Brussels, May 2026 – The new Denns BioMarkt in Wiesbaden marks a first for European food retail: commercial refrigeration, heating and air conditioning all running on a single natural refrigerant – CO₂ (R-744). Realised in close collaboration between Dennree GmbH, installation partner POLARIS R. Laude GmbH and Daikin, the project demonstrates that a complete, natural refrigerant solution for supermarkets is not only technically viable – it is ready to support the next phase of decarbonisation in commercial buildings across Europe.
One system. One refrigerant. A future-proof solution for supermarkets.
At the heart of the project is the combination of Daikin's CO₂ Conveni-Pack, AHT counters and Daikin's new CO₂ VRV, handling the refrigeration, heating and cooling across the sales floor. Together, they deliver a unique single natural refrigerant solution that eliminates synthetic refrigerants entirely.
With this solution, food retail operators have a single-refrigerant path, to accelerate their transition towards more sustainable building operation. With a GWP of 1 and no exposure to F-Gas phase-down restrictions, providing long-term regulatory confidence and helping ensure investment security as refrigerant legislation continues to evolve.
Built on trust and experience
The Wiesbaden project reflects a long-standing relationship of trust between Dennree GmbH, POLARIS R. Laude GmbH and Daikin Europe; a partnership built over many years of close cooperation and shared technical experience. More than a conventional supplier-client arrangement, the project brought all three parties together as one integrated team, working side by side from the first concept discussions through to final handover.
Drawing on its extensive expertise in advanced heating, cooling and refrigeration solutions, Daikin sized and specified the system to meet the specific needs of the site. POLARIS R. Laude GmbH translated this into a detailed installation plan developed at its Dresden headquarters and delivered the installation on site through its nationwide team of service engineers. Throughout the process, Daikin remained directly involved, including during commissioning, to help ensure reliable and stable operation from day one.
Felix Muhle, Global Key Account Manager at AHT / Daikin Group, said:
“We are very proud to have earned the customer’s trust to deliver the first CO₂ VRV in Europe. This project is a strong example of what can be achieved when experienced partners work together with openness, confidence, and a shared ambition to bring more sustainable solutions to market.”
For Dennree, Europe's leading organic food retailer with over 400 Denns BioMarkets across Germany and Austria, sustainability is not a communication strategy – it is a design principle applied to every aspect of how stores are built and operated. Where many competitors run CO₂ for refrigeration but fall back on synthetic refrigerants for heating and air conditioning, Dennree chose to close that gap entirely.
Stefan Franz, Store Development & Planning, Dennree GmbH: "We aim to design each store as sustainably as possible – whether that is the products on the shelves, the technical installation or the overall environmental footprint of the building."
Beyond sustainability, the decision was also driven by reliability and long-term confidence. CO₂ as a natural refrigerant sits entirely outside F-Gas restrictions, eliminating any future exposure to refrigerant phase-downs, availability constraints or compliance risk. For a retail operator planning stores over a multi-decade horizon, that certainty matters as much as the environmental benefit. Dennree has already confirmed the approach will be carried forward into future store openings.
Why POLARIS places its trust in CO₂ VRV
For POLARIS R. Laude GmbH, the decision to recommend CO₂ VRV came down to one thing above all: simplicity. In food retail, the commercial refrigeration side is typically running on CO₂ already. Extending the same refrigerant to air conditioning and heating creates a clear operational advantage: one refrigerant across the site, one service approach, one set of competencies to train and one refrigerant to manage.
On site, that logic proved itself in practice. The CO₂-specific requirements, such as K65 pipework, were straightforward to plan for and execute. Daikin's Conveni-Pack and VRV plug-and-play approach and consistent technical support throughout commissioning meant the project came in without complications.
"Once you follow the CO₂-specific requirements, installing a CO₂ VRV system is no different from installing any conventional VRV. It is just as straightforward", says Gunnar Laude, Managing Director, POLARIS R. Laude GmbH. "This project has shown that the technology is practical, reliable and ready for wider adoption".
For installers in food retail already familiar with CO₂ in refrigeration, POLARIS's conclusion is clear: CO₂ VRV is the natural next step. Based on this first live retail installation in Europe, POLARIS is already planning further CO₂ VRV projects in response to growing market interest.
Daikin's vision: VRF at the centre of building decarbonization
"As buildings need to reduce their environmental footprint, heat pump technology becomes the primary path to decarbonisation and VRF systems are uniquely positioned to support that transition", says George Dimou, VRV product manager at Daikin Europe N.V.
The VRF system's ability to react dynamically to changing loads reduces operational energy use, and the modular architecture actively limits energy peaks that put pressure on grids and drive up energy costs. Also, the VRF system’s compact footprint makes them well suited to tackle renovation or refurbishment projects.
CO₂ VRV inherits all of these benefits. It brings the speed, familiarity and scalability of conventional VRV systems to a natural refrigerant platform. "Natural refrigerants have a critical role to play in the decarbonisation of our building stock, and CO₂ VRV makes this accessible for new build and refurbishment projects alike, without additional engineering complexity or extended programme time. For food retail operators, that means a future-proof refrigerant with a proven technology that is ready to deploy today with confidence."
About Daikin
Daikin Europe N.V.
The Daikin Europe Group is a leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Daikin Europe caters to a diverse customer base within this region by designing, manufacturing, and marketing an extensive range of products, maintenance services, and turnkey solutions tailored for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The company employs over 13,800 employees through 58 subsidiaries and operates 15 manufacturing sites in Europe (12), Turkey (1) and the Middle East (2). Daikin’s refrigeration products are available under the Daikin, Tewis, Zanotti, Hubbard, and AHT brands. Headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, for over 50 years, the Daikin Europe group is a subsidiary of the global group Daikin Industries.
About Daikin Industries Ltd.
Daikin Industries (DIL) is a global leader in heat pump, air conditioning and air filtration technology. The company employs over 103,500 employees worldwide. Founded in Osaka in 1924, it is the only manufacturer in the world that develops and manufactures heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment, as well as compressors and refrigerants in-house. Daikin was named one of the world’s top 100 innovative companies by Clarivate (UK) and LexisNexis (USA), recognized for its leadership in technology research and intellectual property patents. For its fiscal year 2024 Daikin reported a record sales result of €28,98 billion sales (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025).
Read more on www.daikin.eu and www.daikin.com.
Media Contacts Daikin Europe N.V.
Sofie Sap – T.: +32 472 580482 Mail: sap.s@daikineurope.com
Daisuke Kakinaga – T.: +32 465 462321 Mail: kakinaga.d@bxl.daikineurope.com
