Big growth for small domestic appliances

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According to GfK data, small and major appliances faced the pandemic situation without significand drop. The Small Domestic Appliances (SDA) market grew by a solid +8.6 percent while the Major Domestic Appliances (MDA) market (including Air Conditioners) experienced limited losses of -8.6 percent in value terms. Excluding Air Conditioners the revenue loss was only -3.7 percent.
«Although the pandemic had a significant negative impact on sales due to retail shutdowns – GfK experts explains – the increased focus on the at-home experiences drove a sales recovery in May and June. Sales of appliances addressing the new challenges generated by the enforced need to “eat at home”, “clean at home” and “groom at home” soared. This includes microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, beard trimmers and multi-grooming kits. However, for some categories, entire seasons were lost due to COVID-19 – for example, Air conditioners. Overall, MDA (excluding Air Conditioners) only lost -3.7 percent in value terms – even less than the total -5.8 percent for the tech & durables (TCG) market. Whatever the appliance, the overall trends driving choice for consumers of performance, simplification, health hygiene and borderless shopping have become more relevant than ever.»

Looking at the regions, in the first half year of 2020 (H1 2020), the SDA market experienced a solid performance in the developed world. Europe (including CIS) grew by +9 percent. The MDA market was almost stable at -2 percent here. Developed Asian countries also saw a strong uptake of MDA products at an +2.7 percent uptick. While affluent countries were able to invest in appliances to makes their life easier in lockdown, this was less feasible in emerging economies due to the immediate impact of the pandemic on income and willingness to spend money. Consequently, the emerging Asian countries (including China) experienced a double-digit decline in value, weakening MDA market growth. However, the low price point of SDA products and the urgent need for cooking and cleaning products supported a rapid revival of SDA in emerging Asian countries (including China). Here SDA grew by +10.9 percent. Fortunately, in June total appliances growth recovered with double digit sales growth both in China and the rest of the world.

The Label 2020 project helps the transition to the new labelling

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The old labelling concept involving A+++ to D efficiency classes has become cumbersome and less transparent for stakeholders so that EU has decided to come back to the original A–G class concept which for the future shall involve rescaling of label classes depending on technology and market development.
To help in the smooth market transition towards the new energy labels, the Austrian Energy Agency coordinates the Label 2020 project, taking place in 16 EU member states.
The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and will last until January 2023, with the objective to support: consumers and professional buyers by means of effective information campaigns, services and tools; retailers in the correct, efficient and effective implementation of the new label at the point of sale and in online sales channels; manufacturers in the provision of correct labelling and product information; policy makers, multipliers and other stakeholders in the use and promotion of the new label within national programs, initiatives and schemes.
Among the most important news of the new regulation, we remember that there will be one common scale for all products including only class A to G. There will be no extension to A+ classes anymore.
The label will be linked to a new EU product database via a QR-Code, that provides additional product information for all labelled products for buyers, retailers as well as for market surveillance. In 2021 new labels will be implemented in physical stores and on-line shops for 5 product groups: household refrigerators and freezers, washing machines and washer-dryers, dishwashers, TVs and displays, light sources.
For other labelled product groups like air conditioners, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners, water heaters etc. the new labels will be implemented as soon as the relevant EU regulations will be in force

New version of its home appliance management app “LG ThinQ.”

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LG Electronics has released a new version of its home appliance management app “LG ThinQ.” The app allows users to manage 28 types of home appliances including TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines.

The new version features a setting function that allows a user to activate multiple appliances at the same time according to pre-set conditions. For example, if air quality in a house is bad, the app puts an air purifier and an air conditioner into air clean mode at the same time.

Another advantage is that a chatbot service based on artificial intelligence provides product information and helps users shoot troubles and file repair requests. A subscription service function, which automatically purchases necessary parts or consumables at regular intervals, has also been introduced.

The user experience (UX) of the app has also been dramatically enhanced to enable people to intuitively use it.

Baraldi Cappe

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Baraldi Cappe, historical Italian company in the sector of kitchen hoods and induction hobs with integrated hood, received the Mention of Honor for its Diamond Flexi, a cooking system with integrated fume extraction, designed and built to meet the needs of modern and innovative environments, ensuring cutting-edge technologies, high quality and ease of use.
Compasso d’Oro is the most authoritative Award for Italian Design and a very high worldwide recognition for projects, products, researches and merits developed in the field of design.
The Honorable Mention represents another important recognition that attests the commitment of Baraldi fot its customers. For more than 55 years, the company has been creating innovative and functional products with an increasingly affirming attention to sustainability as a criterion to be adopted, alongside formal and functional research, design and production

Cuisinart Precision Master™

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The team at Good Housekeeping recently named the Cuisinart Precision Master™ 5.5-quart Stand Mixer (SM-50TQ) as the “Best Multi-Purpose Stand Mixer” in their list of, “6 Best Stand Mixers,

Precision Master™ 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer

5.5-quart capacity, polished stainless steel bowl
500-watt motor
Die-cast metal construction
12 speeds for precision mixing
Tilt-back head
One power outlet for optional attachments
Includes chef’s whisk, dough hook, flat mixing paddle, and splash guard with pour spout
Instruction/Recipe book

Good performance in Europe and developed Asian markets

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Despite the critical situation of the starting months of this year, home appliances grew during the first half, especially in the developed countries, where the lockdown created more needs for home evolved devices. This situation also gave a further contribution to the already dynamic trend of small domestic appliances (SDA), as GfK confirms. Accordig to its data, in fact in the first half year of 2020 (H1 2020), the SDA market experienced a solid performance in the developed world. This sector grew by +9 percent in Europe (including CIS), while in emerging Asian countries (including China), recorded an increase by +10.9 percent.
The MDA market, instead, was almost stable at -2 percent in Europe, while in developed Asian countries it grew by +2.7 percent uptick. While affluent countries were able to invest in appliances to makes their life easier in lockdown, this was less feasible in emerging economies due to the immediate impact of the pandemic on income and willingness to spend money. Consequently, the emerging Asian countries (including China) experienced a double-digit decline in value, weakening MDA market growth.
«A clear demand shift from “want” to “need” was evident from the onset of the pandemic – GfK experts explain -. As people stockpiled (frozen) food, the immediate need for more storage capacity boosted sales of freezers. For example, between March 2 and March 22, volume sales grew by 317 percent in Great Britain and by 185 percent in Germany. Once the stockpiling moderated, next came a strong drive for food preparation appliances. This characterizes the ‘Adapt’ phase, with volume sales in the weeks between March 23 and April 26 up by +28 percent in Germany. The trend to ‘eat at home’ continued strongly post-lockdown, in what GfK terms the ‘Revenge Shopping’ phase. Here the food preparation category grew by +24.8 percent in value terms. All cooking categories enjoyed positive tractions as a result of this trend.»
So consumers invested in what could make their life easier, allowing to face necessities that people often satisfied out of home. Just as “eat at home” triggered sales for the cooking categories, other challenges like “groom at home” along with hygiene concerns and the non-availability of salons catalyzed sales of multigrooming kits (+53 percent) and beard trimmers (+56 percent). Similarly, the “clean-at-home” trend triggered sales of vacuum cleaners (+10 percent) and dishwashers (+5.6 percent).
«While COVID-19 sent shockwaves reverberating through the whole industry, from consumers to supply chain, – Norbert Herzog, GfK’s expert for the MDA industry, comments – the final outcome of a strong in-home focus led to the unexpected strong and fast recovery of markets postlockdowns. This “Revenge Shopping” phenomenon was particularly strong for home appliances as consumers proved happy to invest in solutions that supported them and saved them time in a busy work and schooling from home environment. Size definitely matters for consumers in this context and so capacity in MDA is emerging as a long-term driver due to the pandemic.»

LG SIGNATURE Partners With Global Style Icon and Fashion Entrepreneur Olivia Palermo

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LG SIGNATURE has partnered with international style icon Olivia Palermo for a new digital campaign showcasing the brand’s sophisticated products in line with the premium brand’s philosophy, “Art Inspires Technology, Technology Completes Art.” Through its collaboration with Palermo, LG SIGNATURE will actively engage millennial consumers worldwide, sharing its message of sophisticated luxury with the digital generation.

LG SIGNATURE partners with international style icon, Olivia Palermo
LG SIGNATURE partners with international style icon, Olivia Palermo

The digital campaign features Palermo sharing how her philosophies of luxurious lifestyle, personal mission, and achievements coincide perfectly with LG SIGNATURE. Just as LG SIGNATURE does with its innovative and artistically inspired appliances, the international style authority and entrepreneur strives for perfection in everything she does, whether it’s styling an outfit for a fashion event or creating a new collection of clothing.

Olivia Palermo has cultivated a global community of fans and followers, engaging them with her warmth, wit and inimitable style. A Lifestyle Endorser for LG SIGNATURE, her participation in the digital campaign will highlight the brand’s value and authenticity to millennials, who are rapidly emerging as the world’s largest and most influential group of consumers.

A fashion creative director, model, entrepreneur and style icon, New York-based Olivia Palermo is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Olivia Palermo Group. With her finely-honed ability to curate and harmonize diverse elements, Palermo will curate how art and technology affects her lifestyle, defining herself as an intuitionist, curator, expressionist, and multi-tasker. Synonymous with premium living at its best, Olivia Palermo is a perfect match for LG SIGNATURE.

“I am thrilled with the honor of working with LG SIGNATURE,” said Palermo. “A premium lifestyle is one where you can always feel like the best version of yourself. It’s a feeling of luxuriousness found in the appreciation of simplicity and efficiency, that technology makes a possibility – and LG SIGNATURE seamlessly enables all of that without having to sacrifice beauty.”

“We are delighted to be partnering with Olivia Palermo, as she represents exactly what LG SIGNATURE stands for. Her elegant style and drive to bring perfection to everything she does makes her a wonderful ambassador for the brand,” said Kim Jin-hong, head of LG’s Global Marketing Center. “Working with such an influential fashion-world icon once again highlights how we are bringing art and technology together.”

LG SIGNATURE offers a diverse and growing lineup that includes new 88- and 77-inch 8K OLED TVs, the Wine Cellar, InstaView Door-in-Door™ refrigerator, TWINWash™ washing machine, and more. Uncompromising quality and a focus on the essentials are built into every one of the brand’s innovative products. To learn more about LG SIGNATURE, please visit www.LGSIGNATURE.com.

Panasonic and SideChef Team Up to Offer Consumers Accessible Way to Engage with Home Cooking

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Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is expanding its partnership with leading culinary platform, SideChef, by introducing exclusive recipes, cooking tips, and chef secrets for SideChef Premium users.

Panasonic’s partnership with SideChef kicked off in May 2020, with the aim of making cooking at home easier and more enjoyable. Both parties’ goal is to unify the culinary community, offering meal planning, online grocery shopping, and SideChef’s curated recipes with Panasonic’s kitchen appliance technology.

Belqui is the author and creator behind the successful food blog and YouTube channel, Belqui’s Twist.

Recipes are crafted by Belqui Ortiz-Millili, creator of the popular comfort food blog, Belqui’s Twist. Her easy-to-make gourmet-style recipes showcase the simplicity and diversity of the Panasonic HomeChef  all-in-one microwave’s various functionalities like air-fryer, grilling and convection-baking that are made for home chefs of all kinds and skill levels.

Walter Taffarello, Appliances Group Manager, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company stated, “By partnering with SideChef, we focus on elevating Panasonic cooking experiences that evolve with the individual end-user’s personal preferences and way of life. We believe making a difference in each consumer’s lifestyle is important and that is why we create products and services that integrate seamlessly into people’s lives.”

Kevin Yu, SideChef CEO said, “It’s always been the mission of SideChef to meet cooks wherever they are – at whatever skill level, on any device, or alongside any tool that makes cooking more accessible. Partnering with Panasonic is continuing the ongoing realization of that mission. With Belqui’s recipes and Panasonic’s multi-use microwave oven we will continue to make cooking achievable (and fun!) for anyone with an appetite.”

Whether it’s your first day in the kitchen, or you are a seasoned cook looking to be inspired, SideChef Premium’s exclusive recipes in partnership with Panasonic and Belqui’s Twist are accessible for you. Sign up for SideChef Premium here. If you have Panasonic kitchen appliances, please register your product here and receive a promotional code for the SideChef premium 1-year free trial!

About SideChef
SideChef is an all-in-one home cooking platform that provides over 18,000 interactive smart recipes with dynamic recipe guidance featuring hands-free voice commands, step-by-step photos, how-to videos, and built-in timers. SideChef offers in-app meal planning, grocery delivery, and smart kitchen connectivity.

SideChef is available for free on iOS, Android, Amazon Alexa, Google Home Hub, Samsung Bixby and Portal from Facebook devices. SideChef has inspired the creation of over 2.5 million meals in home kitchens around the world.  For more information, visit www.SideChef.com.

Miele artificial intelligence for cooking and top washing performance

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Among the protagonists of IFA 2020 Special Edition has been Miele. During the press conference Dr. Axel Kniehl, Executive Director Marketing and Sales, and Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor, presented the new products and the other news about the company.
Miele innovations involve different sectors.
In the kitchen area, the brand presented an oven with a camera that identifies food and controls the cooking process. Thanks to the intelligent new Smart Food ID feature, the camera is even able to detect which dish the oven is dealing with and suggest an appropriate programme. Based on artificial intelligence, it is already able to digitally identify more than 20 dishes and the system is learning more as time progresses.
Smart Browning Control is another smart aid created by Miele: it produces a perfect pizza by using a camera to detect the level of browning, allowing it to tell when the pizza is done and stop the oven at the right point in time. Moreover, CookAssist for Miele induction hobs provides step-by-step guidance through the entire frying process via the Miele app.
A special guest at the press conference was Max Lössl, founder and CEO of the new Miele subsidiary Agrilution, which is bringing the pioneering concept of vertical farming to the home. Vertical farming provides an environmentally, space-saving way of producing food in multi-level fully automated greenhouse units, all as close to the place of consumption as possible. However, the fully automated greenhouse units (Plantcubes) from Agrilution, are no bigger than a standard refrigerator.

Dr. Axel Kniehl (left), Executive Director Marketing and Sales, and Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor

Important news are also present in Laundry sector, as explained at IFA by the Executive Director and Co-Proprietor Reinhard Zinkann: «exclusive Miele technology such as the highly efficient PowerWash and the TwinDos two-phase dispensing system make WT1 appliances the most convenient and intelligent washer-dryers on the market – he said. – The new appliances are able to wash up to 9 kg of laundry and dry up to 6 kg. And in situations where there’s only little time to spare, they are able to wash and dry as much as 4 kg in less than three hours with flawless results. Individual items can even be washed in a way that is fast and kind to the environment – in less than an hour, depending on the programme.»
Zinkann also reflected on the company’s current business situation. «I am delighted to tell you that the Miele Group has coped quite well with this year so far.»
Sales so far in the 2020 business year actually reached a level that was 2% higher than the same period in the previous year, despite the significant slumps experienced in March and April due to the Corona situation.