Oser Communications Group

GENERAL NEWS www.kitchenwarenews.com n FEBRUARY 2018 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW 7 Whirlpool Corporation is taking its smart home appliance capabilities to new heights with Apple Watch. Rolling out in early 2018, connected appliances f rom W hirlpool Corporation will allow consumers to remotely communicate with ovens, washers and dryers via Apple Watch. The collaboration marks the first time an appliance maker has connected its products with Apple Watch and its capabilities. "Bringing intuitive technology and functionality to the appliance category that helps take the f riction out of household chores is chief among our goals as we innovate for the smart home," said Brett Dibkey, W hirlpool Corporation Vice President of Brand and Strategy in North America. "Our consumers are sophisticated and expect their appliances to work smarter, not harder. Through the new collaboration with Apple, we're increasing a consumer's capability to interact with their appliances in new and more convenient ways." Compatibility with Apple Watch will begin with a roll out to more than 20 Whirlpool brand connected appliances in 2018. Customers will be able to remotely communicate with their appliances through the W hirlpool app on Apple Watch in a variety of ways. Consumers will be able to see the current oven status and control commands during an active cycle. Alongside status updates, users can control the wash options of an active cycle in a washing machine. Whether it be a normal wash, delicates, or brights, consumers can adjust an active cycle on the fly via their Apple Watch. Consumers can also control and detect if a dryer cycle has started, understanding how much time remains before the cycle is complete. This collaboration with Apple Watch is another demonstration of W hirlpool Corporation's commitment to innovation that serves a purpose. By expanding remote connectivity to home appliances, consumers can continue to personalize their appliance interactions and care for their families smarter, faster and better. For more information, visit www.whirlpool.com. KN Whirlpool is the First Appliance Maker to Activate Apple Watch Functionality Food Culture Evolution Drives Kitchenware Market turn, this could mean more emphasis on more challenging dishes for novice cooks, because some of the prep work is done beforehand. Food educators like New School of Cooking in Culver City, California, are busy teaching the consequences of these demographic shifts in the cooking classes they offer to home cooks. From them, we can learn what these folks are interested in and what they are likely to buy. In conversations with food educators, the consensus seems to be that younger home cooks are still trying to learn the fundamentals. "People for whatever reason just really love those basic classes," says Tara Redfield, Marketing Director, New School of Cooking. " We do a basic cooking series that 's four weeks long. We also do a 20-week course called Pro Cooking or Pro Baking. It 's great for someone who doesn't want to be a professional, but wants to hone their cooking or baking skills." The demographic for cooking classes has also changed, leaning younger than in the past. For kitchenware retailers, this means stocking the basics and items for customers looking to try something new. The big three essentials for c lasses, according to Redfield, are high quality knives, sturdy tongs and cheese graters. Greater ethnic diversity also means greater emphasis on authentic ethnic foods and flavors. The U.S. is projected to become even more ethnically diverse in the coming decades, and by 2055, the countr y won't have a single ethnic majority, according to the Pew Research Center. Over the next five decades, this population change is expected to be driven by new Asian and Hispanic immigration, the Pew Research Center reports. KN (cont. from Page 1)

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