Exploring PepsiCo’s Refrigerated Display Cabinet Testing Standards

In the competitive commercial refrigeration space, delivering best-in-class performance and energy efficiency is critical, especially for a global brand like PepsiCo. A test report shared by Zheshang Securities sheds light on PepsiCo’s stringent standards for refrigerated display cabinets. This blog explores the test conditions, key performance indicators, technology innovations and their impact on the end-user market, while assessing PepsiCo’s competitive position in the 2025 landscape. Test Conditions and Methodology As described in the report shared by Zheshang Securities, the evaluation was conducted under controlled conditions to assess the cabinet’s performance under different environmental scenarios, reflecting real-world retail needs.

Key parameters include: Ambient temperature range: 25°C to 38°C, covering temperate to hot climates.

Relative humidity: 40% to 65%, simulating typical indoor store conditions.

Test duration: 24 hours, ensuring stability and consistency throughout the cycle.

Temperature settings: Low temperature range: 0°C to 10°C, suitable for refrigerated beverages.

Media temperature range: 0°C to 15°C, suitable for a wider range of products.

Sample size: 6 units tested, providing a robust analytical data set.

The cabinets were rigorously tested for cooling efficiency, energy consumption, temperature stability, and humidity control, with results recorded throughout the testing period. Key performance indicators highlighted the following parameters:

Cooling Capacity: Achieved cooling rates of 0.72°C to 1.0°C per hour, effectively reducing temperatures.

Energy Consumption: Recorded at 5% to 10% of total power input, indicating moderate energy use (translating to 85.1% to 95% operational efficiency).

Temperature Stability: Maintained within ±0.5°C of set point, ensuring product safety and quality.

Humidity Control: Effectively controlled relative humidity between 40% and 65%, preventing condensation and spoilage.

Operational Efficiency: Operated at 85.1% to 95% efficiency, with optimal performance at higher ambient temperatures (up to 38°C).

These metrics highlight the cabinets’ ability to deliver reliable performance while prioritizing energy efficiency, a key focus in today’s sustainable market.

Technology innovations and industry alliance test results resonate with industry trends for 2025, where energy efficiency, smart controls and customized features are driving demand.

Key technology insights include:

Refrigerator efficiency: Low energy consumption (5-10%) and stability at 25°C-38°C indicate that low GWP refrigerants such as R290 or CO₂ can be used in accordance with global regulations such as the EU F-gas Regulation and the US AIM Act. This is an inference based on industry trends.

Smart temperature management: ±0.5°C stability indicates advanced thermostat technology or possible IoT integration, capable of real-time adjustments to maintain optimal beverage conditions - a growing demand in the retail industry.

High Temperature Resilience: Efficient operation at 38°C suggests the need for enhanced heat exchanger design, possibly microchannel technology, to improve heat dissipation in hot climates such as the Middle East or Southeast Asia.

Industry experts note that this performance reflects a shift toward smart refrigeration, where IoT monitoring can reduce energy waste and ensure food safety compliance (Cooling Technology Review, July 2025). Impact on End-User Markets Testing standards shared by Zheshang Securities reveal the changing needs of major end markets, supported by industry insights for 2025:

Supermarkets: A focus on energy efficiency (5-10% consumption) and precise temperature control (±0.5°C) meets the growing demand for sustainable, low-GWP systems. Potential IoT integration for real-time diagnostics could align with large chain stores’ net zero goals, Cooling Post (July 2025) notes.

Convenience stores: Compact cooling capacity (0.72°C–1.0°C per hour) and low energy consumption are suitable for urban, cost-sensitive environments, supporting the trend toward modular plug-in units highlighted by Store Design News (July 2025). This sets the stage for small-format retail growth.

Food/hospitality: Operation at 38°C with humidity control of 40-65% meets the needs of hotels in hot climates such as the Middle East, according to a report in Hospitality Management (July 2025), ensuring reliable storage of beverages in a luxurious environment.

Medical/Pharmaceuticals: ±0.5°C stability suggests potential suitability for medical-grade applications, but the 0°C–15°C range of the test (not the ultra-low -80°C) suggests further development is needed, according to insights from Pharma Review on vaccine storage (June 2025).

PepsiCo’s testing standards put it in close competition with industry leaders: Hussmann and Aptah excel in CO₂ systems that save 15-20% energy, but PepsiCo’s stability at 38°C could challenge their advantage in hot climates; Real Manufacturing and Mitsubishi Electric focus on affordable R290 equipment, but PepsiCo’s efficiency (85-95%) and potential IoT appeal could attract the high-end retail market. Smart control reasoning with Carrier and Danfoss innovations positions PepsiCo as a tech-savvy player.