One of the pilot projects to display effectiveness of refrigerating systems transformed with environment friendly refrigerants in the scope of SOSİAD’s UNIDO “Demonstration and Pilot Activities for Encouraging Low Global Warming Potential (GWP) Refrigerants in the Republic of Turkey” Project took place at Fikirtepe branch of Çağrı Chain of Hypermarkets. Project Coordinator Kıvanç Aslantaş, Technical Team Leader Dr. Kadir İsa, and Team Members Sıla Dinç and Furkan Göl from the Demonstration Project team visited the Project venue during which General Manager Yener Tekcan of Envoytec company that undertook the application at the market where R448A / R290 transformation (R22 - HC / HFO transformation) was made and Stock Procurement Manager of Çağrı Chain of Hypermarkets Selim Keser gave information about the application at the market in Fikirtepe.
Yener Tekcan: Energy saving is a fact that Turkey must consider just like the whole world. Energy saving also lies at the focus of this project. When we mentioned this Project to Çağrı Hypermarket which has a structure that can decide fast and remain open to beneficial business ideas; they got excited, wanted to act fast, and our Project was quickly approved. The existing system with high GWP value was replaced with a new generation central system and routine energy measurements started to be recorded. Measurements are still continuing but I can say we started to take positive feedback regarding energy efficiency. Next, all data will be presented to the sector in a report.
At Fikirtepe branch thermostatic valve was introduced. In the future, electronic valve might also be considered. At Fikirtepe branch we had an advantage with condenser. Condenser was installed vertically and this resulted in an advantage in terms of sound while also increasing space that can be used at goods entrance gate.
Selim Keser: Just like in every field, there is strong competition among retail chains. You need to keep high levels of service quality and customer satisfaction while managing costs rationally. The most important item among management expenses is power. Utility bills can reach as high an amount as store rent. Thus, power would be the most important savings item. That is why, when Yener Tekcan explained this Project to us, we wanted to be involved without wasting any time. The first week the system was set up, our store manager and regional manager called to ask our opinion about application of the system in Fikirtepe at other branches. I said that if we can decide we reached the targeted value once measurements are completed and reported, we can set up the application at other branches as well. As Çağrı Chain of Hypermarkets we are ready to support every positive action and efficiency-focused good project.
Decreasing our power consumption is very important for us and we will have other efforts to that aim as well. There can be five or six different types of plug-in refrigerated cabins at one store. We are planning to remove all these cabinets and establish a central, integrated system to connect to this new application which will help us decrease power consumption.
Çağrı Group of Hypermarkets organizes a meeting in Afyon every February with participation of our regional managers, 61 store managers, procurement managers, and board of directors. One of the discussions at the meeting next February will be technology renovation at Fikirtepe branch. This issue will be thoroughly discussed at the meeting. Until then we would receive the final data which we will present to the board of directors, followed by procurement managers and regional managers. I believe they will embrace this change and thank us about it. We are targeting to set up this application at other branches as well.
Çağrı Grocery Store opened its first, 150 square meters store at Ünalan neighborhood of Üsküdar district in Istanbul in the 1980's and opened its second store in Kadıköy Yenisahra, third in Kadıköy Küçükbakkalköy.
Çağrı Group of Hypermarkets opened its first hypermarket branch in 1998 in Bulgurlu neighborhood of Üsküdar. This 1300 square meters Bulgurlu store established the first ring of hypermarkets chain. Today we are continuing our operation in a total of 61 hypermarkets in Istanbul Asian and European sides and Izmit on an average of 900 square meters area. Our aim is to establish presence in other regions of our country as well. We have an e-trade and opening a new central office in Tuzla on 48,000 square meters area projects for the future.
We want all our branches to benefit from this Project because it would bring a considerable saving on power and result in a major revenue. At the same time, as Çağrı Group of Hypermarkets we empower an environment friendly identity with this project.