In modern supermarkets, every centimetre of shelf space counts. Retailers need to display more products, enhance visibility, and maintain durability — all within limited store footprints. CAEM’s 15mm ultra-slim shelves redefine supermarket shelving by increasing merchandising capacity and improving the efficiency of every display bay.

The Challenge: Maximising Merchandising Space in Limited Areas

The client, an independent supermarket owner managing several stores across a regional network, operates in areas where large retail spaces are rare.
The challenge was clear: maximise the display capacity of each shelving bay while maintaining accessibility and strength. Traditional 25mm shelves occupied valuable vertical space, limiting how many facings could be displayed per category.

The CAEM Solution: Ultra-Slim, High-Performance Shelves

CAEM designed a revolutionary 15mm ultra-slim shelf, installed on the M25 modular shelving system.
This innovation reduces vertical occupancy by 40%, creating over 60mm of extra vertical merchandising space across each gondola bay.

That means more products on display, a better shelf presence, and a measurable 5% increase in sales potential — without altering store layouts or planograms.

M25 as the Structural Backbone

The new slim shelves are fully compatible with CAEM’s M25 shelving system, known for its exceptional load-bearing capacity and modular adaptability.
This combination ensures that even with a thinner profile, the shelves maintain their full structural integrity and performance, supporting heavy products with the same safety standards as traditional shelves.

Design Features That Make the Difference

CAEM’s ultra-slim 15mm shelf isn’t just thin — it’s smart. Each unit includes:

• A hinging EPOS rail that flips up when products are picked, ensuring price visibility and ergonomic handling.

• Adjustable brackets for precise alignment and rapid installation.

• Optional timber casings or finishes for premium categories, creating visual variety and focus areas within the store.

These design elements enhance both operational efficiency and visual merchandising quality, helping retailers transform standard shelving into an effective sales driver.

Product Density and Retail Efficiency

By reducing the shelf profile from 25mm to just 15mm, CAEM enabled retailers to increase SKU density per bay without compromising accessibility or aesthetics.
The result is a cleaner, more efficient product presentation — every centimetre now contributes to sales.

Retailers report a significant uplift in space utilisation, improved restocking efficiency, and enhanced category visibility, particularly in fast-moving grocery and household product areas.

Results: More Products, Higher ROI

The implementation of CAEM’s 15mm slim shelves resulted in:

• +60mm of vertical space per bay

• +5% potential sales increase

• Improved product visibility and planogram efficiency

• Seamless integration with the M25 system

For supermarkets where every square metre matters, this small change delivers large-scale impact — combining design innovation with measurable retail performance.

FAQ

What are slim shelves for supermarkets?
Slim shelves are ultra-thin (15mm) shelves designed to increase display space within existing gondola systems, allowing retailers to show more products without expanding floor area.

How do slim shelves improve merchandising?
By reducing vertical thickness, they create up to 60mm of additional space per bay — enabling extra facings, better visibility, and improved sales performance.

Are slim shelves strong enough for heavy products?
Yes. Installed on the CAEM M25 system, they maintain full load-bearing capacity, ensuring stability and safety even in high-density displays.

Can slim shelves be customised?
Absolutely. They can include timber or coloured finishes, EPOS rails, or specific merchandising accessories to match store identity and category design.