Choosing-Multideck-Size
This multideck guide will support you in navigating those tricky conversations, to help you make recommendations that work well in the real world.
25 March 2026
It’s a common situation, trying to work out with whether the multideck your customer is interested in buying will fit without blocking half their store.
Perhaps you’ve even had to be the one who has to explain to a customer why their ambitious plans for commercial refrigeration won’t work in their cosy corner shop.
Choosing the best-suited multideck for the available space is all about understanding how your customers’ businesses operate to maximise their sales potential.
This multideck guide will support you in navigating those tricky conversations, to help you make recommendations that work well in the real world.
Rather than diving into specific technical specifications here, we'll instead be providing practical advice to help you match chilled equipment to everything from cramped convenience stores to sprawling supermarkets. Because the perfect multideck is one that fits both the space and the goals of the business.
Researching your customer’s retail space
Retail spaces come in all shapes and sizes. They are rarely the perfect rectangle that keeps things simple. Your customers may be looking to convert a Victorian pub into a corner shop, complete with supporting pillars in awkward places. Or perhaps a modern unit that looks spacious until you factor in all the fire exits, storage access and that unique alcove where nothing ever seems to fit.
So, before start recommending models, make sure you get the full picture. You’ll need more than just the floor dimensions.
Ask about ceiling heights, door widths (both internal and external), and, importantly, any permanent fixtures they can’t move. Navigation is important too, don’t forget to check the route from the initial delivery point to the final position of the unit. Many perfectly sized units have never made it to their destination in a store due to a tight corner or through a narrow doorway leading to frustration and logistical complications.
Older buildings often suffer from uneven floors or walls that aren’t fully straight. What looks like a four-metre gap might actually be 3.8m at one end and 4.1m on the other. Plus whilst your customers might be enthusiastic about wall-to-wall refrigeration, you’ll need to factor in ventilation space, customer flow and customer flow. Multidecks that leaves shoppers squeezing past each other isn’t doing anyone any favours and can negatively impact sales
Choosing for smaller stores
When you’re supplying refrigeration units to convenience stores and independent shops, every bit of floor space matters. These retailers tend to juggle an impressive range of products within their small footprint. So, they need refrigeration that works just as hard as they do. Plus it’s also worth considering space-savers such as the FSF176VH B display freezer at only 435mm wide.
For these compact environments, you’re usually looking at multidecks within a certain range. Specific chilled units can be brilliant for those very tight spots. They’ll slot in places where larger units won’t go, while still offering decent display space across multiple shelves.
However it’s not just about what fits. You need to think about how shoppers move and flow around the store. Can they comfortably pass each other in the aisles? Can they see what’s in the multideck without having to squeeze past someone else? In narrow stores, suggest slimline models with reduced depth. While they’ll sacrifice some capacity, they’ll gain valuable aisle space. Plus busy foot traffic can limit visibility or access to the products.
Medium-sized retailers
Medium-sized spaces, such as bustling cafés, delis and smaller supermarket formats, brings different challenges. These retailers often have the advantage of a bit more floorspace to work with, which sounds great until you start factoring in all their requirements.
In these settings, larger multidecks work better. They provide substantial display space without dominating the floor plan and allow your customers to create distinct zones for different product categories. A deli might wish to separate dairy from ready meals, meanwhile a café may wish to showcase grab-and-go sandwiches positioned on a different wall to their drinks selection.
The key here is thinking about the customer journey in its entirity. Where do people enter the store? Which products they need to see first to grab their attention? How can carefully placed display refrigeration guide them through the space to drive sales?
Positioning multidecks perpendicular to the entrance can create natural aisles, if space permits, while parallel placement along walls maximises the floor space for tables or other displays that compliment the overall picture.
Large format stores and display options
Supermarkets and large-format stores aren't usually concerned about whether a multideck will fit as they have ample floor space. Instead, they’ll be prioritising the creation of impactful displays, managing energy costs across multiple units to reduce overall running costs and ensuring everything works together in a seamless system.
It's possible you’ll find yourself recommending several large multidecks to your customer, which they can multiplex to create larger refrigeration displays.
End positioning is another vital feature in larger stores. Those valuable end-cap positions need multidecks that can handle high-traffic areas and frequent restocking. Suggesting robust units with excellent visibility from multiple angles is something you’ll want to consider. Shoppers should be able to spot a promotion for ‘miles away’ whether they’re coming down the central aisle or cutting through from another section.
Of course it’s important to remember the importance of maintenance access. In smaller shops, team members can work around single units with relative ease. Whereas, in a supermarket with lots of multidecks, it's vital to ensure engineers can access components without disrupting half the store and impacting on business. Planning ahead will prevent problems later.
Larger retailers also tend to think longer term. They recognise that energy efficient cabinets and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) are considerations that matter to the profit margins. They might be looking to expand their product ranges or even extend the store size too. Recommending systems that can grow with their business will position you as a valued partner in their future success, not just an equipment supplier.
How can TEFCOLD UK help?
If you’re ever unsure about whether a multideck will fit in a particular situation, TEFCOLD’s technical team is just a phone call away. Let's help you get it right the first time and get the right refrigeration equipment to your customer.
With a vast range of products, excellent warranties and swift delivery we’ve got plenty of multideck options for your customers.
Explore our multideck range or contact our sales team on 01332 850090 to learn how we can help you grow your sales of our commercial multidecks to your retail customers of all sizes.