Customers of supermarket giant Woolworths are now able to order groceries directly from their compatible refrigerator using a connected appliance developed in collaboration with Samsung.
Billed as an Australian-first in “connected appliance innovation”, a 21.5-inch LCD touchscreen which serves as the refrigerator’s digital command centre — the Samsung Family Hub — allows groceries to be ordered from Woolworths directly from their fridge via a customised Woolworths App.
Family Hub can also connect to a compatible smartphone via the Samsung Smart Home app allowing grocery lists to sync and also view the inside of the fridge whilst on-the-go.
Allowing users to see what’s inside their fridge, Family Hub features three tiny, high-quality cameras positioned inside the refrigerator that capture an image each time the doors close.
And, for food reminders, you can use the Family Hub screen or compatible smartphone to drag and drop expiration dates to the image of items inside to know what needs to be used, and by when.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Woolworths to bring the Family Hub experience to Australian households,” said Jeremy Senior, head of home appliances at Samsung Electronics Australia.
“The integration of the Woolworths App is designed to give Australians more convenience than ever before, saving time and adding an extra layer of support and functionality. Family Hub breaks new ground for household technology that is designed to transform the way Australians manage their food and life around the kitchen.”
Kate Langford, Woolworths general manager of digital, says more than 2200 recipes will feature on the Family Hub, with updates and new recipes added on a regular basis, and featured cooking ideas on the homepage will also be timed to appear according to whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner time.
Langford says more than half a million people shop with Woolworths online each month, with 200,000 using the Woolworths App, with bread, chicken breasts and fresh produce such as bananas among the most popular items.
“At Woolworths, the customer is at the centre of everything we do, so working with Samsung on the Family Hub made perfect sense for us as we work to provide our customers with convenient ways to shop,” Langford says.
“With the kitchen at the heart of the home, the Woolworths App on the Family Hub will deliver a great experience for customers, while also acting as a constant source of food inspiration."
Other key features of the Family Hub include:
Connect with your family
● StickiBoard – Keep in touch with family members by sharing multiple calendars, posting photos and writing notes directly on the screen [or with] your compatible mobile device.
● WhiteBoard – Write notes and draw pictures on the Family Hub and through a compatible mobile device to leave messages for your family.
● Photo Album – Display daily photos and iconic family images for all to see.
Don’t skip a beat
● Pandora and Tunein Radio – Australians now have the option to stream music directly from their fridge.
● Web Browser – Surf the Internet using a full browser for all family needs.
Plan ahead
● AccuWeather – Get weather updates while multi-tasking in the kitchen.
Samsung’s Jeremy Senior says the Family Hub also offers “innovative features” to help keep food fresh.
This is done through the exclusive FlexZone located in the bottom right quadrant of the refrigerator, which transforms from fridge to freezer by toggling between five customisable temperature settings, providing the ability to increase freezer space when entertaining or during the hot summer months.
“Our Australians@HOME study revealed that over 90% of Australians want a fridge with customisable spaces, so we’re incredibly excited to deliver another refrigerator with dedicated features which allows the product to be turned into a fridge or freezer depending on the needs of the consumer," he said.
The 671L Family Hub also features a Triple Cooling system. With three evaporators and a network of sensors, Triple Cooling is designed to maintain even humidity levels throughout the refrigerator to help provide precise temperature calibration.
Senior says the Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator (model SRF670HB) is available in a black stainless steel design in a Counter Depth size for a RRP $7499 from selected stores now.
The Woolworths App will be available during October.