In an increasingly connected world, the innovators on the Benton Harbor-based research & development teams at Whirlpool Corporation continue to push the envelope to remain on the leading edge of amazing technology that lets us do traditional things in a remarkably untraditional manner. Like cooking more at home by connecting to one's own appliances from almost anywhere else they may be. If you are familiar with the pop-cartoon name of old, think George Jetson.
Toward that end, Whirlpool's engineering stars have been working diligently to put the future onto our plates today. In fact, the world's leading manufacturer of major home appliances has announced this week their partnership with Innit, a leading food tech innovator, to bring a new layer of food intelligence to help people eat and live better. Whirlpool Corporation connected cooking appliances, starting with Jenn-Air brand WiFi connected ovens, will offer the Innit platform to enable advanced automated cooking and dynamic digital recipes to help people cook more at home.
Innit Empowered appliances and apps give consumers a way to access thousands of digitized recipes, based on personalized dietary and taste preferences. Consumers will be guided by intuitive step-by-step preparation instructions, and with just a few clicks, will be able to cook with chef-level quality on their Jenn-Air connected oven. Cooking is tailored to the weight, temperature and type of food, helping ensure great results with no guesswork.
In step with its position as an industry leader, Whirlpool Corporation is gearing up for a market on the cusp of increased demand for intuitive, connected home appliances. Whirlpool's Vice President for Integrated Business Units, Brett Dibkey says, "Whirlpool Corporation has taken a leading role in introducing innovative connected appliances, and the Innit platform adds powerful and intuitive ways to connect food to the kitchen."
Steve Brown is General Manager of Whirlpool's Jenn-Air brand. He tells us, "Jenn-Air and Innit are delivering a new layer of intelligence to the kitchen, helping consumers achieve breakthrough levels of convenience, flavor, and healthy cooking," He adds, "We're confident that Jenn-Air consumers, as early adopters, will embrace this technology and the added precision it brings to cooking and entertaining."
Whirlpool Corporation and Innit plan to begin consumer trials late this year, with availability on all Jenn-Air connected wall ovens planned for the first half of 2017. Starting immediately, consumers can get a taste of the joint offering in live demos and cooking classes on Jenn-Air products, offered exclusively at the Pirch retail showroom in SoHo, New York City.
Eugenio Minvielle is founder and Presidnet of Innit. He says, "Nearly every aspect of our lives has benefited from digital innovation, but food and the kitchen are still largely analog. Together, Innit and Whirlpool Corporation are bringing forward a new class of technology to empower people through food, while maximizing simplicity and enjoyment." Minvielle adds, "By unlocking information within food, Innit can help consumers get more out of their Jenn-Air appliances, and reduce dinnertime stress."
Innit's team of chefs, nutritionists and engineers uses cutting edge food science and technology to help people manage and prepare their food with ease. The Innit platform identifies and measures food using advanced sensors in the kitchen, recommends recipes based on inventory, and automatically executes expert cooking techniques on connected kitchen appliances to produce amazing results every time. Innit was founded in 2013 in Silicon Valley and emerged from stealth mode in November 2015 with $25 million in funding.
Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 97,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2015. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world.
Innit empowers people through food. The Innit platform combines personalized culinary and nutritional science with cutting edge information technology to power the emerging Connected Food ecosystem. For more information visit www.innit.com. Follow Innit on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.
