Dry aged meat has soared in popularity in recent years.
At Armstrong Butchers, Williams installed two dual compartment coldrooms, one sited externally and one internally, customised to their requirements. “I wanted plenty of hanging space, and I knew we’d need reinforced rails that could handle sides of beef, lamb or pork.”
The external coldroom is configured with one compartment as a chiller room and the other as a dry store, while the internal one has a chiller room and a freezer room. Williams’ coldrooms are completely modular, allowing for bespoke designs precisely suited to customer’s requirements taking full advantage of the available space. For example, the external coldroom’s compartments are accessed via their own doors, while the internal coldroom has a door connecting each to allow easy movement of product between them.
William’s Meat Ageing Refrigerator (MAR) was designed to put the technology Williams developed for its meat ageing coldrooms into a unit that can be installed almost anywhere. It creates the perfect conditions for ageing meat by precisely controlling temperature within a range of +1 to +6°C and humidity between 60-90%. Himalayan salt blocks assist with moisture management as well as improving flavour. An activated carbon filter removes any odours allowing it to be installed in public facing areas, while a full length glass door and bright LED strip lighting create a dramatic display of the product.
All Williams products are designed to be energy efficient and sustainable. The coldrooms and Meat Ageing Refrigerator include many features to increase performance while reducing energy consumption, helping to lower running costs. These include CFC free, zero ODP polyurethane foam for insulation, and a simple to use control panel featuring digital readouts and temperature alarms.
The project was carried out by Whitco Ltd of Kettering, who collaborated with Williams to ensure the refrigeration met Philip’s requirements. “Whitco were great to work with,” he says. “I told them what I needed, like the strengthened rails, and they were able to adapt their systems perfectly.”
The Garden Centre has also invested in Williams Multidecks which have been multiplexed to provide a seamless run with extra-large capacity. These models have been installed with remote refrigeration systems, providing low noise levels and easy access for servicing.
Since moving to Walkers Garden Centre, Armstrong Butchers has seen large growth as word of mouth about the quality of its products spreads. “I’m looking for new ways to develop the business in the near future, and Williams products are going to play an important role in that,” says Philip. “My advice to anyone looking for refrigeration equipment would be: go big! You will probably need more space than you think.
