One thing people who run a food or beverage business understand very well is this: the size, shape, and design of the commercial refrigerator you choose can directly affect how customers interact with your products, and that, in turn, determines how often they buy them.
This is why many businesses choose grab-and-go fridges. Grab-and-go fridges are commercial refrigerators designed not just to keep items cold but also to encourage impulse purchases, speed up service, and make products easy to see and access.
What Is a Grab-and-Go Refrigerator?
A grab-and-go refrigerator is a self-service display refrigerator designed to enable quick customer access. The name “grab-and-go” comes from the idea that customers can literally grab an item and go, without needing staff assistance or extra steps.
They are designed to reduce the amount of effort and time required by a customer to access whatever product they choose by enhancing ease of access and thus encouraging impulse purchases.
Grab-and-go fridges are commonly used in fast-paced environments where convenience matters: think coffee shops, convenience stores, cafeterias, and offices.
Key Features of Grab-and-Go Fridges
There are four main features most grab-and-go fridges share: an open front design ( though some types have glass doors), easily accessible shelves, good interior lighting, and increased temperature efficiency.
Here’s why these features matter:
- The glass or open front design makes products highly visible, encouraging impulse buys and helping customers decide quickly.
- With easy access shelving, items are placed at eye level or within arm’s reach, reducing friction between seeing a product and buying it.
- The bright interior lighting improves product appeal and makes labels, colors, and branding stand out.
- Consistent temperature control keeps drinks, snacks, and fresh food safe while maintaining quality.
All of these features work together to remove barriers between the customer and the product: less thinking, less waiting, and more buying.
Types of Grab-and-Go Refrigerators
There are three main types of grab-and-go refrigerators, each suited to different products and environments: open-air grab-and-go refrigerators, glass-door grab-and-go refrigerators, and countertop grab-and-go refrigerators.
1. Open-air grab-and-go refrigerators
Open-air grab-and-go refrigerators are fridges without doors that use an air curtain to keep cold air inside. These are more formally known as open-air merchandisers, and they are best for the storage and display of bottled drinks, pre-packaged snacks, and ready-to-go foods with quick turnover.
- Open-air grab-and-go refrigerators vary in size from about 6 cu.ft (small models) to about 20 cu.ft (large models.
- Some models, like Wilprep’s Vertical Open Air Merchandiser Refrigerators, offer creative, functional features like curved displays for better product display and enhanced visibility.
Open-air grab-and-go fridges are mostly found in coffee shops, Cafés, and high-traffic retail locations where there are likely to be many people or customers who need to be served quickly.
2. Glass door grab-and-go refrigerators
Glass-door grab-and-go fridges have one or more glass doors that customers open themselves. They are more commonly known as commercial display refrigerators, and the main advantage they offer to a business is that they balance accessibility with better temperature efficiency.
- Also, thanks to the glass doors, they add a level of product security that is absent in open-air merchandisers.
- Glass door grab-and-go refrigerators typically vary in size from smaller single-door display refrigerators (about 19 cu.ft capacity) to larger 2-door and 3-door commercial display refrigerators (about 40 cu.ft capacity and more)
Glass door grab-and-go refrigerators are best for storing a wider variety of items, including sandwiches and salads, dairy products, cold meats, and even bottled and canned beverages.
They are especially common in convenience stores, gyms, schools, etc., because they balance accessibility with better temperature efficiency and add a level of product protection that is absent in open-air grab-and-go fridges.
3. Countertop or small grab-and-go refrigerators
Countertop grab-and-go fridges are compact fridges that are designed to sit on counters or under service areas. These are commonly known as countertop display refrigerators or refrigerated display cases, and the main advantage is that they allow you to put your best-selling products directly in front of the customers at the point of sale.
Some models, like this 28-inch countertop display refrigerator from Wilprep, offer innovative features like a curved-glass display, which increases the appeal of your products while facilitating better display.
Countertop grab-and-go refrigerators excel when it comes to the storage/display of drinks, desserts, yogurt cups, and small packaged items.
This explains why they are most commonly used in bakeries, small cafés, food trucks, and even some reception areas.
Choosing a Grab-and-Go Refrigerator for Your Business: Top Tips
The most important consideration when deciding which right grab-and-go fridge to get for commercial use is what you sell, how fast it sells, and how much space you have. Here are some important questions to ask yourself:
- Do my customers need ultra-fast access?
- Is energy efficiency a concern?
- Am I displaying full meals or just drinks?
- How much floor or counter space is available?
Based on the answers to these questions, here is a quick reference to help match grab-and-go fridge types with business needs
Grab-and-Go Fridge Recommendation Chart
| Type of grab-and-go fridge | Best-matched businesses | Recommended size |
| Open-air grab-and-go | Coffee shops, cafés, offices | Medium to large (6-20 cu.ft) |
| Glass door grab-and-go | Convenience stores, gyms, and schools | Medium to large (30-60+cu.ft) |
| Countertop grab-and-go | Bakeries, small cafés, food trucks | Small size (4-10+ cu.ft) |
Choosing the right grab-and-go fridge size matters just as much as choosing the type: too small limits sales, too large wastes space and energy.
Grab-and-Go Refrigerators: Advantages
Grab-and-go refrigerators are about movement and momentum, while traditional commercial fridges focus more on controlled presentation and storage. Here are some key advantages to using a grab-and-go refrigerator:
- Faster customer interaction
- Higher impulse purchase potential
- Designed specifically for self-service
- Better product flow in busy environments
Ideal Business Scenarios for a Grab-and-Go Fridge
- High customer traffic
- Items meant for quick purchase
- Limited staff involvement
- Convenience is a top priority
Final Thoughts on Grab-and-Go Fridges
Grab-and-go refrigerators are more than just cold storage: they’re a sales tool. When chosen correctly, they improve visibility, speed up service, and encourage customers to buy more with less effort.
For businesses where convenience and impulse purchases matter, investing in the right grab-and-go fridge can quietly, but powerfully, boost daily sales.
Consider wilpreps best commercial refrigerators you can afford, and find out which of these might be a suitable grab-and-go option for your business.
