feature: review
Retailers flock to KBB Birmingham after the pandemic
I
t’s official, the KBB industry is back together aſter a successful four days of
industry networking, product launches and award wins. On the show floor, there was a really positive buzz and for independent retailers there was plenty of new products and innovations to see, providing visitors with plenty of inspiration.” It’s fair to say that the domestic appliance area at the show was not the biggest, but it was great to see a plethora of well-known brands exhibiting their latest innovations. Samsung used the show as a platform to launch
its new oven range which features new ways to steam, air fry and air sous vide food. Jonathan Hartley, Samsung’s UK’s channel manager for kitchen retail said that it’s imperative to demonstrate the new cooking features to customers in-store. “In-store demonstrations give customers a chance to see features like sous vide first hand,” he said. “That’s why we work closely with retailers and have customer experience days with our mobile kitchen so we can physically showcase the sous vide in use.”
Samsung also used the show to unveil its new
series line-ups. With series four and five launched in Birmingham, and series six and seven to come later this year, Samsung has restructured its range to make it easier to sell customers through the range. Mr Hartley added: “The biggest statement that
we’ve got is that Wi-Fi connectivity is not just on the top premium appliances, it’s now being wound right back to series four; so consumers buying any Samsung appliance now from series four to series seven, will have Wi-Fi connectivity.” BSH Home Appliances had a large area of the
show, with dedicated stands for its three brands – Bosch, Neff and Siemens. Among the products on display was a new
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www.ierdaily.co.uk
KBB Birmingham 2022 saw more than 12,400 visitors pass through its doors over the four days of the show. Simon King reports from the event, which featured the UK’s largest collection of KBB brands under one roof
glass downdraft hood from Neff (I88WMM1S7). The company says the hood seamlessly
integrates into the kitchen, with ability to install behind the hob for a single surface look and clear glass panel when in use. Neff said the hood is powered by new Guided
Air technology for effective extraction, and Climate Control Sensor to optimise the power and noise levels as consumers cook. The new Siemens iQ700 built-in oven, with
steam function, enables users to open the oven door with voice commands and shortens cooking times thank to fast preheat and coolStart. On the Bosch stand, the Series 8 induction hob
with integrated ventilation (PXX875D67E) was popular with retailers. The hob features DirectSelect Premium, a 30cm
wide touch panel that keeps users in perfect control. Select your cooking zones, power levels and other options with a simple touch – and the entire interface disappears when the hob’s turned off.
Chinese brand Haier showcased its latest
innovations in refrigeration, connected wine cellars and washing machines at KBB, but the biggest launch on its stand was the debut of Haier cooking, Series 6, a complete range of premium kitchen appliances guided by Artificial Intelligence. Jim McEwan, Haier Europe’s chief commercial officer (UK & Ireland), said: “The launch sees the first-ever collection of Haier built-in appliances onto the UK market, and further enhances Haier’s
excellent reputation for premium design, quality and reliability alongside connectivity and cutting- edge innovation.” Mr McEwan said Series 6 incapsulates premium
technology that comes together in a range of ovens, hobs, hoods, refrigerators, and dishwashers that use connectivity, the hOn App and AI to offer tailor-made solutions for the modern home, thanks also to their elegant and minimalist design. The Haier stand featured the hub of the kitchen of the future, including the Chef@Home oven, which, thanks to a presence sensor, turns on automatically, giving the user access to the 19in full touch control screen. Mr McEwan said: “‘Cook with me’ technology
is designed to bring Artificial Intelligence into everyday life: plus, the PreciTaste technology recognises the types of food placed inside the oven, so it automatically sets the cooking parameters, sending the user a notification when the food is ready.” On Series 6 hobs, an advanced temperature
detection system and optimised power management can detect and manage the presence of different sized pots in the same area, ensuring maximum flexibility. VaryCook technology allows users to increase and decrease the temperature of their hob with ease without touching the controls, simply by sliding pots and pans up and down, thanks to three power levels (high, medium and low), giving the possibility to cook food at varying
March/April 2022
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