Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM SEPTEMBER 2015 28 M A N U F A C T U R E R [ N O T E S ] B lenders have been around a long time—since 1922, in fact. In subsequent decades manufacturers worked out the kinks and blenders became a kitchen staple. Then the innovation stopped and the novelty wore off. In most consumer minds, the blender became just a blender—just as inspiring as shower curtains. That was the state of affairs until the late 1980s, when Blendtec came onto the scene. A newcomer to the blender industry, Blendtec's introduction of ground-breaking designs and technologies shook up the blender market, spurring increased competition and helping turn high-end blenders into the must-have kitchen appliance on the wish lists of millions of consumers. The company has introduced a score of industry firsts, including ultra-powerful motors, a revolutionary jar design, LED displays, and programmed blend cycles that enabled "smart" blending. Today, "smart" kitchens featuring connected appliances and app-powered operation are fast emerging. The connected kitchen, with internet- and Bluetooth-enabled machines, is the latest evolution in kitchen wares. And Blendtec is quickly becoming a leader in these smart products. The Blendtec Designer 725 is the company's next step on a product roadmap that will increasingly incorporate wireless technology, smartphone apps, and interactivity. The Blendtec Designer 725 comes with a 3.8 peak horse- power, 1725-watt motor—the most powerful of all motors available to consumers. The control panel has a smooth illuminated touchscreen for easy cleaning, and delivers blender use data, helpful feedback, and hashtag suggestions. Users can select from six pre-programmed settings or use the 100 speed manual slider, providing ultimate control and precision when blending. If that's not enough, the Designer 725's SmartBlend™ technology senses problems that arise while blending, such as air pockets or overheating, and suggests solutions. Finally, it rewards users for reaching blending "milestones" by offering coupon codes for recipe books, gift cards, and more. Most of these innovations are setting the stage for the next generation of kitchen appliances. Yet Blendtec plans to pack even more advances into future models. For example, the next iteration of the Designer 725 will interface with a smartphone app via Bluetooth to simplify blending recipes and increase ease of use. It will also connect with a Bluetooth-enabled kitchen scale for extra precision when adding ingredients to blending recipes. Thanks to 21st-century innovations such as these, the high- end blender category will continue to see dramatic growth in the foreseeable future. Be sure to keep one eye on Blendtec, which is setting industry standards with every new model update. PIONEERING THE SMART BLENDER How Blendtec enhanced the humble blender with cutting-edge consumer tech RO

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