feature: refrigeration The Chill Factor
In the current climate, consumers that are purchasing appliances are looking for something that is energy effi cient, whilst still delivering on high quality features. Simon King reports
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ince the start of the pandemic, people have spent more time at home, and
continue to do so with the increase in hybrid working. This has led to lots of people re- evaluating their kitchen and consequently renovating the space to suit their new way of living. Refrigeration is a key part of a kitchen redesign,
resulting in a strong performance for the sector in 2022. Valerie Posner, head of business unit –
refrigeration at BSH Home Appliances, says that with the cost of food increasing, consumers want to ensure that their appliances will keep produce fresh for as long as possible to avoid wastage. “Buying in bulk is a great way to save money
so owning a larger fridge-freezer with suitable storage and fl exible features is top of the list of consumer demands,” Ms Posner says “Energy bills are also continuing to rise which is putting even more pressure on the average household fi nances. In turn, this has put a spotlight on the energy ratings of refrigeration appliances specifi cally, since they are the only appliance in the home that stay switched on consistently. In response, this year we will be launching more A and B rated models.” There’s no question that the cost-of-living crisis
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will have an impact on the number of people looking to upgrade big ticket household items such as fridge freezers. Nathan Rothery, product manager for cooling at AEG, says: “Decisions, however, are being made as many now working from home want quality products they can rely on when using regularly every day. “Consumers are more engaged in energy consumption, obviously, and looking to make these purchases are increasingly aware of wanting to buy into lower energy use products. In the world of food preservation, consumers are also looking for technology that makes their food last longer, reducing the need for any waste.” Despite poor consumer confi dence and general economic concerns, Miele says that it is operating in a growing part of the market and the outlook for 2023 is optimistic for the premium sector. Rebecca Evans, refrigeration brand manager
at Miele, says: “Supply has mostly stabilised now, with just some areas of the built-in portfolio still experiencing slightly extended production lead times.”
Samsung says the days of a ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ mentality for kitchen appliances are gone, and believes that customisation is as much about
Top: Bosch KFF96PIEP Above: Siemens KF96RSBEA
personalisation as it is about having more choice. Dan Harvie, vice president and head of
home appliances at Samsung, says: “Our Bespoke refrigerator range taps into trends of modularity and customisation. Those purchasing a Bespoke
March/April 2023
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