LED illumination in supermarkets improves the shopping experience

The challenges of supermarket illumination

Businesses such as supermarkets that need efficient lighting systems for their facilities face a number of challenges that must be suitably addressed. Let us take a look at them, one by one.

The shopping experience

Shops need to appear adequately, pleasantly and effectively lit to the human eye so that customers can enjoy the shopping experience. Many customers check the nutritional information on produce and read labels so, if the available lighting is not good enough, it can be irritating. The solution consists of installing luminaires that concentrate light mainly on the floor but also in the direction of walls.

Meanwhile, in the areas around food, lights should be directed towards the products so that they look appealing to consumers. The routes customers take to get to the checkout, changing rooms or products on offer also need to be suitably furnished with lights that are little bit more powerful.

Uniform illumination

Illumination needs to be balanced so that it is pleasing to the eyes of customers who step into the shop from outside. It needs to be stronger near entrances and adapt little by little. Uniformity requires careful analysis so the right kind of bulbs and appropriate intensity are picked out for each section.

Highlighting products and making them look their best

If supermarket managers want to highlight a certain product, they must ensure that they have a suitable set of high-intensity lights in order to do so. In other words, adapting illumination to suit each area of the shop is another key element in the process of ensuring that customers feel at ease as they make their purchases.

If there is a baked goods section, for example, it needs to be lit with warm lights that make the section feel more appealing. Meat and fish counters, on the other hand, need to be lit with pure white lights so that customers can take a good look at the quality of the produce on sale.

Energy savings and efficiency

There is no doubting that LEDs have made huge changes to a wide range of businesses. Business owners are reaping the benefits of the long working life and low energy consumption levels of these lights.

Appropriate lighting solutions and their advantages

When faced with the challenges we have mentioned, lighting solutions that have been carefully thought through are the answer. Supermarket illumination can be controlled remotely on smartphones or similar devices. There are also applications for controlling illumination levels and luminaire tones, making it possible to increase the intensity on certain products, as and when required. Intelligent illumination of this kind means that creating eye-catching combinations for highlighting the products that are on offer is an option.

Luminaire orientation is incredibly important. There are special LED lights for meat, fish, bread, fruit and vegetables. The most highly recommended are LED spotlights and fixtures fitted onto ceilings because they help to balance areas of light and shade and make products easier to pick out.

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LED technology and energy savings

There is no better solution than LED technology for the problems that high electricity bills can generate. These lights come with movement detectors so that they only switch on when necessary. However, a number of factors must be taken into account:

• Thanks to the fact that the light bulb is encapsulated, temperature control is possible. The most common bulbs are PLCC2 and PLCC4 with a plastic and lead surface.
• The optic design needs to be small so that it limits the quantity of light emitted and achieves a more concentrated halo. Optic grade polycarbonate or acrylic is advised; polystyrene should be avoided. Quality goods distributed by specialist companies such as SECOM should be used throughout. SECOM adapts all its luminaires to meet modern-day challenges.

Noteworthy SECOM projects

When it comes to large spaces such as the Carrefour or Superdumbo supermarkets in Spain, particular care needs to be taken with lights so that they work well wherever they are installed. SECOM has completed illumination projects for these establishments. RGB strips provide the option of changing the colour of the light and they are perfect for drawing customers over to certain areas of shops. Meanwhile, decorative lights are a better option around shelves because the lights can be adjusted to focus on the sections that shop owners wish to highlight.

The 5,000 K Aliket Basic suspended luminaire was the fixture of choice in the aforementioned SECOM projects. It redirects the luminous flux, meaning that it was possible to achieve results in excess of 700 Lux and 70% uniformity. The LED light that was used has a chromatic reproduction in excess of 95%, making it ideal for highlighting products on shelves.

LED lights were strategically positioned over the tills so that there were no shadows but there was sufficient light for making purchases. LED industrial lighting or luminaires and spotlights on tracks are good options for this area. SECOM analysed how it could achieve an average illumination in excess of 500 Lux but with at least 60% uniformity. It was able to get the right look with the Aliket Basic luminaire and a 5,000 K colour temperature. Last of all, lights with natural tones were installed in the areas for frozen and refrigerated foods so that the shelves stood out and the products looked more appealing.

LED illumination for supermarkets influences business success rates because it has an impact on the way the shop looks. The colour temperature and a natural colour scheme can stimulate sales and how customers feel about their shopping experience. Working with specialist companies is key to getting the right result and creating a space that customers will return to.

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