As temperatures rise across the globe, food retailers need refrigeration systems that deliver stable performance, operational resilience and long-term flexibility. Schweitzer’s Waterloop technology offers a decentralized alternative designed to keep stores running efficiently—even during periods of extreme heat.
In food retail, refrigeration is mission-critical. It safeguards product quality, protects valuable stock and ensures uninterrupted operations. In regions where summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, refrigeration systems face exceptional demands. Retailers are looking for solutions that not only keep products cold but also reduce technical complexity, simplify maintenance and provide long-term flexibility.
Schweitzer’s Waterloop refrigeration system has been developed with exactly these challenges in mind.
Performs reliably in extreme temperatures
The Waterloop system uses a closed, low-pressure water circuit to remove heat from refrigerated cabinets and transport it efficiently to an external dry cooler. Because refrigeration is generated locally within each cabinet while heat is removed centrally, the system maintains stable operating conditions even during prolonged periods of high outdoor temperatures.
Unlike conventional centralized refrigeration systems, Waterloop minimizes technical complexity while delivering reliable cooling performance—an important advantage for retailers operating in hot climates.
Decentralized Cooling, Greater Reliability
Each refrigerated cabinet operates as an independent plug-in unit using the natural refrigerant R290 within a hermetically sealed internal circuit. If one unit requires maintenance, the remaining cabinets continue operating normally, significantly reducing the risk of large-scale product loss or store disruption.
Operating at low pressure (max. 6bar as in your home heating system), the Waterloop circuit can be equipped with redundant components such as a dual-pump system, allowing the second pump to automatically take over if the first fails.
Waterloop at a glance
- Decentralized plug-in refrigerated cabinets
- Closed, low-pressure water circuit
- Natural refrigerant R290
- Efficient heat rejection via plate heat exchanger and external dry cooler
- Optional dual-pump system for maximum reliability
- Heat recovery and building management integration
- Minimal technical room requirements
- Easy expansion and store modifications
Built around the store – not the other way around
Every supermarket has different operational requirements. Store layout, merchandising strategy, available space and future expansion plans all influence the ideal refrigeration concept.
Rather than forcing retailers to adapt to a fixed system, Schweitzer, together with its retail design agency Interstore, designs each Waterloop installation around the specific needs of the project. Refrigerated units can easily be added, relocated or replaced without redesigning the entire refrigeration infrastructure, making future refurbishments and store extensions significantly simpler.
This flexibility is particularly valuable for retailers planning phased renovations or expanding store formats.
Refrigeration as part of an integrated store concept
Waterloop is more than a refrigeration system. Together with Interstore, Schweitzer offers a Design & Build approach, combining refrigeration engineering, customized refrigerated furniture, project management and store design and construction within one integrated solution.
This holistic approach ensures that refrigeration technology supports—not limits—the architectural design, customer journey and operational efficiency of the entire store.
Proven for large food retail surfaces
Waterloop technology is fully scalable. Schweitzer is currently implementing large-scale Waterloop systems in several E. Leclerc hypermarkets in France and Andorra, with sales areas ranging from approximately 5,000 to 10,000 square meters.
These projects demonstrate that decentralized refrigeration is not limited to smaller stores but is equally suited for complex, high-volume food retail environments.
Ready for the future
As climate conditions become more demanding, refrigeration systems must deliver more than cooling capacity. They must provide operational resilience, flexibility and long-term efficiency.
By combining decentralized refrigeration, natural refrigerants, efficient heat management and scalable system architecture, Schweitzer’s Waterloop technology offers retailers a future-ready solution for modern food retail.
For supermarkets operating in hot climates, staying cool is no longer simply an operational challenge—it is a competitive advantage.
For more information, visit www.schweitzergroup.com or contact Schweitzer Director International Sales Vera Leonardelli at Vera.leonardelli@interstore-
