Refrigerators
Herrington Takes Over as Midea America President
Midea, a global leader in home appliances, has appointed John Herrington as the president of Midea America, succeeding Kurt Jovais, who is set to transition into a significant global role within the organization.
Herrington, a distinguished executive in the home appliance and electronics industry, brings a notable record of revitalizing and transforming world-class brands. He has held senior leadership roles with LG, Sharp and Samsung and been instrumental in the growth of these brands. His expertise in driving product innovation, building premium brands and achieving market leadership.
Herrington is well-known for his strategic approach to identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities and for leading teams to deliver innovative products and impactful marketing campaigns.
“I am honored to join Midea America at this pivotal time,” Harrington said. “Midea is making significant investments in product development, people and innovation and is uniquely positioned for expansion. I look forward to working with the talented team to build the brand and our customer relationships to drive continued growth for the company.”
Jovais, has been promoted to the role of global director of product management and special assistant to the president of Midea International, where he will lead global initiatives to improve product innovation and go-to-market worldwide. Jovais became president of Midea America in 2017 and oversaw its growth in the United States from a niche business to a multi-billion-dollar presence across Home Comfort, Major Appliance and Small Domestic categories.
“I am very proud of where we have taken Midea America so far, but there is still so much more growth to go after,” said Jovais. “John will be a great asset for Midea America to help unlock all our potential.”
Herrington took the reins on Jan. 4. Jovais will help with the transition through the middle of February.
“Kurt has a unique combination of experiences and successes that will have a tremendous impact in his new role at a global level,” said Lewis Fu, president of the Americas Region. “John joining Midea America will further our mission to become one of the top players in the appliance and home comfort categories in the U.S. market. We are very confident in a bright future for Midea in the U.S. and around the world.”
For more information, please visit Midea.com.
Midea America Corp. is a subsidiary within Midea Group, a publicly listed, Fortune 500 company and the world’s leading manufacturer of home appliances. With more than 166,000 employees and a presence in over 195 countries, including in the United States, its products touch the lives of millions of people and families through air treatment, refrigeration, laundry, small and large kitchen appliances, water appliances, and floor care.
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The Legacy Companies Completes Acquisition of Avanti Products
The Legacy Companies has announced it has acquired Avanti® Products, a trusted brand and leader in the consumer appliance industry. Avanti develops, manufacturers and markets compact appliances including refrigerators, freezers, ranges, microwave ovens, wine refrigerators, ice makers, water dispensers, laundry appliances and other compact appliances.
The combination of these two great companies is expected to substantially scale presence in key retailers, channels and geographies. It will also create a new enterprise with power brands in large and growing markets. Speed, the impact of extended distribution, cross-sell and market deployment is expected to accelerate growth and cultivate value creation for The Legacy Companies.
The Legacy Companies is a global leader in e-commerce, innovation and brand building. These capabilities provide an advantage for Avanti. The Legacy Companies plans to produce some of Avanti’s product solutions in its wholly owned manufacturing plants, thereby securing a source of competitive advantage. It will also protect, develop and drive growth with Avanti’s current customers and distribution partners.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new era for The Legacy Companies, as we now move forward to realize the great potential of our combined businesses,” said Neal Asbury, Chief Executive Officer, The Legacy Companies. In bringing Avanti into The Legacy Companies, we create a new enterprise that is well positioned to uniquely serve customers who are looking for enjoyable and convenient solutions designed for small living spaces.
Avanti is the latest addition to The Legacy Companies’ aggressive acquisition strategy. With the current trend in mass urbanization driven by millennials, Avanti’s compact appliances are well positioned for strong growth. Sawaya Partners acted as exclusive financial advisors for The Legacy Companies.
Kenmore Smart Appliances Certified As Works with Alexa
More than 40 Kenmore smart appliances are now certified as Works with Alexa. The select Kenmore smart appliance models have received Works with Alexa certification, meaning they meet Amazon’s high bar for responsiveness, reliability, and functionality.
Customers who purchase Kenmore smart appliances with the Works with Alexa certification can control their appliances using voice commands, including the examples, below:
Laundry:
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “how much time is remaining on my dryer cycle?”
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart to start my washer.
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “what is my washer doing?”
Dishwasher:
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “what is my dishwasher doing?”
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “how much time is remaining on my dishwasher cycle?”
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “do I need to add rinse aid?”
Refrigerator:
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “what is my refrigerator’s freezer temperature?”
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart “what is my refrigerator’s temperature?”
Alexa, ask Kenmore Smart to turn on the ice-maker in my refrigerator.
In 2018, the Kenmore brand introduced a line of room air conditioners that are compatible with Alexa and certified as Works with Alexa. Kenmore also recently announced Amazon Dash Replenishment is available on Kenmore smart refrigerators so customers can have water and air filters reordered automatically when they need to be replaced. For more information, visit https://www.kenmore.com/products/smart-appliances.
Frigidaire Gallery Debuts On-trend Air Fry Range
Electrolux has launched new products with industry-first innovations, including the Frigidaire Gallery front-control range with Air Fry, and a fully customizable refrigerator drawer.
In a recent consumer study, nearly 83 percent of consumers stated Air Fry was a critical or important factor in their purchase decision. Frigidaire Gallery® is the first to bring a range with Air Fry to market. The new Frigidaire Gallery front control range with Air Fry means consumers can now make healthier, crisp and delicious meals using the hottest trend in cooking while eliminating the need for an expensive, bulky countertop appliance.
Meeting cooking needs with True Convection and a Flexible Five Burner Cooktop, the Frigidaire Gallery range offers time-saving features like quick preheat.
Available in gas, electric, and induction. The induction cooktop is faster than gas or electric, easier to clean, and delivers consistent results, every time.
The new range will be available in the third quarter of 2019, with an MSRP of $1,499- 1,699.
The new Frigidaire Gallery® four-door refrigerator offers the market’s widest range in temperature settings from -6 degrees to 45 degrees. It’s the first refrigerator on the market with a drawer that can fully convert from a refrigerator to a freezer.
It’s easy to access frequently used items with adjustable storage, including a flip-up shelf to fit taller items and an expandable door bin, with the SpaceWise® Organization system. Auto CrispSeal™ crisper drawers keep food fresh longer.
The new refrigerator will be available in February with an MSRP of $3,599
The new Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher is quick and quiet. Its Dual OrbitClean® wash system removes tough, dried and baked-on food. Its MaxBoost™ Dry3 gives fast drying performance.
The new dishwasher is available now, with an MSRP of $849.
To learn more about Frigidaire® and its full range of innovative home appliances, visit www.frigidaire.com.
Fisher & Paykel Appliances Makes KBIS/IBS 2019 Debut
Fisher & Paykel will be exhibiting at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders’ Show (IBS) from February 19-21 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The New Zealand-founded brand will introduce several new product platforms and showcase its most comprehensive ever collection of premium kitchen appliances, that demonstrate an insightful, human-centric design philosophy.
This will be the first exhibition at which Fisher & Paykel has displayed its distinctive design styles – Contemporary, Classic, Professional, and Outdoor – as cohesive installations. The booth will also feature The Social Kitchen™, an interactive area that will take attendees on a uniquely New Zealand-inspired design and food experience led by Fisher & Paykel team members.
“We believe in offering ultimate kitchen solutions with products that fit seamlessly into modern life. For the show, we’ve developed vignettes that showcase our comprehensive and versatile suite of appliances that are beautiful to use and offer exceptional performance,” says Kevin Dexter, Fisher & Paykel President of North America. “This includes our revolutionary DishDrawer™ dishwasher and CoolDrawer™ multi-temperature drawer, Classic and Professional Ranges, Built-in Ovens (convection, steam and microwave), Integrated Column Refrigerators and Freezers, the DCS Series 9 Grill and a host of companion products.”
For The Social Kitchen experience, Fisher & Paykel will treat attendees to four signature tastings highlighting the diverse flora and fauna of New Zealand: Kawakawa tea served from a unique stone induction unit, toasted Manuka honey marshmallows, a Noble Riesling sherbet, and a gold kiwifruit syrup served over shaved ice. These taste sensations will be accompanied with stories that embody Fisher & Paykel’s The Social Kitchen philosophy, in which the heart of the home is where food, friends and family come together.
“The event will be a chance for visitors to experience first-hand our respect for food and obsession with product details,” adds General Manager Design, Mark Elmore, whose tenure with the brand spans more than 30 years. “It’s also an opportunity to hear from Fisher & Paykel’s product developers about how our land and culture influence design simplicity, performance and quality.”
Members of the executive and design teams including Elmore, Dexter and CEO Stuart Broadhurst will be on hand to discuss the Fisher & Paykel product portfolio and design-led brand ethos in more detail. “We look forward to welcoming KBIS and IBS attendees into our world, to interact with our appliances as they would in their own home,” concludes Dexter.
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