Apparatus and method for controlling temperature for a self-service food display

A self-service food display comprising:

• a support structure;
• a food tray that is supported by said support structure and that has a pair of opposed side sections and one or more intermediate sections;
• a ductwork that is positioned with respect to said food tray to provide a cooling air stream over and under said food tray, wherein said ductwork includes a plurality of ports arranged to distribute first volumes of said cooling air stream over and under said intermediate sections to maintain a substantially uniform temperature thereof and to distribute second volumes of said cooling air stream over and under said opposed end sections, and wherein each of said second volumes is larger than any of said first volumes to minimize heat transfer to ambient;
• and
• means for circulating said cool air stream through said ductwork.

A method of cooling a food tray of a self-service food display, wherein said food tray has a pair of opposed end sections and one or more intermediate sections, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a cooling air stream;
• (b) flowing said cooling air stream over and under said intermediate sections in a manner to provide a substantially uniform temperature in the vicinity of said food tray;
• and
• (c) flowing said cooling air stream over and under said opposed end sections in a manner to minimize heat transfer to ambient.