Merchandisers with central heating and control mechanisms and methods for manufacturing and reconfiguring such merchandisers

Abstract

A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity. The merchandiser heating and control device also has a retaining bracket for receiving an upper edge of the rear access door and has an enclosed guide surface. Further, the merchandiser heating and control device has a control compartment positioned above the retaining bracket and containing control elements for controlling heating elements and illuminating elements and having a rear control panel, wherein the control compartment includes a cooling fan for cooling the control elements and a plurality of vents formed in the control panel for drawing cooling air into the control compartment from outside the holding cavity and for exhausting heated air outside the holding cavity. Moreover, the merchandiser heating and control device has a securing bracket for mounting an upper edge of the transparent front plate. Methods for manufacturing such merchandisers permit them to be readily reconfigured during manufacture or at a customer site.