Get Connected Magazine - May 2018 issue

MAY 2018

The Magazine of The Electrical Goods Industry www.gcmagazine.co.uk

INSIDE: GEORGE COLE The BBC puts a cat among the DAB pigeons; and the disconcerting Echo of spooky laughter in the home

FROM THE BENCH Alan Bennett on trying to be green in a throwaway world

BACKCHAT 2-minute interview with Benross Marketing commercial director Jon Brennan

INTEGRAL COOKING SUPPLEMENT Where the sector is going…

FOOD PREPARATION

BUILT-IN AND FREESTANDING COOKING

COFFEE MACHINES

THE GOURMET QUARTER

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CONTENTS

INSIDE...

04 06

Editorial Comment The Word In and around the industry

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Creative Director: Will Dobson will@gcmagazine.co.uk

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Get Connected is published by Mud Hut Publishing Ltd, Greyfriar Cottage, Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1SB.

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George Cole Gets Connected The BBC is saying FM radio will still be part of the UK radio scene for a considerable time to come

Montpellier MW7140P/S/K

Editor in Chief: Marlinda Conway Telephone: 01420 886 33 marlinda@gcmagazine.co.uk

Product Gallery

From the Bench Alan Bennett looks at the viability of repair to modern domestic electrical and electronic equipment. Is it worth it?

16

Backchat Benross commercial director gives a 2-minute interview

PLUS

17 INTEGRAL SUPPLEMENT

Food Preparation Getting the mix right for home cooking

Built-in and Freestanding Cooking Great looks, great technology, designed for modern homes

Coffee Machines Making profit from the caffeine buzz Mud Hut Publishing Ltd. Greyfriar Cottage, Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1SB

www.gcmagazine.co.uk

The Gourmet Quarter Products to inspire consumers – and retailers

MAY 2018

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3

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Over the past year or so GC has been accused in some quarters of being a bit gloomy about the retail industry in the UK. We have not, for example, been rallying our readers with cries of “save the High Street!”, nor claimed to have the answer (or even to know a man who does)

D

oes it mean we don’t care any more?

Hardly, because without readers we don’t have a business.

We’ve not tried to sugar-coat the series of bitter pills our industry has been forced to swallow over the past decade. Neither have we portrayed “the High Street” as an entity that’s replicated exactly all over the country, and can be saved with the same magic formula wherever it is. We don’t see that as being negative – or even, perish the thought, apathetic. Realism is important in every business.

In GC’s defence, we have been positive about retail successes in our industry; encouraged innovation, good practice, creative thinking; reported the ideas, the plans and the outcomes of real retailers in a real world.

But we do not see the point in running around shouting like Corporal Jones in a crisis, when cooler heads are needed to separate what can be done from what’s beyond our control.

The fact is that the turning point for a lot of retail businesses came in 2008, when 54 medium to large retail businesses went bust in 12 months, affecting nearly 5,800 stores and 74,500 employees.

You could claim that was the beginning of the financial crisis and the recession, but we believe recession was an accelerating factor rather than a root cause. Every year since then, there have been significant retail losses of stores and jobs. The big worry (we don’t want, as one newspaper did, to call it “Apocalypse Now for Britain’s retailers”) comes in the figures from the same source (Centre for Retail Research) for the period January-April 2018. That’s the first four months of this year. There have been 16 major retail failures already. 1,256 stores have been affected. 13,446 jobs are lost or at risk. If this 2018 trend continues, 2018 will be the worst year for retail since the financial crisis began.

What does it mean? We have always argued that what’s happening is not “the death of the once-great British High Street” (a direct quote from a recent tabloid article), but another stage in the continuous process of growth, decline, adaptation and repurposing that all retail

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MAY 2018

environments experience. High Streets decline as retail centres because the communities they originally grew up to serve no longer want them for retail purposes. It’s as simple as that – though the reasons why the community changes its needs, habits and composition may be complex and widely differing in different parts of the country. It’s not “dead” just because it’s not the same as it was ten years ago.

If every picture tells a story, every picture house also has something to say. I grew up in a town in the south with two cinemas on the high street. The Gaumont and the Odeon were huge Art Deco extravagances that throve in the escapist years of post-war austerity. In 1961 the Odeon closed down and a huge departmental store moved in. The Gaumont became a big store a few years later.

The 60s was the start of a “golden age” for retail.

Post-war austerity gave way to “the consumer society”, and everybody wanted to buy things and be seen to be buying things. The High Street boom gave local councils a ready source of income, and business rates – and later car parking charges – took full advantage of the chance to make cash out of retail. Everybody wins… …The departmental store that took the place of the Gaumont became a cinema seven years ago, and is currently being developed into a 3-screen complex. By the same irony, some of BHS’s retail estate that’s too big for retail has been redeveloped: for example a bowling alley, a cinema, a gym. The point is that if “saving” the High Street means making it like it was in the time before the recession, it is not going to happen. Even if councils see the light and stop greedily milking retail for business rates and exorbitant parking charges, it won’t change what is a social as well as an economic shift.

Even “experts” can get something right sometimes, and we think retail analyst Richard Hyman did when he said: “Retailers have done all sorts of things to paper over the cracks, but what the markets need is for retail to get smaller.”

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Marlinda Conway Editor in Chief

Terry Heath Editorial & Publishing Director

Will Dobson Creative Director

James McIntosh Consumer Consultant

George Cole Consumer Electronics Consultant

PreP Cook Serve!

The UK’s premier showcase of housewares, tabletop and small domestic appliance brands

Make the right connections at www.exclusivelyelectrical.co.uk @ExclusivelyShow

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FIVE YEARS OF SHOP PRICE DEFLATION THE LATEST ELECTRICAL GOODS INDUSTRY NEWS

APRIL FOOTFALL DISAPPOINTS

UK

non-food retailers suffered a 12.8% drop in footfall during April as Easter failed to provide the boost the high street needed. Footfall over the bank holiday fortnight was down 11.8% on last year.

Ipsos Retail Performance, the global retail and footfall consultant which compiles the Retail Traffic Index, said footfall in non-food stores now stands 9.6% lower over the first four months of the year than in 2017.

RETAIL SALES GROWTH “FALLING OFF A CLIFF”

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he BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index for April 2018 shows shop price deflation held at 1.0%, marking 60 months of deflationary prices. April’s figure is the deepest since February 2017.

Non-food is still showing markedly greater deflation, with prices decreasing at a rate of 2.2% compared to March.

Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight at Nielsen, said: “With weak consumer demand, any success in sales performance is coming at the expense of retailers’ margins, with lower prices in non-food and inflation now hovering around 1% in food stores.

“Recent industry data suggests poor footfall, and with unseasonably cool weather punctuated by a brief hot spell, sales momentum has been hard to sustain. So whilst promotional activity continued after Easter, retailers are still keeping prices competitive to tempt shoppers back into store as consumers are not yet feeling better off.”

UK retail sales during April recorded a marked decline due to the timing of Easter this year, but the underlying trend is of concern for the sector as it reflects an overall downturn.

JOBS TO GO AT GDHA AS BUSINESS RESTRUCTURES

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G

he BRC reported a 3.1% sales fall on a total basis, while like-for-like figures fell 4.2% on April 2017.

This is below the 3-month and 12-month averages of 1.2% and 0.4% respectively, and the sharpest decline recorded since the monitor’s inception in January 1995.

Over the three months to April, in-store sales of non-food items declined 3.8% on a total basis and 4.9% on a like-forlike basis, setting a record low since this measure began in January 2013. On a 12-month basis, the total decline was 2.9%, another record low.

Online sales of non-food products did, however, record growth, up 6.7% in April, but below the 3-month and 12-month averages of 7.1% and 7.5% respectively.

The online penetration rate rose from 20.8% in April 2017 to 22.0% in April 2018.

Paul Martin, Head of Retail at KPMG, said: “April’s figures show retail sales growth falling off a cliff, with sales down 3.1% on last year, but we must exercise caution and remember that the timing of Easter makes meaningful month-onmonth comparisons difficult.

“That said, the three-month average is more helpful to assess, but this too points to sales only growing modestly – these are indeed testing times for retailers.”

Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium Helen Dickinson OBE said: “Consumers’ discretionary spending power remains under pressure and the reality is that with only a gradual return to solid growth in real incomes expected, the market environment is likely to remain extremely challenging for most retailers.”

len Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) has announced proposals to realign its operations, a move intended to secure the future of the privately-owned UK business.

The proposals are expected to have an impact on jobs at the firm’s Prescot manufacturing site, which currently employs 1,000 permanent workers.

GDHA said the changes are likely to result in up to 300 potential redundancies over the course of the year, commencing from August 2018.

The proposals under consideration by the firm – a proud and active ‘Made in Britain’ supporter – include exiting lossmaking segments of the market, outsourcing the manufacture of certain products, and investment in products which are more economically viable to produce in Prescot.

The company said in a statement: “Consolidation of major UK retailers and amongst Major Domestic Appliance manufacturers, as well as changing consumer trends, have led to a negative impact on GDHA’s financial performance.”

The company added that the announcement is seen as necessary to ensure a viable business in the future.

WHIRLPOOL ISSUES SAFETY NOTICE FOR GAS HOB W

hirlpool has launched a product safety campaign to rectify what it says is a small number of gas hobs manufactured between 1st September 2014 and March 2016. The products were sold in the UK. The affected model is the Whirlpool-branded stainless steel built-in gas hob AKM 274/IX and the issue concerns the operation of the gas burner to the front left corner of the appliance.

As a precautionary measure, consumers who own these products are advised not to use the affected burner until it has been modified by a Whirlpool engineer. All other burners are unaffected and may continue to be used as normal in the meantime.

For further information call 0800 316 3885.

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WHICH? CONTINUES ATTACK ON WHIRLPOOL TUMBLE DRYER SAFETY Following BBC’s Watchdog Live programme broadcast 25th April, in which it was claimed that fire-risk tumble dryers modified under Whirlpool’s nationwide repair scheme might still pose a fire hazard, Which? has again attacked Whirlpool’s response to the safety concerns raised in 2015.

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hich? said that the Watchdog Live programme “revealed concerns that tumble dryers modified – or replaced – by manufacturer Whirlpool to tackle the risk of fire may not be safer than the models that led to an unprecedented safety warning in 2015.” The consumer campaigning organisation went on to claim: “we have evidence to show that some repaired Whirlpool fire-risk tumble dryers have caught fire despite being ‘made safe’ by the manufacturer.”

The Which? “evidence” was based on an assessment of 19 randomly sampled Hotpoint and Indesit fire-risk dryers, all of which had undergone repair by Whirlpool. Of this sample of 19 dryers, 18 “appeared to have been repaired effectively,” and one “had fluff coating part of

the heating element, despite the Whirlpool repair being designed “flames Whirlpool fix was supposed to to stop this from happening. could be seen resolve.”

We could see,” said Which?, at the rear of the drum vent, where In response, Whirlpool “singeing around the edges hot air passes over told Which? that it has of the fluff. There was further the heater and into total confidence in the evidence of ash collecting at the drum to dry modification, that three fire, the bottom of the heater.” clothes” safety and engineering experts Which? also tested a model concluded and testing shows that had been reported as having that the repair is effective. The caught fire two years after it was manufacturer also knows of no reports repaired by Whirlpool. “With the drum where the modification was ineffective and that empty and after around two minutes of turning it couldn’t verify the claims made by Which?. it on,” said Which?, “flames could be seen at the The dryers affected by the fire risk were made rear of the drum vent, where hot air passes over between April 2004 and October 2015 and were the heater and into the drum to dry clothes. When branded Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Proline and we opened the machine up to find the cause of Swan. Whirlpool-branded dryers were unaffected the fire, we found an excessive amount of dust on by the safety issue. and around the heating elements, something the

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ELECTROLUX PROFITS HIT

BY RESTRUCTURING AND RAW MATERIAL COSTS

E

lectrolux profits almost halved in the first-quarter of 2018 due to restructuring costs of SEK 596m relating to the consolidation of the firm’s freezer production in North America and accelerated increases in raw material costs.

Operating income for the period amounted to SEK 764m, down from SEK 1,442m in the prior year period. Earnings fell from SEK 1,012 to SEK 551m.

President and CEO Jonas Samuelson said the business needs to continue its cost efficiency efforts and further improve pricing in most key markets.

Electrolux is now estimating the negative year-over-year impact from higher costs for raw materials to be in the region of SEK 1.6bn to 1.8bn in 2018.

Jonas Samuelson Revenue during the quarter slipped from SEK 28,201m to SEK 27,906m.

Reporting in the same week, Whirlpool recorded firstquarter net earnings down from $153 million to $94 million.

Net sales edged up slightly from $4.8 billion to $4.9 billion.

@GC_Team

AMAZON Q1 EARNINGS CLIMB TO $1.6 BILLION

A

mazon announced a jump in net income for the first quarter ended 31st March 2018, with earnings of $1.6 billion compared $724 million in the same period last year.

Operating income increased 92% to $1.9 billion on net sales of $51.0 billion, a rise of 43% on the first quarter of 2017.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos noted the success of the business’s Web Services division as a large contributor to its success.

SKY PLC: “STRONG RESULTS, WELL PLACED FOR THE FUTURE”

IN

its unaudited results for the nine months to 31 March 2018, Sky plc reported a 5% increase in like-for-like revenue to £10.1 billion, a 14% increase in Established Business EBITDA to £1.8 billion and a 10% increase in EBITDA to £1.7 billion. Statutory operating profit, at £857 million, was up 22%.

“It’s been a good quarter for Sky,” commented Group Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch.

“Against the back drop of a challenging consumer environment, this performance reflects the continual improvement in our broad set of products and services and our focus on providing great value every single day – something recognised by customers now taking over 62 million subscription products from us and our services reaching over 120 million people across Europe.”

Looking ahead, Darroch said: “Whilst we expect the consumer environment to remain challenging, the business is in good shape and we remain on track for the full year.”

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SHORTCUTS Whirlpool has installed energy-savings tool Youreko on its website to help consumers understand the financial benefit of efficient appliances. Youreko rates products according to their running costs and shows the financial savings made over each product’s lifetime.

Gorenje has introduced a promotion in conjunction with Majestic Wine, offering consumers a gift card up to the value of £100 when they purchase selected appliances from the brand’s Retro cooling range. The incentive runs until 22nd September 2018 and offers gift cards to the value of £50, £75 and £100 (model dependent) to spend on wine, beer or spirits.

OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE FUTURE SINCE 1924

Montpellier is running a consumer engagement campaign inviting owners of its cooking appliances to snap and share their culinary creations on Twitter and Instagram via #MontpellierCreations. The brand, which has a completely new integrated and freestanding cooking range due to enter the market in June, said it “wants to see what their loyal customers are cooking up with their appliances.”

Connect Distribution has been assigned Preferred Distributor status for Melitta® coffee products in the UK. LG Electronics, Official Partner of the England senior men’s team and Wembley Stadium connected by EE, has launched a £5 million above-the-line “Live The Game” campaign to support its partnership with the FA and to highlight its new range of OLED AI TVs. The TV campaign will run through May and June surrounding key sports programming across ITV, Channel 4, Sky and VOD services.

Japanese loudspeaker brand ECLIPSE has partnered with Stockton-on-Tees Hi-Fi distributor Decent Audio in a UK distribution deal aimed at making the ECLIPSE product range more accessible in Britain.

Grundig has appointed Italian restaurateur and chef patron of Italy’s Osteria Francescana restaurant, Massimo Bottura, as its brand ambassador.

IFA-Contact: OTSA Ltd. Tel. +44 20 7886 3045 jennifer.hall@otsa.net APRIL 2018

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GREAT YARMOUTH HOMELESS CHARITY HELPED BY HUGHES

H

ughes Electrical has donated a large fridge freezer to the East Anglian Anchorage Trust’s offices on Church Plain. The charity houses and trains young people in the Great Yarmouth area who would otherwise be homeless.

Matt Broadway

BEKO HITS HALFWAY TARGET IN #EATLIKEAPRO CAMPAIGN

SHARKNINJA TARGETS UK MARKET IN GLOBAL EXPANSION

S

KA and floorcare brand SharkNinja has appointed Dyson’s former Group Commercial Director Matt Broadway to the role of European President and has committed to major investment in the British market as part of a global expansion campaign.

The company said it is aiming to expand its market share in the UK and Europe and is predicting £450m of growth from these markets by investing in innovation and technology to improve the customer experience and create “five-star” rated products.

Dozens of new jobs are being created at the company’s R&D centre in London to focus on new product development, the company said.

SharkNinja claims the number one spot in the US floorcare market and is now developing new products exclusively for the UK. It will also begin to develop some US products in the UK. “We aim to become the UK market leader in vacuum cleaner products and are investing heavily in engineering and technology so we can give consumers a real choice of premium products specifically designed for British homes,” commented Broadway.

“I want to reinforce Ninja’s position as the leading motorised blender and cooking brand in the UK, the first choice for kitchen counter-top products and state-of-the-art Kitchen System appliances.

“Our products are designed to make our customers’ lives easier and we see a real opportunity to achieve significant growth in this market.”

Panasonic has appointed Graham Goldsmith as General Manager of Independent Sales, responsible for UK Independents and Panasonic Stores, defining and implementing sales strategy across all product categories and managing a team of sales managers covering the UK.

B

eko’s quest to raise €1,000,000 for UNICEF with its #EatLikeAPro campaign targeting child obesity has got off to a flying start with €500,000 raised by early May. #EatLikeAPro is Beko’s global initiative with FC Barcelona and the Club’s Barça Foundation. Beko is encouraging people from around the world to show support by posting about their healthy eating habits on social channels. For every post, Beko donates €1 for UNICEF with a goal to raise €1,000,000, in turn helping improve the diets, growth and development of 600,000 children in Latin America.

GDHA COMMITS TO METAL-BACKED COOLING AHEAD OF REGULATION CHANGE

G

len Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) has announced that production of its plastic-backed refrigeration products will cease this month, in preparation for regulation changes due 1st January 2019 which will require the backing on fridges, freezers and fridge freezers to meet a higher level of flame retardancy.

The company has committed to the use of metal backing on all cooling products in its Lec, Stoves and Britannia ranges.

German CE brand Loewe has expanded its UK team with the addition of Danny Cavie as Account Manager, responsible supporting Loewe’s current dealer base, and Siobhan Duffy in the role of Sales Desk Manager.

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Siobhan Duffy

Graham Goldsmith

Hoover Candy Group has appointed Angela Wallace as head of customer service operations at its contact centre in Bolton. She will lead the Group’s 120-strong workforce which handles incoming enquiries for the Hoover, Candy and Baumatic brands.

Angela Wallace

Danny Cavie

Small appliances and cookware distributor EPE Group has appointed Mark Fox as General Sales Manager, overseeing External and Internal Sales Teams. Fox has more than 15 years’ experience in Senior Account Management, most recently with consumer products company Spectrum Brands.

Mark Fox

Stylish retro refrigeration

Visit the website for details on the full retro range for 2018 or call sales on 01949 862010 www.amica-international.co.uk www.amica.ie

PRODUCT GALLERY

Montpellier expands laundry portfolio The latest addition to Montpellier Domestic Appliances’ laundry collection comes in a range of three finishes – white, silver and black – and promises quick, “outstanding” cleaning at 30°C. The A++ energy-rated appliance (model ref: MW7140P/S/K) has a 7kg drum capacity, a top spin speed of 1400rpm and offers 15 programmes, including a 15-minute rapid wash.

www.montpellier-appliances.com

Pure Siesta Home compact all-in-one music system Pure has launched its most compact all-in-one audio system featuring DAB+/FM radio, Bluetooth music streaming and a CD player. The new Siesta Home is available in Graphite and Polar and is ‘digital tick’ approved. It offers 10W RMS output, 20 digital/20 FM presets and a range of alarms/kitchen timers.

www.pure.com

Gorenje expands cooking portfolio with 18 new products Slovenian brand Gorenje has announced a number of additions to its cooking lines including new built-in ovens, hobs and freestanding cookers, due to be phased in over the coming months. The products boost Gorenje’s cooking offering with steam ovens, ceramic hobs and pyrolytic ovens.

www.gorenje.co.uk

Bigger sound with Q Acoustics’ 3000i loudspeaker series Q Acoustics’ new 3000i loudspeaker series delivers true hi-fi and powerful home cinema sound for the home at an affordable price. Building on the success of the original 3000 series, the new range features innovative audio and design technology taken from the company’s high-end flagship Concept 500 loudspeaker. Seven models launch in May with RSPs ranging from £199 to £1,345.

www.qacoustics.co.uk

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PRODUCT GALLERY

4K HDR viewing on Sony’s latest TV series Sony’s XF83 TV, part of the brand’s latest range, boasts the powerful 4K HDR Processor X1 and is said to be “a perfect solution for those who look for high-quality image enclosed in a big screen size of either 60 or 70 inches.” With advanced voice control and Android TV™, the XF83 4K HDR TV allows instant access to a wide range of content and apps and can be used as a gaming device.

www.sony.co.uk

Gaggia celebrates 80 years with launch of new bean-to-cup machines Coffee machine brand Gaggia is celebrating 80 years with the launch of a new mid-range series of bean-to-cup machines comprising two models. The Velasca (pictured) offers maximum flavour extraction via 100% ceramic grinders; 5 strength options and 10 grinder settings; auto rinse & guided descaling, and the option to store personal settings.

www.gaggia.com

Caple’s new induction downdraft combi Caple’s all-in-one induction downdraft extractor hob (DD935BK) features 13 power levels (0 to 9, bake at 42°C, keep warm at 70°C, boil control at 94°C and a booster on every zone). The highperformance downdraft extractor built into the centre of the hob offers four speeds, including a boost function with automatic timer, and a maximum extraction rate of 655m3/h.

www.caple.co.uk

Hoover augments cooking portfolio with Vogue Premium Collection Hoover has built on its Vogue range of appliances, launched in 2017, with the introduction of the Vogue Premium Collection, “a family of appliances that combine the latest professional technology with a minimalistic, modern style.” The black glass and stainless steel range comprises standard and compact ovens, a sous vide system, a coffee machine, warming drawer, vacuum sealer drawer and blast chiller/ shock freezer.

www.hoover.co.uk

MAY 2018

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GEORGE COLE

georgecole@gcmagazine.co.uk

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTED GEORGE COLE PINPOINTS HOTSPOTS IN THE WORLD OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

THE BBC SAYS HOLD THE DIGITAL RADIO SWITCHOVER Talk about putting the cat amongst the pigeons. The BBC says that talk of a digital radio switchover is premature, and that FM radio is here to stay – at least for some time yet. That was the message delivered by Bob Shennan, the BBC’s director, radio and music.

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peaking at the Radiodays conference in Vienna in late March, Shennan said, “We all once thought DAB was the only digital future for Radio. But audiences want choice. We now know DAB is very important but as a part of the story, along with FM and IP. We need to do more before we consider a switchover in the UK, and for that to be genuinely audience-led.”

He added: “We are fully committed to digital and we believe we should review the landscape again in a few years’ time. Great progress has been made but switchover now would be premature. For now, we believe audiences are best served by a mixed economy. Radio is better served by a mixed economy.” Shennan went on to praise the legacy of DAB – the growing number of commercial radio brands it has spawned such as Kiss, Absolute and Heart.

Shennan’s speech came barely two months after Norway switched off its national FM network, and a month after the radio research company Rajar revealed that in Q4 2017, digital platforms accounted for 49.9% of UK radio

listening – up from 45% in Q4 2016. The UK is set to breach the 50% target set by the government – when it says consideration will be given to a digital radio switchover - in the next few months. The results prompted Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, to state that “listening on a digital platform is fast becoming the norm for all age groups.” One suspects that Shennan’s speech popped a few balloons at Digital Radio UK HQ… Judging by the comments from newspaper readers and people on AV forums, Shennan’s message is widely welcomed by the public, and there was a lot of criticism of DAB, with coverage, battery life, sound quality and the number of in-car radios that are FM, topping the list.

There’s no doubt that many consumers will now

“Great progress has been made but switchover now would be premature.”

NO LAUGHING MATTER It must be quite spooky to be hear someone cackling away in your home, especially when you’re alone.

That has been the experience of some owners of Amazon’s Echo speakers. It’s been particularly chilling for people who ask the Echo’s intelligent assistant Alexa to turn off the lights just before going to sleep, and the room suddenly fills with laughter. Amazon says a software glitch means that Alexa can sometimes mishear or misinterpret commands and that a fix is in place. I suppose it could have been worse – at least Alexa doesn’t start swearing at you for no good reason…

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MAY 2018

be less inclined to move to digital after the BBC’s latest message indicating that FM is part of the future of radio.

One also suspects that commercial radio operators were not too pleased with the speech either as, unlike the BBC, they rely on advertising and sponsorship for their income rather than a guaranteed £4 billion or so from the licence fee each year. It’s expensive to broadcast in both FM and digital. As I’ve been saying for some time now, I don’t think we’ll see any move to a digital radio switchover for years.

WHAT NEXT FOR RADIO? Shennan painted a mixed picture for the future of radio. The good news is that radio remains a very popular medium, with nine out ten adults tuning into radio every single week. The number of radio listening hours tops one billion. But radio listening among 15-24 year-olds has never been lower, and young people are flocking to streaming services such as Spotify and other online sources.

The BBC is trying to attract younger listeners by expanding its digital offerings such as apps and podcasts. Shennan thinks radio should also grasp the new opportunities that 5G will bring.

It is interesting to note that Shennan did not consider making radio more like a multimedia broadcast – pictures with radio created quite a buzz some time ago. It’s an acknowledgement that radio’s biggest strength is that you don’t have took at the radio to enjoy the content.

FROM THE BENCH

FROM THE BENCH

A man recently brought us an elderly thinscreen TV for repair. We could not help him because spares for this model are no longer available. Furious, and determined to get the set going again, he stormed off to try another service shop, not wanting, as he put it, to add to the planet’s burden of scrap and junk. Maybe he found a repairer who already had the necessary bits – I hope so.

CONSTRAINTS

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‘giveaways’ like dust, fuses, bulging electrolytic capacitors, projector lamps and PSU blow-ups. If the problem cannot be resolved by these the next port of call is the specialised and advanced repair workshop or manufacturer’s service agent, typically charging, perhaps, £90 including collection, delivery and minor repairs. By now the owner will have forked out three figures in charges, still without any promise of repair, or at least economically-viable repair.

Stage four, then (for many people, stage one!) is the rubbish dump or the dealer, both obliged by WEEE regulations to take back and recycle. That process, designed to reduce landfill, involves dismantling and removal of substances hazardous to the planet and its “For many users atmosphere, and the recovery of precious end-of-life for materials, e.g. whole modules and assemblies electrical equipment, – and metals: some copper and tiny amounts especially things such of gold, platinum, silver etc. It also produces as TVs and mobile large amounts of steel (white goods) and plastics, both of which are low in value and phones, comes with difficult to recycle economically. Plastics are obsolescence rather most challenging: some types can be chipped than breakdown.” or melted into pellets from which bulky low-grade products can be made.

here are several reasons why local service shops may not be able to repair brown goods. The diagnosis of complex faults is only possible with sophisticated test equipment and usually the backing of the manufacturer.

Repairs these days often call for expensive tools and jigs such as surface-mount rework stations, and these between them demand a heavy investment, along with highly skilled and trained technicians – and a lot of commitment. These can only be justified where a reasonable return is likely, and such is the reliability and low price of consumer electronic gear that economy of scale can only be realised by taking in a large catchment area, and perhaps a limited range of makes. Even then, the best intentions can be thwarted by lack of spares – at component, module and PC board level – and by a lack of will to wait for and pay for repairs on the owner’s part. Many people under, say, 50, do not regard any type of repair except to their cars and houses. There are moves afoot to legislate for manufacturers to make their products more durable and easier to dismantle and service, and to increase spares availability. Perhaps 30% of ‘real’ faults and many more ‘apparent’ ones are repairable...

For white goods the service situation is better. These simpler devices develop more common and predictable problems, amongst them being worn washing machine drum bearings, faulty pumps, blockages etc; and in cookers lamps, ignition failure, heating elements and fan motors. For all of these spares are generally easier to come by than for entertainment gear, though even in that category it’s surprising what can be found on the internet, e.g. eBay, mainly in the way of ‘harvested’ (reclaimed) components; and some new parts, especially generic ones. Repair kits for common TV failures (e.g. in the power supply and LCD backlight sections) are also readily available.

REMEDIES There are four possible steps on the owner’s roadmap. First, a check at home for obvious things like zapper batteries, mains and cable connections and perhaps software updating. Next, the services of a first-line repair shop for a check, if necessary, of software and then for

OBSOLESCENCE For many users end-of-life for electrical equipment, especially things such as TVs and mobile phones, comes with obsolescence rather than breakdown. There have been many advances in recent years: UHD pictures, new screen technologies, AV streaming, voice control and AV/data exchange between smart devices, feature-laden phones and so on, all with remorselessly declining prices. Other factors can be loss of feature-support for older gear by manufacturers; house-moving; and greater economy by virtue of lower energy consumption. The desire for smart appliances, a trickle at present, is an increasing one which can at least tip the balance, especially when other incentives to upgrade may be present.

In cases like this it’s a pity to scrap or recycle the equipment. There is generally someone out there, perhaps with limited space, needs or means, who would be glad to take it on: in poorer and less developed countries a roaring trade is done in recovered gear by scavengers who sell on, before or after refurbishment, to junk shops. Closer to home, donation to a charity is a socially responsible alternative to discarding, while many dealers, especially independents, can make a profit on trade-ins and subsequent resale, though in both these categories the gear must by law be properly checked for safety. Perhaps, too, it will need its software to be updated.

It’s common for ex-rental equipment to be cascaded down the social/ economic scale. We do it all the time, offering products and prices to appeal to virtually everyone. But there has to be someone with reasonable skill to do the cleaning, testing and refurbishment.

With these types of recycling everybody wins and the environment suffers not at all.

MAY 2018

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15

BACKCHAT

Jon Brennan is commercial director of Benross Marketing Ltd., which introduced the Mill Heat range of portable heating to the UK. He likes a bit of satire, and judging by these answers he knows how to use it. One ambition is to take over from Ryan Reynolds in a superhero role (though how would that possibly top playing for Everton?), but he does have a strong sense of social justice…

Why did you choose to work in the electrical industry?

No other industry would have me…

Who in the industry would you like to spend time with (and why)?

Pretty much anyone who worked in the Sales & Marketing team at GDHA between 2010 and 2015. A great team and great group of friends

Favourite quote?

“When experience meets money, experience walks away with money and money walks away with experience”

What (or who) makes you laugh?

Having children Apart from ferrying children around, I have a gym membership. I never go, but I have the membership. It’s a start!

What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?

The one above about having children. It’s actually a piece of cake when you have a wife like mine!

What’s your greatest regret?

Nothing specific, but when I don’t listen to my instinct I usually regret it

What historic figure do you identify with most?

Christopher Columbus – Had no idea where he was going, but it turned out OK in the end!

How would you describe yourself?

Reserved. Tall, dark & handsome

How do you think others see you?

Loud. Short and bald

What’s your pet hate?

People who bite their fingernails

Do you have any bad habits?

I bite my fingernails terribly

If you weren’t in your present position, what job would you choose to do?

16

I’m fortunate to have a very close family so as a collective it has to be them. Professionally, Denver [Hewlett] and Jonathan [Casley] at GDHA have been a huge influence for me Red wine in winter. G&T in summer

What surprises you?

How much children cost

What’s your favourite cuisine?

Hobbies?

Who has been the greatest influence in your life?

Name your poison

Too many to mention individually. I’m a big fan of satire

What was the greatest turning point in your life?

When experience meets money, experience walks away with money and money walks away with experience

Anything Mexican

You have been offered a leading role in a film of your choice, what character would you like to play?

Deadpool

You have been offered the opportunity to rule the world for a day, what would be the first change you would make?

What do you daydream about?

How I’m going to spend the Euromillions that I never win 

What’s your favourite holiday destination?

Spain or Italy

What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?

Gout… .nobody knows pain until you’ve had gout…

What’s the best kind of punishment… …M6 Junctions 21-16 at peak time…

Gather up all the money and split it equally across every man woman and child and reset the dial

…and who deserves it?

Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change?

I don’t have an ‘Off button’

The M6 most probably between Junctions 21 and 16. It’s where I spend a large part of my life currently (not in the middle lane though)

Do you have any hidden talents?

What’s your greatest fear?

If I do they are so well hidden I can’t find them…

Spiders. I don’t mind them as creatures, but who designed them?

Do you have any particular fetishes?

Who do you most admire?

Yep… but I wasn’t aware this was an agony aunt column!

My wife. She works, runs the house, and looks after our 3 children and me… make that 4 children

What (or who) would you put into Room 101?

Anyone who hogs the middle lane

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

What’s your favourite piece of kit?

Rudeness. No excuse and I can’t stand it.

Hurry up, next question…

My noise cancelling headphones (I have 3 children between 16 & 10!)

What’s your greatest achievement?

What motto do you live by?

I would love to put a bit back in the kitty and offer my time for free for a good cause.

Family aside, I spent several years as a footballer at Everton FC

Be the best that you can be

What’s your favourite TV programme?

What sort of music do you like?

Father Ted

Anything from Public Enemy to Opera

…10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it…

GET CONNECTED

MAY 2018

Life is…

Cooking A Get Connected integral supplement

MAY 2018

Inside...

Food Preparation

Built-in and Freestanding Cooking

Coffee Machines

The Gourmet Quarter Manufacturers showcase products with the power to inspire creative cooks

Cooking

FOOD PREPARATION

Tefal’s Ultrablend Cook High-Speed Blender with built-in heating element can cook as well as prepare

that very modern dual aspiration: ease and convenience PLUS fresh healthy ingredients.

A BLEND OF INNOVATIONS In the past few years we’ve seen the growth of “guilt free” air fryers that can produce chips, goujons and other fried delights with just a spoonful of oil. These may not, strictly speaking, be food prep products, but they are on the spectrum of countertop appliances that make the process of healthier eating much easier. There are also food processors – the multi-tasking “big beasts” of the food prep sector – that come with a built-in heating element, making it possible to select, prepare, mix and cook in a single operation. To make things even easier for both experienced and less confident cooks, they come with recipes and apps to ensure success.

The built-in heating element has also made an appearance in blenders, as Dominik Pytel, marketing director at Groupe SEB, owner of the market-leading blender brand Tefal, points out: “Blenders as a market category continue to perform well as consumers look for ever more healthier and convenient drink and food options.” Highspeed blenders, a category that, according to Pytel, “Tefal believes is a major growth trend in this market category,” are designed to handle the tough end of food prep, handling chunks of ice, nuts and legumes as well as grains, soya and rice to produce nut milks and gluten-free flour. Sourcing healthy and/ or hypoallergenic foods is less of a problem if it’s possible to buy the more easily available raw ingredients and make your own. The addition of a heating element, as in Tefal’s Ultrablend Cook HighSpeed Blender, says Pytel, extends the usefulness from smoothies, crushed ice and milkshakes into ready-toeat hot soups, hot sauces for meat or fish dishes and coulis and compotes to add a professional home-made touch to main and dessert courses. It’s a way for tentative cooks to become confident with fresh ingredients and flavours, and skilful cooks to spend less time in food prep without sacrificing quality or flavour.

Prepare to succeed Healthy eating is still big business in the UK, and with the national obsession with cooking programmes still driving an interest in preparing great food from scratch using fresh ingredients, it all adds up to a strong UK food prep market with plenty of opportunity for retailers to range an appropriate selection of products with rewarding margins. The fact that some manufacturers better known for major appliances – such as Hotpoint, and more “...food recently Smeg and Beko – have developed SKA preparation ranges, is further evidence that the sector has is still undercurrent and future profitability potential

IT

is unfortunate that for a long time many independent electrical retailers either ignored or had a very limited commitment to small kitchen appliances in general and food preparation products in particular. The argument was that they took valuable space from bigger-ticket appliances, they were sometimes difficult to display, explain and demo effectively in-store, they were comparatively low-priced per unit compared to major appliances so didn’t provide enough turnover against sales time spent, they did not belong to the “essential” group of domestic appliances, and the supermarkets had killed the category by going for volume at ultra-cheap prices.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? On the face of it, food preparation is still underrepresented in retail stores, and particularly among independents, and some retailers

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MAY 2018

represented in retail stores”

we spoke to are still citing the above objections to making any meaningful commitment to the category. In fact, some were even unclear about what represents a “food preparation” product. Just to be clear, using the market analysis company Future Market Insights’ definition: “the domestic food preparation appliances market can be segmented as blenders, food processors, juice extractors, grinders and choppers, citrus pressers, mixers and ‘other food preparation appliances’.”

However, as significant technological advances are being made in the development of more convenient, more versatile and more multipurpose products, the “other” food prep appliances segment is blurring the lines between preparation and cooking, attempting to achieve

GETTING THE RIGHT MIX It’s clear there is more of a story to tell with modern food preparation products. They look good (for a bit of countertop design appeal), they do more and they cover a lot of 21st century needs and aspirations. The story is

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Cooking

FOOD PREPARATION

on the other this trend failed to support juice extractor volume sales in 2017.”

Euromonitor also contends that De’Longhi (the De’Longhi, Kenwood and Braun brands all have a brand heritage in their own right) owes its overall lead in the food prep market to “a broad product portfolio, with the company ranking first in blenders, food processors, centrifugal juicers, mixers and other food preparation appliances.”

Another indication that displaying ranges is a strong retail strategy, establishing relevance of the category even if customers are not buying the entire range.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

“It needs to be about good margins rather than volume turnover”

Beko’s Hand blender: one of a range of food preparation products from a long-established MDA brand

one that may appear complicated and difficult to express in a sales situation, especially since it’s about what have been traditionally seen as non-essential extras in the kitchen. Nobody need to be convinced that they need a functioning cooker, fridge/freezer and washing machine in the home, but a food processor, blender or juicer may need to be sold.

Is it worth the commitment for all retailers?

Perhaps not. But in a seriously changed and changing electrical retail world, this is a highmargin option that could reward commitment with a reliable source of decent margins.

The vital ingredients for retailers looking to profit from food preparation products are: careful selection to suit the customer base and style of the store; commitment to ranging enough product to make it a serious part of the retail operation; effective display in-store; and a refusal to get sucked into the price competition at the basic end of the market. Just as it doesn’t make sense to get involved in the sub-£10 kettles and toasters offered online and in supermarkets, there is little point in going for low-cost blenders, mixers, juicers, food processors and the like.

The margin is just not there, and for food prep to justify the space in-store, it needs to be about good margins rather than volume turnover.

FADS, TRENDS AND LONG-TERM WINNERS The food preparation market has often been perceived as subject to fads and fashions that may be short-lived. It’s legend that every household in the UK has at least one gadget that was maybe used a couple of times and then banished to the back of the cupboard where it’s spent the last couple of years abandoned and forgotten.

It’s true that, like 3D TV, some food prep products that seemed like a good idea at

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Most commentators agree that food prep is a sustainable long-term prospect for the right kinds of retailers who choose wisely and commit resources to the sector. As Future Market Insights says: “Increased sale of blenders, mixers and juice extractors due to increased consumption of vegetable and fruit juices is expected to support the growth of the domestic food preparation appliances market in the [European] region. In Europe, countries such as Germany and United Kingdom collectively account for the largest market share. Increasing home cooking trends and the influence on consumers from various television cookery shows is expected to support demand…” The rising demand for “a better more convenient lifestyle” is also a driver. And, importantly, “continuous innovation and product launches, coupled with consumers’ inclination for having modular kitchen products,” are together giving the sector a longer-term glow.

Iain Starkey, senior marketing manager at Beko – one of the brands that has taken a decisive move to extend from MDA into food prep with a co-ordinated food prep range including hand mixers, mini choppers and table blenders – says: Thanks to the growing wellness trend, food preparation has transformed from something that was once an essential everyday task, to a popular and shareable pastime. Over 1.5 million uses of the hashtag ‘food prep’ have appeared on Instagram to date, with consumers sharing photos of healthy at-home prepared foods, showing off their cooking skills and healthy eating lifestyles. The food preparation opportunity is therefore a profitable one for retailers.”

When anything becomes a big lifestyle sharing thing on social media, there’s clearly an opportunity to be part of the buzz. Starkey adds a final piece of advice: “When selling food preparation products, retailers should encourage confidence in their customers that, with the right appliances, anyone can master the art of preparing healthy meals from scratch.”

the time just don’t catch the imagination or – more importantly – don’t contribute to how real consumers want to live their lives. But things have changed. The inventiveness, research into relevant solutions and attention to style and design are producing products that people can see the point of. Good food prep products often win a permanent place on the worktop, looking good and doing a relevant, useful job every day. Retailers can emphasise this: food prep is a feature, a statement of both lifestyle and aesthetics. Displaying ranges imaginatively establishes both style and usefulness. The colours and designs are there as never before, as is properly thought out super functionality.

PICKING THE WINNERS Where are the consistent food prep successes?

According to Euromonitor International, food processors are recording “positive volume growth.” And Future Market Insights, taking a long-term view over the 2015-2025 period, believes “juice extractors are expected to account for the major share in terms of the revenue contribution to the overall market.

Increasing consumer concerns for healthy lifestyles is supporting the growth of the juice extractor segment. Moreover, grinders and blenders are also expected to show a substantial growth during the forecast period.”

Euromonitor International sounds a note of caution that sales of juicers may have levelled out: “The fad for homemade juices and hence juice extractors seems to have peaked in 2016.

On the one hand, the success of programmes focusing on health issues in the UK has contributed to rising health awareness, while

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Official No.1 Seal – Packaging

Cooking

COOKING

Miele: built-in aesthetics in a modern living space

of built-in ovens continue to grow at Caple.

Integrated, built-in cooking creates a more seamless look in the kitchen, which complements the latest trend for sleek, modern kitchen design.

We are seeing more kitchen retailers specifying a single oven and combination steam oven instead of double ovens in the packages they pass on to the consumer, and we expect this demand will continue to grow.”

DRIVING THE SECTOR “Built-in has consistently been the fastest growing cooking category since 2010,” says Alex Hinton, head of category for built-in at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, “and now generates over £450 million a year (ovens and hobs combined), far surpassing all other categories.”

He believes this pre-eminence in the market is because “built-in appliances are a ‘trend’ in themselves as they offer benefits from both a practical and aesthetic perspective. The products offer flexibility and they also help to maximise available workspace. One of the biggest, and most durable, trends is the ability to create sleek,

Where it all comes together...

Cooking has retaken its place at the centre of home life, and the space where it’s done is much more often where we also eat, live, socialise and entertain. The good news for consumers – and retailers – is that from studio flat to country house and everything in between, there are appliances that will contribute to creating an environment where it can all come together

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he open plan living concept is not new: we were gathering around the focal points of social life – the fire, food, communal shelter – for millennia before the evolution in housing tended to push cooking into a separate space.

The aspiration has never really gone away, and the current strong revival of cooking as a family and social focus is in large part due to the design, materials and technology advances in cooking appliances. They’ve developed into stylish, high-functioning, time-andeffort-saving, aesthetically attractive pieces of modern décor that, far from having to be kept separate from our living and socialising spaces, are objects of pride that enhance the overall design values of a 21st century home.

BUILT-IN PRIMACY Built-in has traditionally been where the style and technology advances have originated before percolating through to the freestanding market,

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MAY 2018

coordinated kitchens, mixing and matching coordinated products – such as microwave ovens, warming drawers, coffee machines etc.”

It’s also been pointed out, by Hoover Candy UK product manager for built-in appliances Daniel Dewey, that the aspiration towards built-in is now within the reach of more consumers. “Interest in built-in appliances has increased,” he says, “and we attribute this to the fact that more and more consumers are aware that a built-in kitchen can actually be an affordable option when renovating, whereas a few years ago it was considered a much more elaborate and expensive choice.”

Indesit brand manager Sara Bazeley confirms the factors that are driving built-in. “According to Euromonitor International,” she says, “builtin appliances remained a key trend in major appliances in 2017, driven by consumers’ increasing focus on kitchen design and the recent positive performance of the housing market. Built-in appliances not only have an aesthetically pleasing look, and the flexibility for offering a variety of design combinations, they are also practical as they release vital worktop and under-counter space.

“More and more consumers are aware that a builtin kitchen can actually be an affordable option when renovating”

and built-in is still leading the cooking sector. As Beko plc built-in cooking product manager Salah Sun confirms, “one trend that has continued to go from strength to strength is the demand for built-in appliances. We’ve seen sales of built-in ovens grow 4.6% (sales value, GfK Jan-Dec 2017) over the past year, as consumers move away from traditional freestanding cookers. These figures suggest that home owners are paying more attention to the way their cookers look and the functionality their ovens provide. This trend,” he adds, “is also a reflection of the current housing market, with the government completing 2017,000 new-builds in 2016/17 (DCLG figures). Built-in appliances are a popular choice with property developers due to the difference they can make to the overall look and feel of a kitchen.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Luke Shipway, product manager at Caple: “We are seeing sales

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Cooking

COOKING

And for Jennifer Taylor, head of brand at Hotpoint, built-in is the foundation on which all MDA market growth in the UK is based. “Research concludes,” she says, “that the performance of the entire Major Domestic Appliance market is wholly dependent on the sales of built-in appliances, which in turn is largely driven by built-in cooking appliances. Without this growth, there would be no growth in the market for major domestic appliances at all. In addition, in 2017, built-in ovens took a 48% share of total cooking sales by value.” She attributes growth in the sector to “the recent economic upturn,” asserting that “sales of built-in cooking appliances move in line with the economy and are also closely associated with the housing market. According to the latest forecasts from the Construction Products Association, following the EU referendum, the activity in the construction industry is rising at a faster pace than initially expected.”

Clearly, aesthetics and economics are sustaining the UK market for builtin cooking, making it the place to be for retailers now and in the future.

KEEPING IT FRESH Another advance that has helped put cooking in a social setting is the development of extraction systems that efficiently remove cooking odours, grease and condensation from the space, while keeping noise levels comfortable, and either look good in their own right as statement pieces, or blend unobtrusively into the overall design scheme. Many manufacturers have addressed the style, efficiency and low-noise aspects of cooker hood design with excellent results. Extractor specialist Falmec says “the built-in sector of the extractor market is growing… We believe open plan living to be the biggest contributing factor of growth as designers and homeowners seek to keep the eye line clear from obstruction, and aesthetically prefer more streamlined designs to better suit a modern kitchen look.” Many manufacturers are producing integrated induction hob and extractor systems that glide away into the worktop when not in use, and controllable LED lighting has become increasingly important as a design feature and ambience creator in extraction units.

FREESTANDING PLUSES Not all the style and function is coming from built-in, and freestanding appliances can shine – particularly the erstwhile star of the freestanding scene, the

Indesit Aria 600mm:Induction is ‘a real game-changer’ in aesthetics and performance

range cooker. Ranges are aspirational statement pieces, but design of a variety of widths, plus use of technology such as induction, has allowed them to move from the traditional “country farmhouse” setting into smaller, more contemporary environments. Beko’s Leisure brand manager Gino Grossi says “the range cooker category continues to thrive, with a number of trends influencing buying choices. Traditionally associated with country living, the category is adapting to modern lifestyles offering monochrome, stylish models that help to create the urban industrial feel that is currently so popular.”

There will always be a place for freestanding cooking appliances, which continue to benefit from the technology and design values originating in the built-in category, and the market, though losing ground in value to builtin, is not going away. As Bertazzoni UK & Eire MD Maurizio Severgnini says: “In recent AMDEA data freestanding cookers (excluding range) are on the up for sales units year-to-date [2018].”

“The range cooker category continues to thrive”

COOKS AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS

Home cooking theatre requires not only great aesthetics but the confidence that the appliances will perform to produce outstanding food for family and friends. The technology is there in abundance.

Induction has been a real game-changer, combining smooth, seamless aesthetics with safety, high performance and energy efficiency. Multifunction ovens are also a growing trend, according to product and marketing manager Richard Mackey of Gorenje UK, who says they are “becoming more popular due to the variety of features they offer. The driving force behind this is customers wanting to try a range of different features such as steam cooking capabilities, alongside standard ones.” Consumers are now beginning to “get” steam as a mainstream cooking function that can cook faster and often healthier, just as they embraced induction and made it a mainstream hob technology.

Technology is also providing easy cleaning via pyrolytic function, built-in recipe programmes, apps to monitor and control the cooking process, smart and connected appliances and touch control, to name just a few developments.

Cooking is still the big thing, and whether your customer is traditional or modern, professional-standard chef or cooking beginner, lives in a big farmhouse or an urban studio flat, has a big budget or is looking to economise, you have a great story to tell about the appliances that will enhance every aspect of family and social life.

Gorenje compact steam oven: a technology that consumers are beginning to understand and value

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Cooking

COFFEE MACHINES

Land of the bean and the pod The American chains brought the café culture to Britain’s high streets. Britain’s high streets brought the coffee culture into our homes.

According to a report from the Allegra World Coffee Portal, the £9.6bn UK coffee shop market grew by 7.3% in turnover during 2017 and 1,215 shops were added over the year, bringing the total number of outlets to 24,061.

And such growth is expected to continue – Allegra anticipates the total UK coffee shop market will exceed 31,400 outlets, with a turnover of £13bn by 2022.

Freestanding coffee machine from the Miele portfolio

W

hy does this matter? Well, it’s good news for retailers selling coffee machines. UK consumers have become more discerning in their coffee preferences and many strive to replicate the “coffee experience” in their own homes; consequently, the coffee culture is now an integral part of British life and the market for coffee machines is alive and thriving.

“People are starting to think about coffee more like wine”

POD LIFE According to Euromonitor International, the desire for higher quality and/or barista-style coffee means that many more consumers are expected to switch from instant coffee to more premium options such as fresh ground coffee pods and coffee beans, the former of the two being set for record growth both in volume and value. And, with the popularity of specialist coffee shops continuing to fuel demand for a premium drink, it emerges that ease of use and consistent brewing results are driving middle class consumers to switch from instant coffee to pod coffee machines.

So popular has this rich, caffeine-laden beverage become over the years, that the nation’s longstanding favourite brew has lost some of its lustre. In 2017, there was a fall in tea sales in the UK and, according to Euromonitor, this was partly due to a gradual shift away from leaf to bean.

Another statistic emerging due to the growing popularity of pod coffee machines, particularly hard pod machines, is a direct impact in sales of kettles, which account for a significant share of overall small cooking appliances, thus affecting the performance of the wider category.

BEAN-TO-CUP The convenience offered by pod machines is certainly a draw for the inexperienced barista; however, the UK bean-to-cup coffee machine market has seen tremendous growth, up 30% in value and volume compared to the previous year, driven by a rising demand for premium homemade coffee,

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MAY 2018

according to Dominik Pytel, Marketing Director for Groupe SEB UK, owner of the KRUPS coffee machine brand, which in 2018 will launch a total of three new ranges, each incorporating KRUPS’ new and “unique” Quattro Force technology which boasts “the most advanced process of ensuring perfect coffee every time”.

“Consumers are also spending more on their coffee machines – average market price went up by 1% – as they look for machines that have more features and offer a wider range of recipes,” says Pytel. “In fact, a recent study found that the average UK coffee drinker spends up to £450 a year on hot beverages to get their ‘fix’ from high street coffee chains every year. Thus, many have looked to trade up their home pod machines to fully automatic bean-to-cup machines in order to enjoy barista coffee-shop style beverages in the comfort of their own home.”

David Naylor, Commercial Manager at JURA UK, also notes that UK coffee drinkers are increasingly turning to bean-to-cup machines to deliver a coffee-shop style experience at home. “As such,” he says, “the bean-tocup category is one of the fastest growing in the coffee sector.

“A bean-to-cup coffee machine presents boundless choices for today’s discerning drinker as they can determine their own personal preference, rather than being restricted to a pre-portioned range of coffee capsules at often inflated prices. Choice is the key, and combined with the convenience that a bean-to-cup machine offers, the sector is seeing the benefit year on year.”

SMART & SUSTAINABLE Pointing out the eco-benefits associated with bean-to-cup models, Naylor says: “Imaginably, the biggest future trend will revolve around recyclability.

Again, a bean-to-cup coffee machine is a more sustainable means to home brewing, whereas pre-packed individually portioned coffee presents its own obvious downsides in recycling and more importantly actual costs per cup.”

Consumers demand for better coffee Bean to Cup coffee machines are the fastest growing coffee segment in value and volume reaching over 50% value growth in July 2017**.

De’Longhi - Italian Design and Passion De’Longhi has mastered the art of coffee preparation with the unique Italian know-how for artisan coffee. With a De’Longhi bean to cup, consumers can bring Barista quality to the home, serving the perfect coffee taste and all at the touch of a button.

Discover more at: www.delonghi.co.uk or call: 02392 392555 **GfK RT GB, Hot Beverage Makers Market, Volume & Value Sales July 2016 vs July 2017, compared to other Espresso and Filter markets.

*Source: independent research institute, value sales leader from Aug to Jul 2017

Cooking

COFFEE MACHINES

smart connectivity, says people are starting to think about coffee more like wine. “From the origin of the beans, roasting and perfecting the brew, everything has to be controlled precisely.” With this in mind, he says machines need to offer a much more simplified and automated process “going from easy to easy, with the personalised touch.”

Kitchen chic: built-in coffee machine from Caple

KITCHEN CHIC Functionality plays an essential role for consumers when choosing a coffee machine but, as Morrison points out, aesthetics matter too. “Whilst assurances of quality and functionality are key, great ‘statement’ design that looks elegant and contemporary is of upmost importance. Like with many kitchenwares, consumers are making subtle design choices at the point of purchase. Coffee machines such as Melitta need to be simple, sophisticated and different whilst being adaptable to any interior environment that they are placed in. We know that consumers are prepared to pay a premium for well thought through design.”

Commenting on the built-in coffee machine market, Luke Shipway, product manager at Caple, maintains that designs are moving in line with all the major appliance design trends. “Sleek, sophisticated styles with an industrial edge to give the appliance a more professional feel are proving popular.

“Functions have become simple and easier to navigate and the most popular coffee machines are those which the homeowner can adapt to make different types of perfect coffee with a range of easy-to-use settings, such as grind time, coffee and steam temperature and water volume.”

“We know that consumers are prepared to pay a premium for well thought through design”

JURA was one of the first manufacturers to introduce a coffee machine with smart connectivity to increase the speed and ease of making coffee at home, and Naylor believes that, as a convenience-driven nation, we will continue to see a rise in the type of enhanced functionality which allows users to operate their appliance via phone or tablet device and to customise their drinks to individual preferences.

Nigel Morrison, Consumer & Trade Marketing Manager for Melitta UK, which also manufactures machines featuring

Connect Appointed preferred distributor for Melitta®

For further information please contact Julie Waters. e: jwaters@connect-distribution.co.uk t: 07855 496539

t: 0844 557 3700 www.connect-distribution.co.uk

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Receive up to

£

CLUB REWARD WITH SELECTED NESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINES*

* £60 Club Reward on Nespresso milk coffee machines and £40 Club Reward on Nespresso non-milk coffee machines.

Open to residents of the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, 18+. Proof of purchase & internet access required.

Max. one offer per Nespresso Member account. Not to be used in conjunction with any other Nespresso offer.

Offer valid on purchases made between 21.03.2018 & 31.05.2018.

See Nespresso.com/UKpromotion for further details and full T&Cs.

Cooking

THE GOURMET QUARTER

The Gourmet Quarter Manufacturers present products and ideas designed to inspire the imagination of the UK’s cooking-conscious consumers

Culinary Art Introducing the new and exclusive French Patisserie mode to De Dietrich, a fully automatic cooking experience with the utmost precision. From chocolate fondants to crème brûlées and macaroons, this mode allows you to prepare 14 recipes automatically and skilfully.

If you consider French patisserie to be a key element of culinary art, you no longer need to feel daunted by it: simply choose the recipe on your menu and put it in at the correct height, as recommended by the oven.

This exclusive technology is patented by De Dietrich… so just let the compliments roll in.

The Perfect Serve

www.abdistributors.co.uk | (0844) 557 3750

Time to get frothy with coffee as Melitta® UK launches Cremio® with added NEW feature The new Melitta® Cremio® is meticulously designed to prepare perfect creamy and fine milk froth at the touch of a button.

Boasting an added NEW feature, the CoolTouch ensures that the surface of the Cremio® can be touched at any time. Complete with the ergonomical grip, non-stick coating and integrated heating device designed to evenly heat up the milk and prevent burning.

This cordless, 360° base station with Lift Switch-off includes three attachments for different coffee specialities.

Available in Black (RRP: £79.99) and Stainless Steel (RRP: £84.99).

Swiss coffee machine maker JURA is celebrating the perfect serve with the launch of its all-new, premium S8 model. JURA believes you shouldn’t have to compromise on the quality of your coffee and this new model is no exception to that rule.

With innovation, precision, and quality in its DNA, the JURA S8 offers more than 15 expertly made specialty coffees; it presents revolutionary technology that extracts the perfect flavour from the beans; a one touch function and a Chrome or Moonlight Silver finish.

www.uk.jura.com

01952 671073 www.melitta.co.uk

Vitamix® Ascent�Series Blenders: Powerful, Smart and Chic Vitamix presents its Vitamix Ascent Series blenders, a new line that redefines the form and function of high-performance blending. This unique blender series combines stateof-the-art design with power and precision, along with intuitive controls that elevate the blending experience.

A variety of high-end finishes add another element to the Ascent Series’ uniquely elegant look. As with previous Vitamix blenders, the new machines also feature a powerful motor.

Couple that with a precise timer to ensure optimal consistency for every blend and you have a machine that is uniquely stylish and smart.

Vitamix Ascent Series machines are the first Vitamix blenders that come with a 10-year full warranty, reflecting the Vitamix tradition of high quality, long-lasting blenders that stand up to frequent use.

www.vitamix.co.uk

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15min

A++

Load after

load.

Keep your clothes and the planet Washing at 30°C is the best way to keep your clothes bright and bold. It’s also a step towards doing the same for the planet. Washing at 30°C uses far less energy than at higher temperatures and is kinder to the environment.

#keepinglifecolourful #staybrightstaybold

Did you know that 90% of a washing machine’s energy expenditure is spent on heating the water? With our NEW range of washing machines, you can wash at 30°C in just 15 minutes*.

Montpellier washing machines keep life colourful, load after load.

Stay bright and bold.

Montpellier_UK Montpellier Domestic Appliances montpellier_appliances

View the MW7140P/S/K in white (P) silver (S) and black (K) on our website.

Pre-order today by contacting our sales team.

03333 234 473

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sales@montpellier-appliances.com

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www.montpellier-appliances.com

© Copyright of Montpellier Domestic Appliances Limited 2018. All rights reserved. E&OE. Model shown: MW7140S/K/P. *Based on a 2kg treated load.