Kenmore Announces New Senior Leadership, Showcases Innovative Products at K/BIS 2009
Nation's Leading Appliance Brand Delivers Value, Style and the Next Generation of Products Designed to Increase Household Energy Efficiency
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show -- As one of America's most trusted brands with one of the broadest assortments of home appliance products, the Kenmore® brand once again reinvigorates the category by introducing exciting new products and features at this year's annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. The latest Kenmore innovations will be featured in the Sears Booth (C3019) presented by the new Kenmore senior leadership team. With innovation and value in mind, this year, Kenmore introduces a range of appliances aimed at increasing energy efficiency while continuing to offer contemporary styles with much-needed solutions for families with on-the-go lifestyles.
"Customer focus and feedback is top of mind for Kenmore. We have secured our position as the market leader by listening to our customers and creating solutions to meet their biggest needs such as innovations that make appliances run quicker, easier and better all at a great value," said Betsy Owens, Kenmore brand's new vice president and general manager. "Our latest product designs exceed the expectations of the Kenmore customer by bringing innovation previously only available with a hefty price tag down to price points that are more affordable for today's pocket book. By doing so, we are offer a unique combination of innovation, reliability and style at a value unmatched in the industry."
Providing great value is not the only way the Kenmore brand helps customers save green. Kenmore's commitment to preserving the environment has lead the trusted brand to take on education initiatives to help customers understand as well as take actionable steps to make their homes more eco-friendly. Kenmore's recently launched advertising campaign highlights the brand's energy efficiency milestones achieved in 2008 including helping Americans save nearly 700 million kilowatt hours, over four billion gallons of water, and more than $100 million dollars.
"Kenmore is proud of what we have accomplished in our commitment to conserve water and energy," said Owens. "More Americans choose Kenmore ENERGY STAR-rated appliances than any other brand. And, with the number of ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances we offer, Kenmore shoppers can save more money, while still protecting the environment. And, since one out of two American households includes a Kenmore appliance, we know we're making a difference."
Some of the nearly 20 new products to be showcased at K/BIS include: -- Kenmore Elite® Trio® Refrigerators with Black Stainless Finish: The first-ever Black Stainless finish on the Kenmore Elite Trio is right at home in any stylish kitchen. Whether looking to upgrade or completely remodel, the Black Stainless integrates with black or stainless appliances, making this Trio the ultimate in beauty, functionality and performance. This new finish is also fingerprint-resistant. The style of this French door refrigerator is further accentuated by a flush dispenser and an easy-to-read blue LCD dispenser. -- Kenmore Elite Trio Refrigerator with Extra Large Capacity: Kenmore is introducing its largest French door refrigerator ever at 28 cubic feet. It features an innovative design that houses the larger 28 cubic feet interior capacity in the same dimension of a smaller 25 cubic feet refrigerator. The interior also showcases the organizational genius of this refrigerator. The recessed LED lights offer up to 50% more space on the top shelf, and it has a new innovative air-tight crisper drawer with Moisture Lock technology. It also offers the Kenmore exclusive Tilt N Take freezer, which gives easy, tilt-out access on the freezer door for frequently used items like frozen veggies. This refrigerator is the perfect solution for ongoing consumer needs for more storage options and keeping food fresher longer. -- Kenmore Elite Side by Side featuring Shaved Ice: This is a break-through product with an innovative ice dispenser that offers three different types of ice - crushed, cubed and the all new shaved ice option. From smoothies and slushies to ice packs, the new shaved ice dispenser brings new possibilities to life at home. The Kenmore Elite shaved ice dispenser creates a full eight-ounce glass of ice in 20 seconds right from the refrigerator door. And, this refrigerator also offers Microban® antimicrobial protection in the crisper drawers, which helps to continuously inhibit the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria. -- Kenmore Elite Trio Refrigerator with Hidden Dispense: The exclusive Kenmore Elite Trio Refrigerator with Hidden Dispense features a premium French door design with an innovative hidden dispenser and in-the-door ice making system that provides filtered water or cubed ice dispensed right through the door. It opens when you need it and hides away when you don't. This technology is available only on Kenmore Elite. The amazing interior features elegant LED lighting, a full-width temperature-controlled pantry drawer and Kenmore exclusive Tilt N Take freezer door. -- Kenmore Reversible Door Microhood Combination (MHC): Kenmore Elite Microhood Combination is the first-ever MHC with new innovative dual-swing door that can be opened from either side, providing added convenience to the user. According to current U.S. consumer research, consumers have strong need for greater ventilation, and this MHC's powerful 600 CFM ventilation system removes more odor, smoke and fumes than any conventional MHC vent. Additionally, a wide glide tray helps maximize usable space and ensures even cooking and heating even for large casserole dishes. -- Kenmore Elite Induction Freestanding Range: The Kenmore Elite induction freestanding range is the first-ever range combined with an induction cooktop. Induction is the future of cooking. It is faster, safer, more efficient, more responsive and easier to clean up. Induction cooking uses a magnetic field to instantly heat the pan directly instead of the cook-top, which delivers incredibly fast results and incredible control. Because induction only heats the pan and not the cooktop, the problem of baked-on spills and splatters is eliminated. This range also features an extra large 5.8 cubic foot oven with true convection that can evenly bake four turkeys and three pies at the same time. -- Kenmore Dual Oven Range: The Kenmore Elite Dual Oven Range offers an outstanding solution for customers in their every day lives. Research has shown that consumers want the ability to cook more food at once in order to speed meal prep and get dinner on the table faster. The Kenmore Elite Dual Oven Range solves this dilemma, allowing consumers to cook multiple dishes at different temperatures and settings at the same time in two independently-controlled ovens. This innovative range also offers a cooktop with a Bridge Element that is perfect for preparing pancakes on a griddle and an Expandable Element that allows consumer to choose a 9" or 12" diameter to fit their pan for more effective, efficient cooking. -- Kenmore 6.1 Cubic Foot Capacity Oven Freestanding Range: The Kenmore 6.1 cubic foot capacity freestanding range has the largest hidden bake oven in the industry. It can evenly bake 100 cookies at the same time. The hidden bake element makes cleaning a snap and looks great. The Kenmore exclusive AirGuard™ system eliminates unwanted odors from self cleaning cycle or cooking at the touch of a button. This range also makes cooking faster with features like the Turbo Boil™ 3200-watt element for rapid boiling and a True Convection oven that bakes food faster with even and juicy results.
For more information on the Kenmore products featured at K/BIS 2009, please visit Kenmore.com or Sears.com.
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.
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