EuroShop 2026 maps retail refrigeration’s shift to CO2 and data

Link：https://refindustry.com/insights/euroshop-2026-maps-retail-refrigeration-s-shift-to-co2-and-data/

EuroShop 2026 in Düsseldorf put retail infrastructure back in focus, and refrigeration was one of the clearest technology signals on the show floor. For commercial refrigeration teams, the message was practical: retailers want solutions that reduce climate impact while delivering measurable results in daily operation. CO2 continued to dominate “future-ready” system discussions, while propane and ammonia appeared as important options in specific architectures and packaged solutions.

A second thread cut across many exhibitor messages: refrigeration is increasingly managed as a connected asset. Monitoring, fast access to technical data, and energy visibility are becoming part of the baseline expectation—especially for multi-site operators. At the same time, several exhibitors framed retrofit and upgrade paths as realistic ways to improve efficiency and stability without replacing entire installations.

This post-show review is based exclusively on official exhibitor materials and post-event updates provided for EuroShop 2026. It summarises what companies highlighted as new or most relevant and groups the content by the technology categories that consistently appeared across those materials.

Show snapshot

EuroShop 2026 reported more than 81,000 visitors and 1,840 exhibitors, with attendees from 141 countries and exhibitors from 61 nations. The organiser’s recap also pointed to strong interest in energy-efficient refrigeration technology as part of a broader store-performance agenda.

What stood out at EuroShop 2026

• CO2 is still the default path, but architectures diversify. Condensing units, transcritical systems, integrated solutions, and packaged concepts all targeted different store formats and rollout strategies.
• Natural refrigerant portfolios broaden. Beyond CO2, suppliers referenced ammonia, propane, and water-based approaches where application fit and lifecycle requirements drive choices.
• Store performance shifts toward data access and monitoring. Remote monitoring, asset platforms, and supervisory tools were positioned as practical levers for uptime, service speed, and energy visibility.
• Retrofit becomes more visible. Capacity control upgrades and staged refrigerant transition concepts addressed changing store loads and compliance timelines.
• Efficiency messaging is increasingly quantified. Several exhibitors supported claims with measurable savings, insulation changes, or class targets.