Kitchen & Bath Business October 2021 - 36

HO T T OPIC
FOOD PRESERVATION SAVES TIME AND MONEY
Keeping food fresh longer means fewer trips to the grocery store and less food
wasted. Th is is a key focus for Jonathan Barfell, senior marketing manager at
Liebherr Appliances. Th e brand's BioFresh System is a patented technology
that preserves food freshness, fl avor and nutritional content. Liebherr uses
independent climate controls to create a high humidity environment for fruits
and veggies in one drawer and a low humidity environment for meats and
cheeses in another. BioFresh Plus is a third refrigerator drawer that lowers
temperatures down to 28 degrees - ideal for storing fresh fi sh and seafood.
Viking's exclusive Bluezone Fresh Preservation Technology is designed
into its 7 Series refrigerator line. Th is technology provides purifi cation so the
air is scrubbed with a very high level of effi ciency that eliminates unwelcome
odors. Viking's tech also claims to increase the shelf life of food, resulting in
less waste, and it kills mold, bacteria and viruses instead of just fi ltering them.
Bosch's FarmFresh System utilizes dual compressors to control temperature,
humidity, ethylene gas emitted by produce and airfl ow to help maintain
freshness. Bosch's VitaFreshPro is an innovative solution powered by a
combination of hardware and software. Th e drawers and storage space are
controlled by a software solution that provides pre-programmed freshness
settings to optimize temperature and humidity to keep meat, fi sh and produce
fresh. Th e technology adjusts lids in the refrigerator to control the humidity
while simultaneously managing temperature to ensure optimal environment
for foods. In addition, consumers can adjust the pre-programmed settings
via the HomeConnect app.
CATERING TO THE ICE CRAZE
A recent survey conducted on behalf of Bosch showed that 53% of respondents
realized the need for better ice production during the COVID-19
pandemic, with 66% running to the store for ice at least once a month to
keep up with household demand. From the same survey, more than 50% of
Americans self-identify as ice obsessed, with 53% realizing the need for better
ice production at home during COVID-19, and 64% of those surveyed run
out of ice multiple times per year.
A good example of a new product inspired by consumer research is Bosch's
QuickIcePro System. Using a combination of software and hardware, the
system can produce freshly fi ltered ice at a rate of up to 12 pounds or 40
glasses of ice per day. Th e system aff ects speed with the software using inputs
from sensors, actuators, motors and heaters within the appliance. Th e inputs
allow the software to control and optimize the variables to maximize the
ice production rate without sacrifi cing quality. Th e QuickIcePro hardware
includes everything that moves the water from the external supply through
the system and into and including the tray.
ABOVE Liebherr's BioFresh
System preserves food freshness,
fl avor and nutritional
content.
BELOW LEFT Sub-Zero's
Gourmet Mode saves time
and makes cooking easier.
DIY SOFTWARE AUTOMATION
Liebherr and Bosch have both formed partnerships
with software company IFTTT (If Th is Th en
Th at), making it possible for consumers to create
their own simple routines based on triggers they
set. For example, a consumer can easily program a
Bosch built-in coff ee maker to start brewing their
favorite cup of coff ee when their alarm goes off or
automatically play a favorite artist via connected
devices when the dishwasher cycle is fi nished. Consumers
using IFTTT to create routines with apps
to control appliances is DIY kitchen automation,
and it's very personalized. In the near future, appliance
makers will be able to build time-saving
features based on actual consumer patterns and
behaviors in the kitchen. For that to happen, data
privacy issues need to be resolved so consumers
will be more willing to share their data. More data
means better automations in the ML world.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Acker mentioned that the global pandemic has
infl uenced the relationships we have with our
kitchens and homes. She predicts that the deep
connections we've established with our spaces
will last, and connectivity and convenience will
be at the forefront of the appliance industry's
future. Eighty one percent of consumers now
consider their home a " safe haven " where they're
spending more time than ever, according to a
recent Bosch survey.
Sweet says his team will be taking a closer look
at advancements that Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove
can easily adapt and incorporate into new product
innovations. Maalouf says Middleby brands will
be adopting technologies that make lives easier,
exciting and relevant. On the top of his trends list
are machine intelligence, connectivity, environmental
consciousness and minimizing food waste.
Designing with AI will change the rules of the
home appliance game, giving makers the opportunity
to build things that have never been built
before. If what we're seeing in 2021 is any indication,
the next fi ve to 10 years will be the most
dynamic in the history of this industry.
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36
/ OCTOBER 2021 / KBBONLINE.COM / Th e offi cial publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

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Kitchen & Bath Business October 2021

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