Zero Zone’s commitment to advancing the field of refrigeration is exemplified by the significant contributions of three of its engineers to the 2018 ASHRAE Handbook. Mike Chieffo, Bruce Hierlmeier PE, and Carl Roberts received special recognition for their extensive work, solidifying Zero Zone’s position as a leader in the industry. Notably, Hierlmeier and Roberts have dedicated over two decades to this endeavor, while Chieffo contributed for the first time, making Zero Zone the most represented individual refrigeration manufacturer.

Their collective efforts focused on updating and refining two crucial chapters: “Retail Food Store Refrigeration and Equipment” and “Food Service and General Commercial Refrigeration Equipment.” They diligently incorporated the latest technical information and removed outdated data, ensuring the handbook remained a relevant and accurate resource. The additions reflected the dynamic nature of the refrigeration industry, encompassing recent technological advancements, evolving regulations, and a growing emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency.

Key topics addressed included innovative design enhancements and the introduction of new refrigerants. The engineers provided in-depth coverage of high glide refrigerants, propane, and CO2, with particular attention to transcritical CO2 systems. These advancements underscore the industry’s shift towards more environmentally friendly solutions.

Zero Zone takes immense pride in their engineers’ contributions to the 2018 ASHRAE Handbook, a publication widely used by engineers and government agencies responsible for developing regulations. Their dedication to sharing expertise and promoting best practices reinforces Zero Zone’s commitment to driving innovation and sustainability within the refrigeration sector.

Learn more about the expertise Zero Zone has in refrigeration!

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed all Robért Fresh Market locations. But 2018 marks a milestone as the New Orleans-based supermarket opened their sixth location and moves beyond the hurricane. “This particular location is a historic landmark,” General Manager Marc Robért III explained. “It was the first self-service grocery store in the city of New Orleans in 1941.” Even after being devastated by Katrina, the store still has some of the original terracotta and pine timbers.

Zero Zone provided refrigeration solutions as Robért Fresh Market rebuilt. “I worked with many vendors to get this store open, whether it was equipment vendors, décor vendors, lighting, and so on. I found that Zero Zone was an excellent vendor to work with,” Marc said.

Marc Robért chose Zero Zone to help achieve their mission of freshness. “We are Robért Fresh Market,” Marc emphasized. “We focus on fresh, locally-sourced, organic produce.” For produce and fresh meats, Marc chose the Zero Zone Reveal Merchandiser^® open case as the “impactful showstopper” at the entrance of the store. “As you walk through the front of our store and get through the vestibule, you see this case, there’s a visual line-of-sight to this case, the colors pop well, and the LED lights within the case really help bring the product to life.” He added that for vibrant products like produce and fresh meat, “eye appeal is buy appeal,” and the open display cases work perfectly for that.

For displaying other refrigerated products, he chose Zero Zone Crystal Merchandiser^® reach-in coolers and Highlight Merchandiser^® reach-in freezers. “The door cases make a very clean and neat presentation. I’ve heard concerns about putting product behind doors, but I feel that the doors create a nice, clean look to the store, and customers appreciate seeing that level of cleanliness.” Also, Marc is pleased that the Zero Zone door cases perform well in the hot, humid New Orleans climate. Marc reports that they have not had any door sweating issues.

With six locations open, Robért Fresh Market forges onward from Hurricane Katrina. They project growth for their company, and they can confidently move forward as partners with Zero Zone. “I will be using Zero Zone in the future,” he says. Zero Zone is proud to have been chosen to provide refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems to Robért Fresh Market and wants to be your trusted partner for refrigeration solutions, too.

Press Release

NORTH PRAIRIE, Wis. – May 10, 2018: Zero Zone, Inc. has designed a new ultra narrow display case to save space in tight conditions, particularly in small format stores like convenience stores or at the end of grocery aisles. The new Crystal™ Merchandiser Ultra Narrow Display Case is the latest addition to the Crystal™ Merchandiser product line.

The Ultra Narrow case was developed to solve a customer’s needs concerning space restrictions. Grocery stores and small format stores need coolers that maximize product visibility while preserving limited floor space. Zero Zone designed the Ultra Narrow case to give shoppers total visibility of the contents inside the cooler without compromising the store layout.

“At Zero Zone, we pride ourselves in our responsiveness to our customer’s needs,” said Carl Petersen, Marketing and Advertising Manager at Zero Zone, Inc. “The Ultra Narrow case was designed in response to a retailer’s need, and the customer couldn’t be happier with our innovative solution.”

The Ultra Narrow case is available as either a single-sided or back-to-back unit. The single-sided case is perfect as a grab-and-go end cap case on the end of shelving. The space-saving back-to-back unit fits in line with gondola shelving.

Every case in the Crystal™ Merchandiser product line beautifully displays sandwiches, salads, produce, fresh meat, and beverages. The Ultra Narrow case continues the trend of Zero Zone products, which are manufactured to maintain freshness and ensure longer shelf life for the products inside.

 

For more information about the Crystal™ Merchandiser Ultra Narrow or the other cases in the Crystal™ Merchandiser product line, visit www.zero-zone.com/reach-in-coolers.

 

Zero Zone Named Ramsey’s 2018 Business of the Year

We’re thrilled to announce that Zero Zone’s Refrigeration Systems Division in Ramsey, MN, has been awarded the City of Ramsey’s 2018 Business of the Year. The award, presented by the City of Ramsey and the Ramsey Economic Development Authority (EDA), will be celebrated at the Annual EDA Business Appreciation Golf Tournament in August.

This prestigious award recognizes businesses demonstrating excellence in several key areas: longevity, employment contribution, community involvement, and unique contributions. Zero Zone, established in Ramsey since 1974, has consistently led the refrigeration industry through innovation, quality, and customer responsiveness.

A Strong Community Partner

Zero Zone’s commitment to the Ramsey community is deeply rooted. We actively participate in local job fairs, sponsor the annual Happy Days Festival, and support the Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department. We believe in giving back to the community that has supported us.

“Our employees are our most valuable asset,” stated Rick Steer, former Vice President and General Manager. “This award reflects their dedication and hard work, which drives our community involvement. We thank the City of Ramsey for recognizing our team’s efforts and look forward to continued service.”

The Formula for Success

What makes a Business of the Year? Zero Zone believes it’s a blend of industry leadership and community engagement, both powered by our exceptional employees. “Our team is the heart of Zero Zone,” Rick Steer emphasized. “Being named Ramsey’s 2018 Business of the Year is an honor, and we’re excited for the future.”

Employee Engagement and Community Impact

Our employees are deeply involved in Ramsey’s community life. Zero Zone sponsors events like the Happy Days Festival, Safety Camp, and the Ramsey Firefighters Relief Association. Our team also participates in the Adopt-a-Spot program, contributing to the beautification of Bunker Lake Boulevard NW. These initiatives reflect our commitment to our community.

We also prioritize showcasing the value of manufacturing careers. Industrial Production Manager Justin Borer collaborates with local educational institutions to shape manufacturing curriculum. Zero Zone is a member of prominent industry organizations, including the National Association of Manufacturing, the local Manufacturing Alliance, and OPTIMA. We’ve been a charter member of Ramsey’s Manufacturing Day since its inception in 2012.

Leading in Natural Refrigeration

Zero Zone is not only a community leader but also a pioneer in the refrigeration industry. 2018 marked a significant year for natural refrigerants, particularly CO2 transcritical refrigeration. With growing demand for sustainable solutions, we’re proud to be at the forefront of installing CO2 transcritical systems in supermarkets and ice rinks. We partner with customers who are transitioning to environmentally friendly refrigerants like CO2, reducing their reliance on high global warming potential alternatives.

Our employees are also shaping the industry. Industrial Sales Manager John Collins chairs the IIAR CO2 Task Group, which develops safety standards for CO2 refrigeration, covering design, installation, and maintenance.

Our Enduring Commitment

Zero Zone remains committed to both the refrigeration industry and the Ramsey community. Our success is built on the dedication of our employees, and we look forward to continued growth and service in the years to come.

Join the Business of the Year team! We’re hiring! See our current job openings and be part of our award-winning success.

As CO₂ gains popularity as both a commercial and industrial refrigerant, John Collins and the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) are developing a new safety standard. According to John Collins, Industrial Sales Manager for Zero Zone, Inc. and chairman of the IIAR CO₂ Task Group, this safety standard will cover each phase of CO₂ refrigeration, including design, installation, commissioning, inspection, and maintenance.

CO₂ refrigeration is developing rapidly, with breakthroughs in both subcritical and transcritical refrigeration. Zero Zone offers both subcritical and transcritical systems, with many new systems shipping in 2018. Existing safety regulations are either outdated or not focused specifically on CO₂. Collins says the development of new standards is essential to ensure consistency throughout the industry.

The IIAR, an organization primarily focused on ammonia refrigeration, is branching into CO₂ as part of an initiative to cover more natural refrigerants. This creates some challenges for the organization as ammonia is primarily an industrial refrigerant, but CO₂ is available for both industrial and commercial applications. The CO₂ Task Group collaborates with the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) to expand these safety standards to cover both industrial and commercial projects. The final document will be an accredited standard from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Collins, a voting member of the IIAR Standards Committee since 2013, says this opportunity has allowed him to engage with passionate and knowledgeable industry leaders. The CO₂ Task Group is comprised of a core working team of a dozen volunteers, supplemented by many more corresponding members and industry leaders. Collins is “energized” to be working with this dedicated and knowledgeable group to help the industry prepare for the future of CO₂ refrigeration.

Learn more about our Genesys™ Natural Refrigeration Solutions to find out if ammonia or CO₂  is right for your store

Hey Food Retailers! We are excited to announce that our new Technology Center is open and ready for visitors! We now have 24,000 square feet of showroom and lab testing space that you can tour. The virtual supermarket showroom features both Zero Zone reach-in and open multi-deck cases, and the refrigeration systems showroom features our Edge™ XT exterior distributed system. And don’t forget about the state-of-the-art DOE Research & Development labs; they are very impressive!

“Peas” contact your local Zero Zone Sales Representative TODAY and “lettuce” take you on a personalized tour of the Zero Zone Technology Center! You’ll be “berry” glad you did.

Zero Zone Technology Center – The Inspiration Experience

Press Release

NORTH PRAIRIE, WI – October 6, 2016— Zero Zone, a leading manufacturer of refrigerated display cases and commercial refrigeration systems, announced today the introduction of the Zero Zone Reveal™ Merchandiser line of medium-temperature multi-decks.

“For years, our customers have been asking when Zero Zone would be coming out with an open multi-deck that has the same quality and versatility as our reach-in glass door cases,” explained Lance Van Der Ploeg, Senior Product Manager for Zero Zone. “We’re pleased to announce that the time is now. The new Reveal™ Merchandiser cooler incorporates the legendary quality, sleek design, and exceptional facings and packout for which Zero Zone is known, but in a package without glass doors. Although many retailers are using reach-in cooler cases today, there is still a large demand for open merchandisers for certain applications around the store. We are happy to now be equipped to answer this demand with the Reveal™ Merchandiser product line. After all, Zero Zone prides itself on being ‘The Responsive Company’.”

Zero Zone aims to exceed customer expectations with high-quality, innovative products and personalized support. The Reveal™ Merchandiser extends the range of merchandising options offered by Zero Zone, giving retailers a wider array of choices. These new, open multi-decks are complementary to the Zero Zone glass door display cases in style, merchandising characteristics, quality, and responsible energy performance. They come equipped with Zero Zone ChillBrite™ LED lighting, adding sparkle to retailers’ products and making them ‘pop’. The Reveal™ Merchandiser is ideally suited for effective display of dairy, deli, beverage, produce, and fresh meat products.

Learn more information about the Reveal™ Merchandiser line of products

The Reveal™ Merchandiser line is manufactured by Zero Zone, Inc. Established in 1961, Zero Zone is a leading manufacturer
of refrigerated display cases and commercial refrigeration systems for supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores.
With display case plants in North Prairie and Waukesha, WI and a refrigeration systems plant in Ramsey, MN, Zero Zone also
manufactures industrial refrigeration systems for cold storage, food processing, and ice arenas.

Why work for Zero Zone – Refrigeration Systems Division? Because we make COOL stuff that keeps stuff COOL!

Join our teams in Ramsey, MN and Dyersville, IA.

Check out our job openings!

Press Release

North Prairie, WI – March 3, 2016—Zero Zone, Inc. is pleased to introduce the Edge XT Distributed System, an outdoor version of our well-known Edge Distributed System line.

Distributed refrigeration systems are used by small retail format stores that do not require a large refrigeration rack to cool the small number of refrigerated display cases and walk-ins in their facilities. Distributed systems are also very popular with larger supermarket chains, who prefer several smaller distributed systems rather than pumping all the refrigerant through one or two
very large systems. The decreased refrigerant charge of smaller distributed systems minimizes environmental impact for the retailer.

Carl Petersen, Marketing & Advertising Manager for Zero Zone, noted, “Since its introduction in 2008, the indoor Edge™ Distributed System has been a go-to work horse for food retailers who wanted to have the convenience of a compact refrigeration system located in a back room of their stores. We now give them that same option, but for placement outdoors, either on the roof or on a concrete pad behind the store.”

Available with either scroll or reciprocating compressors, the Edge™ XT can be used to help optimize operating efficiency and conserve space within the store. Durable hinged doors allow for easy access and help protect the equipment. A weather-tight control panel and a sturdy galvanized exterior ensure that the Edge™ XT will deliver many years of reliable service.

The Edge™ XT also features integrated condenser coils, available in either micro-channel or ‘fin & tube’ varieties. Easy access top-mount fans are available with single speed or variable speed ECM motors.

Learn more about the entire Edge™ Distributed System line of products

Established in 1961, Zero Zone is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated glass door display cases and commercial
refrigeration systems for supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores. With display case plants in North Prairie and
Waukesha, WI and refrigeration systems plants in Ramsey, MN, Zero Zone also manufactures industrial refrigeration systems
for cold storage, food processing, and ice arenas.