Attention all grocery retailers and specialty markets across British Columbia. Provincial utility provider BC Hydro has just launched new rebate programs effective June 1, 2010. These product incentive programs provide financial incentives to retailers seeking ways to incorporate energy-efficient products into their business.

Market Group Ventures, a Vancouver Island business that manufacturers and sells Econofrost night covers world-wide is excited at the rebate opportunity for local supermarkets and grocery stores to qualify for retrofit night covers on open refrigerated display cases.

For many years, BC Hydro has listed night covers as part of their rebate incentive program however, this newest launch showcases some of the highest prescriptive rebates for night covers available. Previously the rebate for vertical night covers was $9.00 per linear foot and now the rebate has jumped to $20.00 per linear foot. For horizontal display cases the rebate is $7.00 per linear foot.

Night covers are a great tool for supermarkets and specialty food shops to save energy, improve product freshness & appearance, reduce product shrink & discard rates and lower overall operating costs. As the leader in the night cover industry and with the support of local utility provider BC Hydro, Market Group Ventures is encouraging all local stores to take advantage of this opportunity to install Econofrost night covers and start saving immediately.

With minimum energy savings of 36% per hour used and with reductions up to 75% in product shrink, retailers are saving hundreds even thousands of dollars a month. And with a serviceable life of up to ten years, Econofrost provides a great return on investment.

Econofrost night covers are engineered for performance and durability and have been designed specifically for food retail applications, it is the number one night cover on the market.

Available in a variety of models and standard sizes (4ft, 6ft, 8ft linear lengths), Econofrost night covers supports retailers initiatives to lower energy consumption, stabilize case & product temperatures, optimize the efficiency of refrigeration equipment while contributing to a healthier environment.

In addition, night covers provide retailers with instant support and protection during power outages while longer-term measures are implemented. Using night covers during a single power outage event often pays for the installation of night covers.

Canadian Region Sales Manager, Trevor Brien tells us, “BC Hydro has long recognized the value of night covers and efforts of local retailers to make a difference in their energy usage and impact on the environment. We fully applaud the efforts of utility providers like BC Hydro who support implementing such rebate programs for worth while projects.”

Find the benefits of Econofrost night covers online by visiting www.econofrost.com or contact directly toll free at 1-800-519-1222. To request more information please send us an email at info@econofrost.com.

We’ve posted Econofrost Installation Videos on both our product site (http://www.econofrost.com/technical.html) as well as on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/MGVInc) if you would like to view them.

The MGV Team

Market Group Ventures Inc. (MGV, Inc.) is very pleased to announce the addition of Paola Levet, to our administrative team for Promolux Lighting International and Econofrost Reflective Night Covers. Paola will be working with our sales team to assist in all aspects of customer service and marketing for both products in our North American and International sales regions.

Paola brings eighteen years experience in Mexico and Canada to MGV, Inc., including positions as Assistant to the Commercial Director for Latin America of Johnson & Johnson and Director of Corporate and Government Relations-Mexico for The Trust for Sustainable Development. She is fluent in English and Spanish and has an International Business Diploma from the Troeller Institute for Global Studies, Mexico City. We are certain she will be a great asset in our continuing efforts to bring merchandising solutions to supermarkets worldwide.

MGV, Inc. has supplied technology for the international retail food industry since 1975.

RIDGEFIELD Joe Ancona is a third-generation grocer who has embraced green technology and eco-friendly store design.

Founded by his grandfather, Joseph Ancona Sr., Ancona’s Market on Route 102 in Ridgefield has entered the 21st century in layout and product offerings.

Ancona grew up in the business, and after earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture and master’s of business administration degree, he returned to the market three years ago

His architectural training is in sustainable supply and environmentally friendly designs that are community and socially responsible. His personal interest is in natural foods that promote a healthy lifestyle

From re-usable cloth grocery bags to polished cement floors which don’t require the stripping and waxing with toxic chemicals that vinyl floor tiles do Ancona has made the market environmentally friendly

He and his uncle, John Ancona, are in the market every day.

My father was stepping back a bit from the day-to-day of the store, which led my uncle, John (Ancona) and I to sit down and talk about how we’d proceed with upgrading the market,” Joe Ancona said. “It needed a lot of renovations.”

By adding Econofrost night shades to all the open-faced refrigerators in the store, Ancona was able to cut electric consumption by 20 percent.

Given that our electric bill is about $18,000 a month, that’s a good savings,” he said. “For our meat case, with the Econofrost night shade, the refrigeration is better, which increases the shelf life of our meats.”

Please check http://www.connpost.com/ci_12556064 for the rest of the story

BOWEN ISLAND – A Bowen Island food wholesaler has taken a step toward reducing energy waste – to the tune of about $340 a year – while ensuring the only impact to its customers is positive.

The Ruddy Potato Wholesale Foods Market installed insulated night covers on its refrigeration units with the assistance of BC Hydro’s Power Smart Product Incentive Program. The project will save more than 6,800 kilowatt hours of electricity each year and lower The Ruddy Potato’s energy bill by $340. “We wanted to provide the best possible customer service by keeping the coolers open during the day to provide easy access, yet reduce our energy waste at night,” said Daniel Heald, the owner of the Ruddy Potato. “The insulated blinds keep the cold air in. As an added bonus, they improve product life by keeping the temperatures more consistent.”

The project started when Heald saw an ad for Econofrost woven aluminum night covers, a product supplied to grocery stores by Econofrost’s Vancouver Island office. The ad mentioned that financial incentives were available from BC Hydro for the purchase of energy-efficient technologies.

After discussions with Econofrost and BC Hydro, Heald upgraded his refrigeration equipment and installed the blinds on five open coolers, covering a total of 211 square feet. He also installed cooler lighting with lower ultraviolet emissions, which provides better quality light while minimizing the rays that can degrade food.

Established in 1990, The Ruddy Potato is a healthy and organic food store that specializes in healthy groceries, locally sourced bread, meat and produce, and desserts and deli items from its own Ruddy Kitchen. The store strives to minimize its impact through buying from local producers, recycling and involving itself in the local community. The current store location opened in 2001.

About the Product Incentive Program

The Power Smart Product Incentive Program offers B.C. businesses financial incentives for the installation of pre-approved energy-efficient technologies, allowing businesses to reduce electricity bills.
Making your business more energy efficient doesn’t have to involve huge, capital-intensive projects,” said Power Smart commercial marketing manager Carmelina Sorace. “There are many small, easy upgrades that any company can do to save energy and money and benefit its bottom line.”

The Product Incentive Program offers incentives for the installation of a wide range of energy-efficient technologies, including lighting products, heating and cooling equipment, energy controls and more.