Supermarket Shelving – Quality and Variety

Modern supermarkets constantly face the challenge of optimizing every square meter to maximize sales and improve the customer experience. In this context, supermarket shelving has become a strategic element that goes far beyond simple product display.

Importance of Shelving in Supermarkets

Shelving represents the fundamental infrastructure that determines the commercial success of any establishment. The industry is experiencing remarkable growth, with the global supermarket shelving market valued at $8.92 billion in 2025, driven by retail expansion, urbanization, and the need for durable and flexible solutions.

Well-designed display systems can generate up to a 13.71% increase in revenue compared to traditional square layouts. This significant improvement results from strategic layouts that guide customer flow, promote impulse purchases, and optimize the overall experience through careful zoning, lighting, and intelligent product grouping.

Recent success stories demonstrate the real impact of these implementations. Supermarket chains that used 3D simulations to optimize their layouts achieved substantial improvements in product visibility and conversions. Smart shelving systems with IoT sensors have improved inventory accuracy up to 95%, significantly reducing labor costs for manual stock verification.

The functionality of shelving transcends mere organization. These modular systems, like those developed by CAEM Group during its more than 60 years of global experience, maximize SKU density and total facings per square meter. This capability allows supermarkets to offer a greater variety of products within the same physical space, directly increasing sales potential and consumer options without causing visual clutter.

Industry experts confirm this evolution. As CAEM notes in its recent analyses: “Modern shelves can do more than just hold products: they can track inventory in real time and help prevent out-of-stocks. AI-powered monitoring systems make this even more effective, providing stores with accurate data on what’s selling and what needs restocking.”

Types of Supermarket Shelving

The diversity of available metal shelving allows each supermarket section to be adapted to its specific needs. Gondolas continue to dominate the market, representing more than 48% of the global retail display market due to their adaptability, high product visibility, and ability to maximize floor space.

The retail shelving systems market is projected at $2.64 billion in 2025, with robust annual growth of 9.2% through 2032. This expansion reflects strong demand for systems that offer efficiency, flexible formats, and better product display.

Gondolas are characterized as independent, double- or single-sided units that can be easily moved and reconfigured. Modular systems have proven their effectiveness in recent practical cases, where supermarkets achieved 20–30% improvements in space utilization due to the ability to add, remove, or reorganize units as needed. Endcap displays on these gondolas generated sales increases of 10–20% compared to standard facings.

They include both central aisle (double-sided) and wall (single-sided) options, with accessories such as hooks, baskets, and signage for complete customization. These modular systems, like CAEM’s M25, offer a 25mm pitch with a highly flexible design and central back panel to maximize floor or merchandising space.

Specialized display systems meet specific retail requirements. The S50 system, with a 50mm pitch, is designed for expansion and integration, being compatible with existing store fixtures. For environments requiring greater durability, the TN9 system provides robust construction with numerous height variations, extensive accessories, and availability in up to 15 colors and various finishes.

Shelf measurements vary according to the specific application. Unizinc galvanized storage systems are ideal for back-of-house areas, cold rooms, and warehouses. For mobile applications, the UNImove system offers units with customizable shelves and durable wheels, adapting to different layouts and frequent reorganizations.

How to Choose the Right Shelving for Your Supermarket

Proper selection of display systems requires considering multiple critical factors for operational success. Space optimization and modern shelving designs are directly linked to higher store ROI, as advanced systems allow supermarkets to increase product accessibility and customer traffic flow, support better inventory management, and improve overall sales performance.

System flexibility and modularity are the first fundamental criteria. Systems with a wide range of configuration options adapt to changing product ranges and store layouts. Modular systems allow easy reconfiguration and customization to maximize merchandising space and support evolving retail strategies.

Load capacity is another decisive factor. Experts recommend selecting displays that meet the specific load requirements of different store areas. Heavy-duty gondola displays can support up to 1000 kg per level for high-volume or high-traffic sections, while light-duty shelves (up to 200 kg) are more suitable for lightweight, fast-moving consumer goods.

Space efficiency determines profitability per square meter. Solutions with low-profile bases, such as the 10cm base of the M25, allow for additional shelf levels and greater display density. Central back panel designs provide more floor or increased merchandising space, depending on layout preference.

Flexible systems can boost promotional item sales by up to 25%. Retail studies from 2024–2025 show that stores using adaptable displays that can be reconfigured for new product launches or seasonal promotions experience a marked sales boost, especially for items highlighted through these agile merchandising approaches.

Material and aesthetic compatibility should align with the store section and brand. Metal provides robustness widely used in supermarket environments, while wooden displays add warmth and eco-friendly appeal, ideal for organic or specialty areas. Wire mesh options are recommended for fresh foods and produce due to improved visibility and airflow.

Maintenance and Care of Supermarket Shelving

CAEM emphasizes that regular maintenance and systematic care are essential to ensure the safety, functionality, and longevity of display systems. Professional installation is the first critical step, as CAEM strongly recommends that systems be installed by experienced display assembly companies to ensure correct configuration and adherence to health and safety standards.

A thorough handover process should be conducted after installation to verify that all requirements are met and to document the installation’s condition. This prevents issues arising from unauthorized modifications by staff or contractors. Regular multi-level inspections are advised at systematic intervals: daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly, designed to detect potential problems early and maintain structural integrity.

During checks, special attention should be paid to misaligned supports, bent shelves, unhooked back panels, and overall stability and proper assembly. Prompt detection of these issues ensures continued safety for both staff and customers.

Preventive maintenance tasks should be documented and followed to ensure timely response to any detected issues. Proactive care reduces the likelihood of unexpected failures and extends the lifespan of display units. The use of checklists and audit tools, as suggested in CAEM’s safety guides, standardizes inspection routines and maintains high safety standards.

As shelving maintenance experts emphasize: proper shelving management, compliance with safety standards, and ongoing staff training are fundamental to ensuring that display systems remain effective and attractive to shoppers.

Innovations and Current Trends in Supermarket Shelving

The commercial display industry is undergoing accelerated transformation, with the retail shelving market expected to reach $5.43 billion by 2033, showing steady annual growth of 3.8%. This growth is mainly due to the increase in retail store formats, driving demand for organized, space-saving, and visually attractive shelving.

Technological integration leads current innovations. Smart systems with IoT sensors have revolutionized inventory management, as shown in recent cases where major chains implemented smart shelving, achieving predictive inventory management and 8–15% sales increases in SKUs promoted through integrated digital displays.

Industry experts confirm this trend toward intelligent customization. As ERA Display Solutions highlights: “Digital signage is no longer just for branding; it has become an essential tool for customer engagement. Advanced AI-powered digital displays offer personalized recommendations, contactless interaction, and real-time promotions, making them essential for modern retailers.”

Sustainability is another dominant trend. Sustainability is a main focus for consumers in 2025, leading retailers to adopt eco-friendly display solutions such as recyclable materials and energy-efficient lighting. This shift not only appeals to environmentally conscious shoppers but also helps stores reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining visual appeal.

Custom modular systems represent the natural evolution of retail display. CAEM offers fully customizable displays tailored to each retailer’s precise requirements. Both the TN9 and S50 modular systems can be adjusted to accommodate evolving product lines and store layouts, supporting future business growth and maximizing space utilization.

Technological innovation and sustainable materials are key trends, with growing demand for smart modular shelving and eco-friendly racks that not only improve space utilization but also align with branding and sustainability goals.

Physical-digital integration, or “phygital,” is redefining the shopping experience. As retail specialists explain: “The phygital trend combines physical and digital retail experiences, creating seamless omnichannel shopping. Augmented reality (AR) mirrors, QR-enabled displays, and virtual try-ons are becoming standard features in retail stores.”

Static displays are increasingly seen as detrimental to sales and customer engagement. Industry experts in 2025 emphasize that rigid, unchanging displays fail to meet evolving consumer expectations for dynamic, immersive, and frequently updated in-store displays.

Data confirms that by analyzing shopping patterns and product performance, retailers can create more effective displays. Real-time analytics can reduce operating costs and increase returns, making stores more profitable. This in-house design and production capability at CAEM allows unique control over all aspects of product creation, from R&D to manufacturing, facilitating rapid innovation, strict quality control, and the production of custom shelves not available from suppliers relying on imported modules.