The UK’s hottest value fashion chain is cooling off with Panasonic Flexi System (FS) air conditioners. With a large number of its UK stores already cooled by Panasonic, the award winning Peacocks chain has embarked on a programme to install FS deluxe split system air conditioners in another 30 outlets this year. The systems, supplied by Panasonic distributor PHM Distribution, are for new and refurbished stores.
Peacocks has more than 460 stores across the UK and is investing £15 million in further expansion. It also has 46 franchised outlets in Turkey, the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia. The group, which now employs more than 5,000 people, dates back to 1884 when the first store opened in Warrington. Peacocks prides itself on quick reaction to fashion trends – at attractive prices. It has been externally recognised with various awards for best value in retailing. Parent company, the privately owned Peacocks Group, also owns the bonmarché brand.
The typical Peacocks store installation includes four or five Panasonic FS systems, each with a deluxe inverter outdoor unit and indoor cassette, plus a Panasonic RAC wall mount deluxe inverter system for the office. The FS range of larger capacity air conditioners includes units from 2.5hp to 6.0hp designed to take up minimum space in commercial premises. All models in the range combine R410A refrigerant with the latest inverter-controlled compact compressors to ensure optimum operating efficiency.
One of the newest installations is at the recently opened Peacocks store at Broad Street Mall in Reading, which has five 5.0hp outdoor units and five CS indoor cassettes, and a 1.0hp wall mount, installed by refrigeration and air conditioning specialists, Bry-Kol Developments Ltd of Stoke on Trent.
Simon Hulson of PHM says: “We have held the national contract to supply Panasonic FS air conditioners to Peacocks for the past seven years, and they have proved to be high quality, efficient and ultra reliable systems. They are very easy and cost effective to install – and they are engineered for flexibility, which means they can be accommodated in small spaces. This gives them a significant installed cost advantage over other systems of comparable capacity.”
Tim Boxall of Panasonic says the FS system is also environment friendly. “With global warming a big concern, it is important for big chains like Peacocks to demonstrate their own corporate and social responsibility by specifying only the most environment-friendly building services solutions. Panasonic has taken positive steps to reduce the energy, emissions and waste in its manufacturing operations, and to develop green products with the minimum environmental impact throughout their life cycle.”