Fresco unveils new platform to help simplify smart kitchen

• Published date: 21 March 2023

KitchenOS is a platform that can be integrated into appliances, making them easier to use, reducing the fragmentation in the smart kitchen sector and allowing users to combine the capabilities of connected appliances. Users will be able to access any appliance using the platform, regardless of brand, through their Fresco account on their interface of choice, from smartphones and appliance screens to smart speakers and smart home assistants

Chief executive Ben Harris said the company had learned from its experience building its own kitchen appliance, the Drop scale, and its subsequent work with kitchen partners such as Instant Pot and Kenwood.

"The three things that were standing in our way was we needed new firmware for every single appliance, we needed to build a new user interface for every single appliance and, and then at the same time our partner apps would be downloaded millions of times," he said. At the same time, he noted, there was little additional value to consumers past the ability to start appliances and stop them through the app.

The new KitchenOS can be integrated into apps and websites, offering everything from appliance control with compatible devices to guided cooking with smart recipes and engagement. It will allow cross-brand connectivity, offering a familiar interface within a brand's own app, and enabling home cooks to work across appliances from different brands when cooking a meal.

"We've rebuilt the whole platform from the ground up to allow us to rapidly add new appliances onto the platform," Mr Harris said.

He described the platform as a "stepping stone" for the smart kitchen, helping it to reach its potential. The company has undertaken months of research to identify the barriers for home cooks, and...