case with Two Shelves and Deck Only – TOM-60L-UF-B-3SI-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 50″ Medium White Air Curtain Merchandiser – TOM-50MW-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

COLD Praga R-15 P 62″ Multideck Open Merchandiser

COLD Everest R-30 E 121″ Multideck Open Merchandiser

Turbo Air – 70.75″ White Low Profile Horizontal Open Display Case with 2 Tiers 4 Glass Shelves + Deck – TOM-72L-UFD-W-3S-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 59.6″ White Low Profile Drop-In Horizontal Open Display Case with Two Shelves and Deck Only – TOM-60L-UF-W-3SI-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Hit-Line Louisiana 5 MV M Remote Multideck Cabinet

Turbo Air – 39″ Black Dual Service Refrigerated Open Display Merchandiser – TOM-W-40SB-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – 60″ Black Drop-In Refrigerated Open Display Case Merchandiser – TOM-60UC-B-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

COLDZONE – CF-250 OPEN REFRIGERATED DISPLAY 24″

Turbo Air – 50″ Medium Black Air Curtain Merchandiser – TOM-50MB-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)