Light and Color
What is the relationship between light and color?
Payback Calculations for Investment
Over 50% of grocery sales in the USA are for perishables that are subject to shrinkage, discoloration, photo oxidation, and changes to the food's taste and microbial content, making the food unsafe or unlikely to sell. This represents over $260 billion in grocery sales annually.
There is clear evidence from independent studies by the US government, FMI, universities, international agencies such as the FAO, and others that lighting has a damaging effect on the quality, safety, and shelf life of all perishable foods.
Radiation from the choice of lighting has been proven to have an effect on product surface temperatures, directly and exponentially accelerating microbial growth and leading to unsafe foods.
The choice of lighting has been proven to have an effect on surface
temperature and radiation that can directly and exponentially accelerate
microbial
growth, leading to unsafe foods. The 
cost of such food borne illnesses
in the USA represents between $5 and $6 billion a year (University of
Kansas), not including insurance & liability costs and the reputation
and good will equity of the supermarkets involved.
The cost to the industry varies from 3% for some categories
to 15% in seafood department shrinkage in US supermarkets
(FMI, 1987). Even a conservative average of 5% results in over $13 billion
in shrinkage in those departments.
Other products such as beer, wines, and glass
packaged foods, which appear to be nonperishable, are clearly
affected by exposure to lighting.
According to the National Cattlemen's Association in 2002, "US retailers failed to capture at least $1 billion annually from fresh beef sales due to product discoloration."
Based on the evidence and published reports, we can estimate the damage caused by lighting to perishables in retail display at over 33% of this shrinkage, which represents over $4 billion a year in the US alone.
Based on the evidence and published reports, we can estimate the damage caused by lighting to perishables in retail display at over 33% of this shrinkage, which represents over $4 billion a year in the US alone. This estimate is a conservative one when we consider that according to the National Cattlemen's Association in 2002, "US retailers failed to capture at least $1 billion annually from fresh beef sales due to product discoloration." This estimate does not include other meat products besides beef, nor processed meats, fish, poultry, dairy and all other perishables.
Of the estimated shrinkage costs to US supermarkets of over $4 billion due to lighting, we believe a significant portion can be saved by reducing the radiation of the light sources and by eliminating certain wavelengths of visible and nonvisible radiation that are particularly harmful to food safety and shelf life.
Our guarantee based on this experience is that we can show savings that pay for the change in lighting in less than 90 days in most applications.
The savings shown in tests conducted by
Safe Spectrum Lamps can vary from departments such as seafood, where
the ROI
can be a matter of days, to packaged and processed meats which could
show a longer payback. Our guarantee based on this experience is that
we can show savings that pay for the change in lighting in less than
90 days in most
applications.
In addition to ensuring food safety and extending shelf life, lighting
can maximize your merchandising programme by showing fresh products
in the best possible and true colors. There is considerable research
available (see studies by the Universities of Colorado and Ontario
on merchandising) that proves that appearance
and fresh colors are the most important factors in consumers' decisions
to purchase meat
and other
perishables.
Promolux lamps have tested the highest of any lamp tested to date
for CPI (Color Preference Index). This translates into spectacular
fresh colors for all categories and allows for true color definition.
Promolux
lamps are used in museums, art displays, and wherever true colors
are a must. These same lamps are now available for retailers to show
the
best merchandising while protecting their foods against excessive
radiation.
The value of increased sales and better merchandising can hardly
be minimized, when competition for customer loyalty and choice of
groceries
is primarily
based on the quality of fresh foods.