Food Lion Unveils Green Refrigeration Technology

MONTPELIER, Va. - Executive from Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Target, and Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge were among the attendees at Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion's unveiling of an innovative new refrigeration technology here yesterday, as the Delhaize-owned supermarket operator became one of the first U.S. grocery chains to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new GreenChill partnership, an initiative through which companies pledge to go above and beyond regulatory requirements in protecting the ozone layer and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"We have a commitment to understanding what's happening in the environment, and reducing the negative impact our equipment may cause," Kyle Mitchell, Food Lion's v.p. of store development, told Progressive Grocer at the event. "This is yet another example of the philosophy that permeates throughout our company - such as in our lighting strategies, cardboard recycling programs, and ceiling tile recycling initiative."

Indeed, for its efforts adopting and applying energy management practices and technology throughout its store operations, Food Lion received the EPA's Energy Star Partner of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002. In both years, Food Lion was the only supermarket company to receive the honor. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, the EPA again recognized Food Lion's energy efforts by awarding the chain the Energy Star Sustained Excellence award.

According to Mitchell, Food Lion chose the Montpelier store for the pilot because it offered a wide range of ambient conditions in which to test the technology.

In addition to reducing negative impact to the environment, Mitchell said he expects the technology to improve product quality and safety.

Because HCFCs - which are used in commercial refrigeration equipment -- play a role in depleting the ozone layer, the United States is phasing out their consumption by first limiting and then ending their production and import. The first part of this phase-out is a ban on production and import of HCFC-22 (also referred to as "R-22") and HCFC-142b, except for on-going servicing needs in equipment manufactured before January 1, 2010.

Participants in the GreenChill program, however, are taking action now. "The program involves finding leaders in the industry to spearhead this movement and find ways to replace R-22 in an environmentally responsible way," Julius Banks, refrigerant recycling program manager for EPA's stratospheric protection implementation branch. "Participants will pilot new technologies such as the system here today, and then sharing data about their findings so that other retailers can benefit."

The EPA estimates that widespread adoption of best practices, improved equipment design and service, and advanced