As a core device in scenarios such as bakeries and cafes, the technological iteration of countertop refrigerated bakery food display cabinets directly affects the food preservation effect and the terminal sales experience. According to industry data in 2025, the global market size of bakery display cabinets is expected to exceed $28 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.2%. The Chinese market contributes 35% of the growth.
Technologically, there are three major trends:
Upgrading of Refrigeration Technology: The penetration rate of air-cooled frost-free technology has increased from 45% in 2020 to 78% in 2025, effectively solving the frosting problem of traditional direct-cooling models. For example, the air-cooled display cabinet of Lecong uses a Secop compressor, with a 30% increase in refrigeration speed and temperature fluctuation controlled within ±0.5℃.
Intelligent Integration: The penetration rate of Internet of Things technology exceeds 30%. For example, the intelligent freezer customized by Haier for Tmall Supermarket realizes "pick up goods when opening the door and settle accounts when closing the door" through IDST image recognition, reducing the display vacancy rate to 2%.
Environmental Transformation: The EU F-Gas regulations and China's 2025 energy efficiency standards force enterprises to adopt natural working substances such as R290 and CO₂. The LSC-598D model of AUCMA uses R290 refrigerant, with an 18% reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional models.
I. Technical Analysis and Market Performance of Mainstream Brands
Lecong (LECON): The King of Cost-effectiveness
As a leading domestic brand of commercial freezers, Lecong occupies 22% of the market share by virtue of modular design and large-scale production. Its 1.5-meter vertical right-angle air-cooled display cabinet adopts double-layer insulating glass doors and LED soft light panels, with both anti-fog and energy-saving features. It has a 100% favorable rating on the JD platform. The core technology "refrigerant ring" heat dissipation system can operate stably in a high-temperature environment of 43℃, meeting the needs of the Southeast Asian market, and has been supplied in batches to 7-Eleven stores.
XLS (XLS): The Customization Expert
XLS focuses on the in-depth needs of the baking scenario. The three-temperature-zone display cabinet (freezing - 18℃/ refrigerating 0 - 4℃/ normal temperature) customized for Guoquan Shihui has a configuration rate of 85% in the new stores opened by Hema in 2024. Its 0.9-meter desktop arc-shaped display cabinet uses an ultrasonic humidifier to control the humidity at 70% - 80%, effectively preventing cakes from drying out, and has become the first choice for online celebrity bakeries.
AUCMA (AUCMA): The Benchmark of Low-temperature Technology
AUCMA is proficient in cell-level fresh-keeping technology. The freezing capacity of its - 60℃ household vertical freezer is 6 times that of traditional models, and it can preserve high-end ingredients such as salmon for up to two years. In the commercial field, the intelligent display cabinet customized by it for Qingdao Danxiang integrates an Internet of Things module to remotely monitor temperature and humidity data, reducing the equipment failure rate by 50%. The ML278LDGE air-cooled display cabinet launched in 2025 has a 25% increase in energy efficiency ratio and has obtained the EU Green Certification.
Xingxing Cold Chain (XINGX): The Leader in Supermarket and Store Scenarios
The LSC618Y double-door air circulation display cabinet of Xingxing Cold Chain has a volume of 608 liters, adopts a copper tube evaporator and an antibacterial inner tank, and has a coverage rate of over 60% in chain stores such as Zhangliang Malatang and Yihetang. The vertical freezer exported to the South American market has an optimized heat dissipation design for the tropical climate, and can still maintain a temperature fluctuation of ±1℃ in an environment of 40℃.
Hoshizaki (Hoshizaki): The Representative of the High-end Market
The HKD-3B high-humidity display cabinet of the Japanese brand Hoshizaki adopts distillation refrigeration technology, adjusts the humidity by blowing air from the evaporator, has no water and no frost, and has a remarkable preservation effect. It has been certified by the European Medicines Agency as a vaccine storage device. Its 1.2-meter floor-standing right-angle display cabinet is equipped with an electrically heated glass door, which can still maintain a clear display effect in a high-humidity environment. The unit price exceeds 150,000 yen, targeting the high-end bakery market.
Mengshi (Mengshi): Solutions for Chinese-style Baking
Mengshi has developed a double-layer drawer side cabinet for the characteristics of Chinese-style pastries. It adopts a combination design of a solid wood frame and glass, and can display different types of products such as mooncakes and shortcrust pastries at the same time. The 15055130mm side cabinet has a market share of 40% in traditional pastry shops in Henan, Shandong and other places. Users feedback that "the storage space is flexible and suitable for the decoration style of Chinese-style stores."
II. Purchase Guide and Scenario Adaptation
Choice of Refrigeration Method
Air-cooled Type: Suitable for displaying products such as bread and mousse that need to prevent frosting. For example, the 1.2-meter air-cooled display cabinet of Lecong adopts a microporous air outlet design, with a temperature difference in the cabinet ≤1℃.
Direct-cooled Type: Suitable for products with high moisture content such as fruit tarts and puddings. The 0.7-meter desktop freezer of Jingdui maintains a humidity of over 75% through direct-cooling frost suppression technology.
Distillation Refrigeration: The first choice for high-end scenarios. For example, the HKD-3B model of Hoshizaki achieves precise preservation of meat and seafood through humidity adjustment.
Consideration of Core Parameters
Temperature Control: Cakes need 2 - 8℃, and mousse needs 0 - 4℃. The ZSG-LLC09 model of XLS supports precise temperature control of ±0.5℃ to avoid cream melting.
Energy Efficiency Grade: China's 2025 energy efficiency standard requires a first-level energy efficiency. The new air-cooled cabinet of Lecong is 40% more energy-efficient than the old model, and can save about 800 yuan in annual electricity costs.
Material and Process: It is recommended that the cabinet body adopt SUS304 stainless steel. For example, the aluminum alloy-edged glass shelves of the Yiling cake cabinet have strong load-bearing capacity and are easy to clean.
Scene-based Configuration Suggestions
Fine Bakeries: It is recommended to choose the 0.9-meter arc-shaped air-cooled display cabinet of XLS, equipped with LED warm light illumination to enhance the visual appeal of products.
Chain Cafes: The LSC618Y double-door cabinet of Xingxing Cold Chain can display sandwiches and desserts at the same time, and the air circulation system reduces the problem of flavor transfer.
Community Bakeries: The double-layer drawer side cabinet of Mengshi saves space, and the solid wood material is suitable for a warm decoration style.
III. Future Trends and Market Outlook
Deep Integration of Intelligence
Leading brands are accelerating the layout of AIoT technology. For example, the intelligent freezer of Haier analyzes consumers' behaviors through image recognition and optimizes the product display strategy, increasing the sales of pilot stores by 12%. It is expected that by 2027, the proportion of intelligent temperature-controlled display cabinets will exceed 50%, and the remote operation and maintenance response time of equipment will be shortened to within 15 minutes.
Green Manufacturing and Sustainable Development
The application rate of the environmentally friendly refrigerant R290 has increased from 12% in 2023 to 35% in 2025. Enterprises such as AUCMA and Lecong reduce production energy consumption through photovoltaic power plants, with a 15% reduction in carbon emissions per unit of product. The EU F-Gas regulations require the complete phase-out of HFCs by 2030, forcing the upgrade of the supply chain.
Expansion of Emerging Markets and Scenarios
Regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East have become the fastest-growing markets due to weak cold chain infrastructure. Hailong Cold Chain reduces the equipment cost by 20% through local cooperation in Indonesia and has a market share of over 25%. At the same time, the medical cold chain scenario promotes the demand for high-end freezers. The medical-grade freezer of Liebherr has a gross profit margin of 30% in the Pfizer vaccine distribution project.
The countertop refrigerated bakery food display cabinet industry is undergoing technological iteration and market reconstruction. Domestic brands dominate with cost-effectiveness and customization capabilities, while international brands maintain an advantage in the high-end market. In the future, intelligence, greenness, and scene adaptation will become the core of competition. Enterprises need to continuously break through in technological research and development, supply chain efficiency, and user experience to seize the initiative in the global baking cold chain transformation.
