In the REMA 1000 store on Skovvej in Korsør, new solutions were being investigated to cut food waste and reduce the amount of fruit and vegetables being discard to optimise earnings.
Staff and customer protection was also of paramount importance amidst the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
In October 2020, the REMA Skovvej store installed two Airius PureAir fans in their fresh produce, bakery and florist department in order to protect their fruit and vegetable stock.
The PureAir fans are equipped with cutting edge ionisation technology, which neutralises up to 99% of all bacteria, viruses and moulds.
“The result is surprisingly good! Fruits and vegetables stay fresh for 1-2 days longer than before”, says grocer Jørgen Nordtorp, who runs the REMA 1000 store in Skovvej. “In this way, the fans contribute to both reducing food waste and making the store more green.” REMA 1000 are now in discussions regarding installation of the PureAir system throughout the rest of their stores.
Usually fruit and vegetables are stored in cold rooms overnight and replaced the next morning in Danish grocery stores, due to poor air quality in the store rooms. But, with Airius PureAir fans this is no longer necessary. Easily installed in the ceiling the PureAir system also provides constant air circulation, balancing temperatures and improving comfort significantly.
“The air has simply become fresher, so now we do not have to drive most of the fruit and vegetables in and out of the cold storage every day, and thus we save a lot of time”, says REMA grocer Jørgen Nordtorp.
“Especially for sensitive vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli, we are experiencing a doubling in shelf life. But even for coarse vegetables, there is a clearly longer shelf life”, he explains.
Jørgen Nordtorp is also looking forward to the upcoming strawberry season with fresher products and better shelf life. The strawberries can withstand poorly changing temperatures and storage in a cold room overnight. This often results in a very large discard of the red berries.
With the Airius fan installed, Jørgen and his team of staff no longer have to handle goods in and out of overnight storage and as a result have saved at least 20-30 minutes of labour time on a daily basis.
“We save a small hour a day, because most fruits and vegetables are no longer refrigerated overnight. It is a relief, especially because it is typically inexperienced employees who would otherwise have to carry out the work during the evening”
Jørgen Nordtorp – Store Manager
How does the PureAir Series PHI Cell kill bacteria and viruses in the air and on surfaces?
The PureAir Photohydroionisation (PHI) Cell manufactured by RGF Environmental, one of the worlds leading specialists in air, water and food purification, is a kind of UV light that emits advanced oxidation plasma. Included as part of a fan system, the PHI cell distributes hydro-peroxides, superoxide ions and hydroxide ions throughout the space, neutralising up to 99%+ of micro-organisms in the air and on surfaces.
PHI cells produce a group of oxidants known as hydroperoxides. Far from new to our world, hydroperoxides have been around for 3.5 billion years – and today they are commonly used in air purification environments, where they offer an anti-microbial treatment without leaving chemical residues.
Choosing an Airius PureAir Series destratification fan with its integrated PHI Cell is a simple way to reduce bacteria, viruses and odours in your environment.
Multiple studies have been conducted on RGF PHI Cell technology and they are widely approved for use to control airborne and surface-based bacteria, viruses, smoke and odours.
Testing carried out by:
Airius fans are commonly used to balance temperatures in a wide variety of environments – from care homes to warehouses.
Adding an Airius PureAir Series destratification fan is a simple way to continually clean the air, creating a safer and healthier environment for your residents, colleagues and visitors..
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