Refrigerated Display Cases Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Plug In Refrigerated Display, Remote Refrigerated Display), By Product Design (Vertical, Horizontal, Hybrid And Semi-Vertical), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 11.47 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.44%
Fastest Growing Segment	Plug In Refrigerated Display
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 15.76 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Refrigerated Display Cases Market will grow from USD 11.47 Billion in 2025 to USD 15.76 Billion by 2031 at a 5.44% CAGR. Refrigerated display cases are specialized temperature-controlled fixtures utilized within the food retail sector to preserve perishable items while simultaneously merchandising them to consumers. The primary economic force stimulating the acquisition of these units is the vigorous expansion of the grocery retail sector, driven by evolving consumer preferences for fresh, frozen, and ready-to-eat products. This demand creates a critical need for advanced infrastructure to ensure food safety and minimize waste. According to FMI - The Food Industry Association, in 2024, sales in the meat department alone increased by 4.7% to reach $105 billion, a figure that highlights the growing reliance on robust refrigeration capacities to support fresh food categories.

Despite this positive trajectory, the market encounters a substantial obstacle in the form of stringent environmental regulations concerning potential global warming impacts. Manufacturers and retailers face high compliance costs associated with the mandatory transition away from hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants toward natural alternatives. This regulatory complexity, coupled with the capital-intensive nature of upgrading legacy systems to meet new energy efficiency mandates, poses a significant operational burden that could delay fleet modernization and impede broader market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

The surging consumer demand for chilled and frozen convenience foods is a primary catalyst driving the installation of advanced refrigerated display cases. As consumers increasingly prioritize meal solutions that offer long shelf life and ease of preparation, retailers are compelled to expand their frozen food departments and upgrade existing infrastructure to accommodate higher inventory volumes. This shift requires display units that optimize storage density while maintaining strict temperature consistency. According to the American Frozen Food Institute, February 2024, in the 'Power of Frozen 2024' report, the frozen food category generated $74 billion in annual sales, highlighting the need for expanded merchandising capacity. Retailers are consequently investing in multi-deck and island cabinets to maximize product visibility and meet this sustained purchasing behavior.

Simultaneously, the transition toward eco-friendly and low-GWP refrigerants serves as a critical driver for market innovation and replacement cycles. Regulatory bodies are enforcing strict phase-downs of high-global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons, prompting manufacturers to engineer systems compatible with natural alternatives like carbon dioxide and propane. This regulatory pressure forces food retailers to accelerate the retirement of legacy equipment in favor of sustainable models. According to ALDI, August 2024, in a corporate press release, the company has transitioned to natural refrigerants in more than 600 stores to align with these environmental goals. This shift drives substantial industry revenue; according to Epta S.p.A., April 2024, in the 'Integrated Report 2023', the company achieved a consolidated turnover of 1.4 billion euros, reflecting the robust activity supporting these transitions.

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Key Market Challenges

The global refrigerated display cases market faces a significant hurdle due to the stringent regulatory environment governing the transition from hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants to natural alternatives. Compliance with these environmental mandates necessitates the premature decommissioning of functional legacy systems, forcing retailers to direct capital toward costly infrastructure overhauls rather than market expansion. This regulatory pressure creates a financial bottleneck, as the high upfront costs of advanced refrigeration technologies limit the budget available for procuring new display units. Consequently, the focus of major food retailers shifts from aggressive fleet modernization to mandatory regulatory adherence, directly stalling the momentum of market growth.

This operational burden exerts a measurable strain on the financial health of the sector. According to FMI - The Food Industry Association, in 2025, the total cost for the grocery industry to comply with updated refrigerant management rules was estimated at $5 billion annually, a figure projected to decrease industry profitability by 22%. This substantial diversion of funds reduces the capital available for investing in new refrigerated display cases, thereby hampering the overall expansion of the market.

Key Market Trends

The integration of IoT-enabled remote monitoring systems is transforming the market as retailers seek to minimize operational disruptions and food spoilage. Advanced sensors embedded within display units now transmit real-time data regarding temperature stability, compressor health, and door activity to cloud-based platforms, allowing facility managers to address potential failures before they occur. This shift from reactive repairs to predictive maintenance significantly reduces downtime and service costs while ensuring product integrity. According to Danfoss, February 2025, in the 'Annual Report 2024', the company reported sales of 9.7 billion euros, a performance supported by sustained investment in these digital capabilities and its Alsense IoT platform which enhances system reliability for food retailers.

Simultaneously, there is a distinct shift toward energy-efficient closed-door models, driven by the need to drastically lower electricity consumption and improve the in-store shopping environment. Unlike open-front cabinets that allow cold air to escape, these enclosed units maintain consistent internal temperatures, thereby extending the shelf life of perishable goods and eliminating the "cold aisle" effect that often discomforts shoppers. This adoption is fueled by the operational desire to reduce utility bills rather than just regulatory compliance. According to Epta S.p.A., April 2025, in the 'Integrated Report 2024', the group achieved a turnover of 1.682 billion euros, a growth trajectory largely attributed to the robust sales of its sustainable, energy-efficient refrigeration solutions in the global retail market.

Segmental Insights

The Plug In Refrigerated Display segment represents the fastest growing category in the global market, primarily driven by the demand for store layout flexibility and reduced installation costs. Retailers increasingly select these self-contained units as they operate without complex remote piping, facilitating rapid deployment in small-format stores. Furthermore, regulatory pressure regarding energy efficiency from institutions like the U.S. Department of Energy accelerates the adoption of these systems. Modern Plug In models often incorporate natural refrigerants to meet compliance standards, providing a cost-effective and environmentally compliant solution for commercial food retailers.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific holds a leading position in the Global Refrigerated Display Cases Market, primarily driven by the robust expansion of the organized retail sector. The region has witnessed a significant surge in the construction of supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores, particularly in high-growth economies. This infrastructure development is complemented by rising disposable incomes and a growing consumer preference for frozen and chilled convenience foods, necessitating advanced refrigeration solutions. Additionally, increasing investments in cold chain logistics and stricter adherence to food safety protocols encourage retailers to adopt reliable, energy-efficient display systems to ensure product quality.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Daikin Industries, Ltd., through its subsidiary AHT Cooling Systems, unveiled a new generation of commercial refrigeration solutions at the Chillventa trade fair in Nuremberg. The company debuted a new AHT chest freezer designed to transform the plug-in refrigeration market, alongside the modular SPI CIRCUMPOLAR unit, which serves as a central component for efficient semi-plug-in systems. These product launches focused on the use of natural refrigerants such as R-290 and CO2, highlighting the company's strategy to future-proof its offerings against tightening F-gas regulations while addressing retailer needs for energy efficiency and flexible store layouts.
• In October 2024, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration officially began operations as a newly acquired subsidiary of Haier Smart Home, following the completion of a transaction valued at approximately $640 million. This major corporate development combined Carrier’s established expertise in commercial refrigeration and CO2 technologies with Haier’s global reach and resources in the appliance sector. The collaboration was positioned to accelerate growth in the food retail and cold storage markets by leveraging complementary strengths, aiming to provide comprehensive, sustainable cold chain solutions to enterprise customers worldwide.
• In June 2024, Arneg S.p.A. launched a new vertical refrigerated display cabinet named Andorra, which introduced the company's patented Hot & Cold technology. This innovative solution enabled the display case to feature both hot and cold sections within the same unit without requiring separate heating elements, as it recovered thermal energy from the high-pressure side of the transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle. Designed for versatility in supermarkets and convenience stores, the cabinet allowed for the simultaneous display of heated meals and refrigerated products like beverages and dairy, maximizing floor space efficiency while significantly reducing energy consumption through heat recovery.
• In January 2024, Hussmann Corporation announced a significant update to its portfolio of self-contained refrigerated merchandisers to align with evolving environmental regulations. The company’s Evolve Technologies line began incorporating low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, specifically R-290 (propane) and R-454C, to comply with the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act requirements. This product upgrade was designed to provide food retailers with energy-efficient solutions that eliminate the need for complex piping systems while ensuring compliance with future sustainability mandates. The move underscored the manufacturer's commitment to supporting the food retailing industry's transition toward environmentally responsible refrigeration technologies.

Key Market Players

• Frigoglass Services Single Member S.A.
• Epta S.p.A.
• True Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Arneg S.p.A.
• Haier Group Corporation
• Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Fagor Industrial S. Coop
• Hussmann Corporation
• Daikin Industries, Ltd.
• Zero Zone Incorporated

By Product Type	By Product Design	By Region
Plug In Refrigerated Display Remote Refrigerated Display	Vertical Horizontal Hybrid And Semi-Vertical	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Refrigerated Display Cases Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Refrigerated Display Cases Market, By Product Type:

• Plug In Refrigerated Display
• Remote Refrigerated Display

• Refrigerated Display Cases Market, By Product Design:

• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Hybrid And Semi-Vertical

• Refrigerated Display Cases Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE