August 31, 2021

OLED Lighting Keeps Food Fresh – Saves Bakery Thousands in Inventory

By Dr. Dipak Chowdhury, Division Vice President & Technology Executive, Corning Technology Center Korea

If you walk down Market Street in Corning, NY, you will come across a vibrant pink sign for Poppleton Bakery. You walk through the door, and you see a display case filled with wonderful baked goods waiting to be devoured. Beyond the skill of the bakers, something else makes the items look particularly sumptuous; a next-generation technology that is also saving the business thousands of dollars per month in inventory costs: OLED lighting.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panels are the latest in solid-state lighting technology. OLED light is soft and even, providing a flattering illumination free of glare and harsh shadows. OLEDs emit light from edge to edge of the panel, which minimizes the intense points of heat typically generated from other types of light sources.

Brite 3 OLED Lighting Panel from OLEDWorks

When my friend Yannick Basabikwinshi, owner of Poppleton Bakery, mentioned that the old tube lights in his display case were generating too much heat to keep the baked goods cool, I thought it was obvious that we should replace the lighting with OLED panels.

As you can see in the photos below, the panels were thin enough that we were able to fix them under the shelves with minimal footprint, while lighting the shelves and contents uniformly. The light sources were not visible from the outside and no longer blocked the view of the baked goods. Additionally, because of the soft and diffuse OLED lighting, the baked goods looked even more appealing. The lack of harsh shadows made the display look smooth and clean.

A little while after the installation, I was talking with Yannick and the first thing he said was that the heat is no longer a problem. In fact, he mentioned that his baked goods are lasting longer without the localized heat of the tube lights beating down on them. Where his baked goods had lasted about a day before, they are now remaining fresh for up to three days, which has saved him a couple thousand dollars per month in discarded inventory.

Where his baked goods had lasted about a day before, they are now remaining fresh for up to three days, which has saved him a couple thousand dollars per month in discarded inventory.

It is nearly impossible to compare the feeling of OLED lighting with other light sources unless you experience it in person. I encourage everyone to visit Poppleton Bakery in Corning to experience this beautiful light (and the delicious treats!) for yourself.