World news

23 March 2012
SMEG news: Smeg stages successful debut at the Ideal Home Show 2012

The Smeg stand was absolutely buzzing as soon as the doors opened on Friday 16 March, the first day of the show. The show was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles who performed the ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the growing crowds.

The main attraction on the Smeg stand was the prototype of a new Traditional Range Cooker making its first appearance in the UK.  Visitors were keen to give Smeg staff who were manning the stand, plenty of very positive feedback.  The cooker is due to be launched in the Summer.

The impressive dimensions of the brand new 80cm wide 50’s style FAB50 fridge freezer also proved to be a real talking point.  It is available immediately and comes in three colours: cream, white and silver.

Filling the rest of the space on the stand was a stunning display of built-in appliances.  The contemporary Linea range appealed to those visitors preferring a more contemporary aesthetic, whilst the classic appliances suited those seeking a more traditional look.  The range of built-in ovens and hobs designed for Smeg by renowned Australian-born designer, Marc Newson, appealed to those wanting to make a real style statement in their kitchens, including embracing the strikingly bold colours of deep blue and yellow.

Smeg’s new 60cm wide Multizone induction hob also made its first appearance.

The famous Italian cook, Antonio Carluccio, was on hand, signing personalised copies of his cookbook for guests and chatting with visitors about his passion for the Smeg brand.  Carluccio and Smeg are working together on the Italian’s iphone/ipad recipe app and, when cooking at home, enjoys using his Smeg Opera range cooker.

Coincidentally, he was brought up in Piedmont which is around 70 miles from Smeg's Head Office in Guastalla, Northern Italy.  John Davies, Brand Manager for Smeg, comments ‘Antonio truly understands and endorses the integrity of the Smeg brand, its heritage and style, which is very much in keeping with his passion for honest home cooking and pursuit of only the freshest, highest quality and authentic ingredients, much like Smeg’.

Visitors to the stand were also encouraged to enter a free prize draw to win a FAB28 Union Jack fridge – a very topical prize in celebration of the Queen’s Royal Jubilee and the Olympics.

The Smeg stand is number 1N34 and the show runs until 1 April 2012.

Smeg at the Ideal Home Show 2012
23 March 2012
SMEG news: Smeg stages successful debut at the Ideal Home Show 2012

The Smeg stand was absolutely buzzing as soon as the doors opened on Friday 16 March, the first day of the show. The show was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles who performed the ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the growing crowds.

The main attraction on the Smeg stand was the prototype of a new Traditional Range Cooker making its first appearance in the UK.  Visitors were keen to give Smeg staff who were manning the stand, plenty of very positive feedback.  The cooker is due to be launched in the Summer.

The impressive dimensions of the brand new 80cm wide 50’s style FAB50 fridge freezer also proved to be a real talking point.  It is available immediately and comes in three colours: cream, white and silver.

Filling the rest of the space on the stand was a stunning display of built-in appliances.  The contemporary Linea range appealed to those visitors preferring a more contemporary aesthetic, whilst the classic appliances suited those seeking a more traditional look.  The range of built-in ovens and hobs designed for Smeg by renowned Australian-born designer, Marc Newson, appealed to those wanting to make a real style statement in their kitchens, including embracing the strikingly bold colours of deep blue and yellow.

Smeg’s new 60cm wide Multizone induction hob also made its first appearance.

The famous Italian cook, Antonio Carluccio, was on hand, signing personalised copies of his cookbook for guests and chatting with visitors about his passion for the Smeg brand.  Carluccio and Smeg are working together on the Italian’s iphone/ipad recipe app and, when cooking at home, enjoys using his Smeg Opera range cooker.

Coincidentally, he was brought up in Piedmont which is around 70 miles from Smeg's Head Office in Guastalla, Northern Italy.  John Davies, Brand Manager for Smeg, comments ‘Antonio truly understands and endorses the integrity of the Smeg brand, its heritage and style, which is very much in keeping with his passion for honest home cooking and pursuit of only the freshest, highest quality and authentic ingredients, much like Smeg’.

Visitors to the stand were also encouraged to enter a free prize draw to win a FAB28 Union Jack fridge – a very topical prize in celebration of the Queen’s Royal Jubilee and the Olympics.

The Smeg stand is number 1N34 and the show runs until 1 April 2012.

Smeg at the Ideal Home Show 2012
4 January 2012
SMEG news: Smeg & Italian Chambers to celebrate 150 years as a united nation

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Sweden chose Smeg products to enrich and contextualise the exhibition space dedicated to prestigious brands which carry the flag for Italian production to mark the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

Stockholm central station, a nerve centre for the city and the main arterial railway line for all of northern Europe, was chosen as the special location for the event, which took place in October.

 

 

14 December 2011
SMEG news: MOVI&CO: SMEG VIDEO AWARDED PRIZE FOR BEST CREATIVE IDEA

The prize ceremony for young directors MOVI&CO was held on 1st December at the Triennale in Milan. The winners included the viral video created for Smeg by Nicola Martini, which interprets the famous FAB fridge from an ironic and fun standpoint.
An original creative idea brought to life with a lively rhythm and playful feel. A free and uninhibited look which takes on the difficult task of approaching a style icon in order to interpret its soul in a new way. The film created for Smeg by the young video maker Nicola Martini makes the FAB fridge the star of a fun story, which transforms domestic life into a game.
The viral video came about as a result of Smeg’s participation in the VIII edition of MOVI&CO, an annual competition aimed at directors aged between 18 and 35 years of age for the conception and creation of advertisements, viral videos and company films.
Yesterday evening the closing event took place at the Triennale in Milan with awards given to the most deserving projects. The jury headed by the Rector of the University IULM of Milan Giovanni Puglisi, which also included Renzo Arbore and the director Daniele Lucchetti, awarded the Smeg video the prize for Best Creative Idea.
Smeg wanted to be involved in MOVI&CO because they share the spirit of the initiative, which encourages the world of business to interact with that of young people, giving them the opportunities to make full use of their creativity for the development of new and different narrative ideas.
It is this freshness that gives extra value to the viral video, it is an unconventional form of communication which offers a new and original interpretation of the product. The 29-year old director Nicola Martini, welcomed the challenge to bring an icon of design like the 50’s retro Style Smeg fridge to the video, and to present an original take on its explosive personality not only in terms of its appearance but also from a functional point of view.
The idea originates from a domestic scene, where husband and wife come back home after doing the shopping. They start to put the food away in the fridge as if they were playing an absorbing game of Tetris, with increasing pace and competitive glances emphasised by the progression of the soundtrack inspired by the tune which accompanies the famous video game. In the last frames a virtual Tetris is formed with all the Smeg products from the 50’s Retro Style line in a cheerful puzzle full of colour.

The task faced by the director and his troupe required great care and insight so as not to distort or trivialise the product. The end result met all of Smeg’s expectations: the viral video, which will be published on youtube and on the website www.smeg50style.com, is undoubtedly a good base for continuing to mutually exchange ideas on how to interpret this product’s huge personality.

SPOT SMEG, Tetris
5 December 2011
SMEG news: Wallace ‘Smug’ with Smeg Fridge

Which domestic appliance brand features in the British cult animation, Wallace and Gromit’s Curse of the Ware Rabbit? Eager to find out more, we sent a keen film reporter to investigate!

The hit film The Curse of the Were Rabbit follows the eccentric inventor Wallace and his intelligent but silent dog, Gromit, as they come to the rescue of a village plagued by thousands of rabbits in the crucial lead up to their esteemed annual vegetable competition! During an operation to brainwash the rabbits to stop eating the prize vegetables, Wallace presses the wrong button on his wacky ‘manipulation-o-matic’ machine, and swaps personalities with one of the crazed rabbits! Disaster looms!

Over run by hundreds of rabbits loose in the house, and with a terrifying Were-rabbit on the rampage, Gromit struggles to cope – he escapes to the kitchen, for a moment of light relief (perhaps for tea and biscuits?) - and this is when a Smeg 50’s Retro Style fridge, star of many Hollywood productions, takes centre stage! Gromit turns to the rather special SMUG fridge – and OPENS IT to discovers hundreds of rabbits packed inside! Find out how they got there, and what Gromit does next by watching the film! Can Gromit save the day?!

Our reporter interviewed the creator of the film Nick Park who said “ the Smug fridge idea came from the fact that we’d all be pretty pleased if we had a Smeg fridge of our own and that perhaps Wallace might be a bit ‘smug’ about owning a Smeg fridge. It was all a bit silly, but it went down really well with our audiences and people still reference it today, so hopefully it’s one of those little details that people appreciated.”

 

Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
27 October 2011
SMEG news: Smeg50style and Plant Art: an exclusive design-mix

The world of trend setters has once again declared its passion for 50’stylosophy. Ubisoft, the most important French videogame company, wanted to decorate the relax room at their HQ on the outskirts of Paris, using design products with a strong aesthetic impact that unite form and colour.

Two items from the Smeg 50’s Retro Style range (a FAB28 and an orange Fab dishwasher) were among the various furnishings which were specially requested by the company. To complete the look of the relax room, an 18m² vertical garden created by Amaury Gallon (a pioneer of botanical art, who for years, has combined innovation with plant design) was inserted. The garden further flatters the sinuous forms of the products and the result is a perfect design-mix that has given Ubisoft a convivial, original and stylish ambience.

7 September 2011
SMEG news: The FAB’aholic restaurant

A red FAB28 was requested to complete the interior decoration of Cherdak, a renowned restaurant owned by the chef Arkady Novikov, a popular figure with high society Muscovites. Located on the top floor of one of the most antique palaces of the Meshchansky district, a prestigious area that is also home to the headquarters of a number of different government agencies as well as the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The restaurant has an original décor that is characterised by a style that unites elements of the traditional Russian dacia with pieces of vintage design. The menu is well researched, and the restaurant welcomes all of its clients into a “fairytale” setting that at the same time has an “alternative” atmosphere in which the unmistakable FAB stands out.

The decoration chosen by this new and exclusive location strengthens and encourages a shared attitude, upheld by local and International celebrities, who, in order to give an ulterior character and style to the interior décor of their homes they choose Smeg 50’s Retro Style appliances.

7 September 2011
SMEG news: FAB conquers Moscow

Passion for FAB&Co has arrived in Moscow!

The lounge bar of the Ararat Park Hyatt Hotel is by no means the last in a series of exclusive locations in the Russian capital to have bought Smeg 50’s Retro Style appliances. The bar is an active part of the 5-star superior hotel designed to attract luxury globetrotting clientele who demand privacy, and excellent service. Situated in the centre of Moscow, the hotel is strategically positioned between the main historical-cultural sites such as the Bolshoi theatre, the Red Square and the Kremlin, and the most exclusive shopping malls such as GUM and TSUM.

The Conservatory Lounge & Bar is located on the top floor of the luxurious building and has recently been reviewed by the respected interior design magazine Architectural Digest who describe it as one of the most beautiful licensed premises in the world. Besides the uber-modern decor and the delicious menu there is also a distinctive veranda from which clients can enjoy magnificent views of the entire city. It is in this extremely popular exterior space that they have placed a FAB28 branded by Veuve Cliquot. It marries perfectly with the style of the hotel bar and lends the veranda a wonderful touch of retro allure.

The choice to enrich the décor with this object of design is not the result of chance, but derives from the belief that the FAB itself embodies the essence of the Conservatory - a luxury product that has a huge aesthetic impact.

28 July 2011
SMEG news: Top Chef

Smeg Holland recently renewed their collaboration with the TV program Top Chef, a working relationship that first began back in September 2010, when they supplied all the cooking appliances for the show, amongst others 8 iconic FAB28’s in Black Velvet. The first show, inspired by the American format of the same name, was transmitted on Dutch TV in the autumn of 2010, followed by a second serie throughout Spring 2011. It follows a group of amateur chefs performing various challenges and being judged by a jury of well-known Dutch chefs; Robert Kranenborg and Julius Jaspers. Every week the challengers were each put to the test at a Michelin star restaurant, such as the Librije and Beluga.

The popularity and the success of the show last year made the producers of the program specifically request Smeg products for a second year running to install in the individual kitchen zones in which the young chefs show off their skills each week. This winning choice not only helps to characterise the set, but at the same time it guarantees excellent performance.

The new season of Top Chef will start in September 2011.

28 July 2011
SMEG news: Lady Chef

The FAB28 was the protagonist of the 22nd edition of Lady Chef, an annual contest organised in Belgium that, in a shortlist of kitchen professionals, rewards the person who proposes the most distinctive menu judging both taste and creativity. This year the expert jury awarded the title of “Lady Chef” to Yanaïka Skrzyszkowiak who at just 22 years old took up the position of Chef de Cuisine in the Exquisa restaurant in Hasselt, Belgium.

Besides celebrating art and female culinary skill, the initiative promotes high quality gastronomy created with first class raw materials.

Smeg was considered the ideal partner for the event because the company not only supports the principles of “Made in Italy” and industrial design of domestic appliances, but it also expertly combines aesthetic style with excellent performance in order to achieve perfect cooking results, not to mention superior conservation of foods.

The art of Stuart Semple (and those of you who believe that fridges are for storing food)
5 April 2012
Have you got a Smeg fridge at home? Go to the kitchen and have a good look at it. What did you notice? Nothing? Go back to the kitchen and observe it again: how does it look? What have you...
What would an artist be without his fridge?
1 February 2012
According to recent research by the University of La Paz, there is a direct relationship between the production of an artist and the creative stimulus of his working environment. It is said...
With special guest FAB30 as Fridge
24 January 2012
© Copyright David Ruano Let me introduce myself. I am FAB30, I am a sociologist by profession and if by chance you mistook me for a simple fridge, all the better: it means that my cover is...
Instructions on how to stitch together a fridge
16 April 2012
For the tacking, take two renowned brands, two companies that share the deep sense of style, design and artistic inventiveness so typical of Italy: that je ne sais quoi, that something so...
The king of the third half
3 May 2011
Want to know the truth? What people think is true about rugby is only a partial truth. When people think about rugby, they think about the violence of the game, the collisions in the scrum...
Two Italian Jobs, two Different Actors
10 January 2011
250 'limited-edition' 50’s inspired refrigerators recently rolled off the production line, styled with the MINI emblem, paintwork and original door handle. The bringing together of two well...
Smeg wins "Good Design 2010" award
6 May 2011
The Chicago Athenaeum acknowledges Newson for Smeg oven and hob. The Smeg oven and hob designed by Marc Newson are now officially listed amongst the very best of International design. The...
Smeg, not just products. Creations
8 January 2011
Smeg created the 50’s style retro line in the mid-90’s. The first product, the fridge, was an immediate planetary success due to its indeterminate appeal, it is a fridge that does not limit...
Smeg stages successful debut at the Ideal Home Show 2012
23 March 2012
The Smeg stand was absolutely buzzing as soon as the doors opened on Friday 16 March, the first day of the show. The show was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles who performed the...
Smeg stages successful debut at the Ideal Home Show 2012
23 March 2012
The Smeg stand was absolutely buzzing as soon as the doors opened on Friday 16 March, the first day of the show. The show was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles who performed the...
Smeg & Italian Chambers to celebrate 150 years as a united nation
4 January 2012
The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Sweden chose Smeg products to enrich and contextualise the exhibition space dedicated to prestigious brands which carry the flag for Italian production to...