By Moe Lastfogel Director of Sales and Marketing for The Retail Observer ![]() Well, as usual, there was so much going on in Orlando, I was unable to stop by every booth or see every program. But what I did get to see got me very excited. Not only did the new products bring on the excitement but the upbeat attendees and exhibitors, the number of programs and features available, and the overall vibe of the show made this another amazing event. The NKBA started the night before the show with a Gatsby-style awards and gala dinner held at the Rosen Centre Hotel. The presentation of awards was one of the most organized ceremonies that I have been to. As you will see in this current issue and the March issue, we will be highlighting the various award winners in bath design (February issue) and in kitchen design (March issue). There are some amazing projects and I congratulate all the designers for a job well done. The show floor was packed, and I was told that attendee numbers were up. I could tell by how many people were in the booths, aisles, and walkways that indeed, the number of attendees had increased. There was a buzz in the air and a low deafening roar throughout the halls as manufacturers and attendees got together to discuss all the new products. Over the next few months, we will be showing you many of the new products and innovations that were launched at this year’s event. Some moments that stood out to me were Hestan joining the ranks of the indoor kitchen with a full line of products and Perlick entering the cooking worldwhileaddingtotheiralreadysuccessfulrefrigerationlines. Manybrands completely revamped their lineups such as Bosch, Thermador, Bertazzoni, and Fulgor. Dacor, Monogram, Samsung, and Electrolux/Frigidaire also had booths full of new products to peruse. The new kid on the block—Signature Kitchen Suite—and LG made a statement by winning the Best Large Booth Award for the show. Range Craft surprised the attendees with a new counter drop-in dishwasher, much as Fotile did with their sink with a vegetable/fish wash station. I don’t have the space in my column to mention everyone that showed at this time, but as I wrote earlier, there is a lot of news we will be sharing in this issue and over the next few months. The NKBA and Emerald did a great job in bringing it all together. Happy Retailing, Moe Lastfogel [email protected]
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By Moe Lastfogel Director of Sales and Marketing for The Retail Observer ![]() Since the mid-1800s, people have been thinking of new and innovative ways to store food, cook food and clean up after eating. Many of these ideas were good enough to be used to this very day, yet inventors are striving to come up with new products that are more even more efficient and innovative. Although stoves (wood fired) have been around since the 1400s, the first gas stoves were invented in the early 1850s, and by 1912, gas stoves were being challenged by electric stoves. Today, consumers have a choice between gas and electric, depending on cooking style and utility cost preferences. Recently steam injection, hot air impingement, sous-vide and microwave assist have been added to the stoves to create faster, more uniform cooking. As we are getting further into the age of innovation, I can see electric ovens that might incorporate induction into the internal oven workings as the heating source. If the stove was the most important kitchen appliance product of the 1800s, the refrigerator must be the most important appliance of the 1900s. Although the idea of cooling foods dates back to ancient Rome, the precursor for the modern electric refrigerator was patented in 1914. Now there are hot water and coffee dispensers, ice cream makers and beer and wine taps and media centers installed in refrigerator units. As we progress, I see blast chillers and more means of inventory management being added to these food preservation machines. The dishwasher has become an integral part of any American kitchen. While some still consider this appliance to be a luxury product rather than a necessity, the majority of American households have a dishwasher. The first patent for an appliance that resembles the modern dishwasher occurred in 1850 by Joel Houghton. Today we have new speed cycles, larger capacities, steam and special racking , and I think the future holds cold-water cleaning, ultrasonic washing and of course, the all-important fish and vegetable steaming button. Kitchen appliances are so helpful, we wonder how we functioned before their invention, and we are eagerly await the next new thing to make our lives more hassle-free. With creative minds and the public’s acceptance, the future possibilities of kitchen appliances are endless. Who knows? A photon cooker or perhaps the Star Trek food replicator are in our near future. Happy Retailing, Moe Lastfogel [email protected] |
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December 2021
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