Once upon a time, shops were simple affairs. They had a counter, some shelves, and a few products displayed in the window. The problem was, there was no way to keep perishable items fresh for any length of time. Milk would sour, meat would spoil, and ice cream? Well, let’s just say it was a luxury only enjoyed in the winter months.
But then, along came commercial refrigeration and everything changed. Shops were suddenly able to stock a wider range of perishable items in a commercial fridge and hospitality was able to offer food at outdoor events using a catering fridge. No longer did shoppers have to go from shop to shop searching for the ingredients they needed for their dinner – they could find everything they needed in one place.