Morrisons is the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain, operating over 500 supermarkets and more than 1,600 convenience stores nationwide.
Serving millions of customers each week, Morrisons is recognised for its commitment to quality, value and sustainability across its growing network of full-service and convenience-format stores.
Maintaining comfortable conditions in chilled and frozen aisles has long been a challenge for supermarkets. Temperature stratification often creates cold zones near chillers and freezers while the rest of the store remains noticeably warmer, affecting both customer comfort and staff working conditions.
To address this, Mitton Mechanical, one of Morrisons’ key contractors, partnered with Airius to trial a destratification system at the company’s Knottingley store in Wakefield. Initial readings revealed a temperature difference of 6-8°C between floor and ceiling levels, contributing to discomfort and reduced dwell time in the chilled and frozen aisles.
Airius installed destratification fans at four-metre intervals across three chiller aisles, continuously recirculating warm air from the ceiling to floor level. The system reduced temperature stratification from 6-8°C to just 1-2°C, creating consistent comfort without disrupting refrigeration performance.
By lowering the temperature differential, chillers operate more efficiently, while waste heat from refrigeration units is redistributed into the occupied zone to ease heating demand. The improved airflow also prevented glass fogging and helped dry spills quickly, enhancing safety and product visibility.
Following the successful trial, Airius systems were added to Morrisons’ standard specification for new stores and are being retrofitted during refurbishments across the UK, with over 400 stores already equipped with the Airius system.
This initiative supports Morrisons’ wider sustainability targets, including its goal to achieve a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero operational emissions by 2035, reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s most environmentally responsible retailers.
Download the PDF version of the Morrisons case study.
