From Concept to Finished Product: A Custom Deli Display Case

A commercial refrigeration project often begins with a simple requirement: the customer needs a display case that fits a specific space, supports a particular food presentation style and works for the way their business operates.

For this project, the customer needed a custom deli display case for prepared foods. The goal was not simply to select an existing refrigerator from a standard product range. The display structure, dimensions and overall configuration needed to be developed around the customer's requirements.

This case study shows how SOMCLAN approached the project, from the initial design direction to the finished product.

A Custom Display Case for a Specific Commercial Need

Prepared food businesses often need more than refrigerated storage.

The display case must also help customers see the products clearly, allow staff to organize and access food efficiently, and fit naturally into the available commercial space.

Depending on the business, the products may include prepared dishes, cooked meats, deli foods, packaged meals or other ready-to-serve items. The way these products are presented can influence the required display depth, internal arrangement and overall cabinet design.

For this project, the customer required a custom deli display case rather than a standard off-the-shelf configuration.

The design direction focused on three main objectives:

• Create a display structure suitable for prepared food presentation.
• Develop dimensions around the customer's specific requirements.
• Deliver a finished cabinet that combines commercial functionality with a clean, professional appearance.

The result was a custom refrigeration solution developed specifically for the project.

Turning the Customer’s Requirements Into a Design Direction

A successful custom refrigeration project begins with understanding how the equipment will actually be used.

Before deciding on the final configuration, several questions need to be considered:

• What type of food will be displayed?
• How much display space is required?
• Where will the cabinet be installed?
• How will staff access the products?
• What overall appearance is suitable for the business?
• Are there specific dimensional or structural requirements?

These questions help determine whether a standard product is suitable or whether a custom design is the better option.

For this project, the customer provided a specific product concept that required a tailored cabinet structure. SOMCLAN developed the design around that direction rather than treating the project as a standard product selection.

Dimensions That Fit the Available Space

One of the most important parts of a custom display case is the relationship between the cabinet dimensions and the installation environment.

A display case that is too large may reduce available working space. A cabinet that is too small may not provide enough room for the intended food presentation.

The customer therefore required a specific overall configuration, including the cabinet length, depth and height.

The technical drawing was used to establish the main dimensions and communicate the intended structure before production.

This approach helps reduce uncertainty during manufacturing and gives both the customer and the manufacturer a clearer understanding of the final product.

A Display Structure Designed Around Product Visibility

A deli display case is not only a refrigeration appliance. It is also part of the customer's sales environment.

The products need to be visible from the customer side, while the display arrangement should remain practical for staff.

For prepared foods, this may mean organizing different products across the available display area, maintaining a clear presentation and making the cabinet suitable for repeated daily use.

The custom design therefore considered the relationship between the display structure and the intended food presentation.

Rather than focusing only on the exterior appearance, the project was developed around how the cabinet would function as a commercial food display.

Balancing Presentation, Access and Equipment Space

Commercial refrigeration equipment needs to balance several requirements at the same time.

A display case must provide an attractive presentation area, but it must also accommodate the refrigeration system, structural components and service requirements.

This is particularly important when a customer requests a custom configuration.

The design needs to consider not only what the cabinet looks like from the front, but also how the equipment is arranged and how the cabinet can be accessed for operation and maintenance.

For this project, the design direction was developed with these practical requirements in mind.

The objective was to create a cabinet that could support the customer's intended food display while maintaining a complete commercial refrigeration structure.

From Technical Drawing to Finished Product

Once the design direction was established, the project moved from concept development to manufacturing.

The technical drawing provided the dimensional reference for the cabinet structure. It also helped communicate the intended proportions and overall configuration.

For custom refrigeration equipment, this stage is important because the final product needs to reflect the agreed design rather than simply resemble a standard model.

The Custom Dimensions

The project included a dedicated technical drawing showing the main cabinet dimensions and structural layout.

This drawing provides a useful reference for customers who need to understand how a custom display case is developed.

It also demonstrates why dimensional planning is an important part of OEM and ODM refrigeration projects.

A custom cabinet may need to fit a particular counter arrangement, installation area or food display layout. Establishing the dimensions before production helps ensure that the finished equipment follows the intended design direction.

The drawing can be used to show the overall dimensions and explain how the cabinet structure was developed around the customer's requirements.

The Finished Product

The finished product represents the final stage of the customization process.

Instead of presenting the cabinet as a generic refrigeration product, this project shows how a specific customer requirement was translated into a completed commercial display case.

The customer’s real product photograph provides a direct reference to the delivered equipment.

It shows the actual cabinet appearance, display structure and overall finish after production.

Image placement: Customer’s real product photograph

This image should be used as the main proof of delivery because it represents the actual finished product rather than a concept or rendering.

Designed for Different Commercial Food Display Environments

Although this project was developed for a specific customer, the same type of custom deli display case can be relevant to a range of commercial food businesses.

The exact configuration should always be determined by the intended application, product requirements and installation environment.

Deli Counters and Prepared Food Shops

Deli counters often need to present prepared foods in a way that is easy for customers to see and easy for staff to manage.

A custom display case can be developed around the available counter space, the expected product range and the desired presentation style.

For businesses with specific display requirements, a tailored cabinet may be more suitable than a standard configuration.

Supermarkets and Convenience Stores

Supermarkets and convenience stores may use refrigerated display equipment for prepared foods, packaged meals and other ready-to-serve products.

In these environments, the cabinet needs to fit the store layout while supporting clear product presentation.

A custom design can help businesses develop a display structure that is better suited to their available space and merchandising requirements.

Restaurants, Food Courts and Commercial Kitchens

Restaurants and food service businesses may also require dedicated display equipment for prepared foods.

Depending on the operation, the cabinet may be used for customer-facing service areas, food presentation counters or other commercial applications.

The appropriate design will depend on the type of food, the operating environment and the way staff interact with the equipment.

Other Food Service Applications

Custom deli display cases may also be relevant to other prepared food businesses that require a combination of refrigeration and product presentation.

The important point is that the equipment should be developed around the actual application rather than selected only by appearance.

A custom refrigeration project can help businesses address specific requirements that may not be fully covered by standard products.

What This Custom Case Study Shows

This project demonstrates that custom refrigeration equipment is often about more than changing the appearance of an existing product.

The customer required a specific deli display case configuration, and the project was developed around that requirement.

From the initial design direction to the technical drawing and finished product, each stage helped translate the customer's needs into a practical commercial refrigeration solution.

The project also highlights several important principles of OEM and ODM development:

• Customer requirements come first.
• Dimensions should be established before production.
• Display structure should reflect the intended application.
• Equipment design needs to consider both presentation and operation.
• The finished product should match the agreed design direction.

For businesses developing a new commercial refrigeration product, these principles can help create a clearer and more efficient customization process.

A Custom Refrigeration Solution Built Around Your Requirements

Every commercial food business has different requirements.

Some customers need a specific cabinet length. Others need a particular display arrangement, structural configuration or overall appearance.

The right solution depends on the intended application, available space and product requirements.

At SOMCLAN, our OEM and ODM team works with customers to develop commercial refrigeration equipment around their specific needs.

Whether you have a technical drawing, reference images or an initial product concept, we can help evaluate the design direction and develop a suitable refrigeration solution.

Tell us what you are trying to build.