Kraft's Kitchen of Tomorrow
To help its employees come up with innovative concepts, the food giant has created its own next-generation kitchen. Here's what's inside
By Adrienne Carter
A talking refrigerator? An oven you can set from your car? It may sound a bit like a scene from The Jetsons. But the folks at Kraft Foods think such whiz-bang appliances are just around the corner.
To help their culinary professionals, marketing teams, and food scientists monitor the pulse of the modern consumer, Kraft created Kitchen of the Future. The company consulted with interior designers, appliance manufacturers, and their own employees to develop the space. Ultimately, it's Kraft's vision of how people will be cooking five to seven years from now. "It's a place where [the employees at Kraft] can interact in a real kitchen space to help them generate new ideas," says Janet Myers, Kraft's senior director of global kitchens.
Located in suburban Illinois, it's a setup any cook would drool over -- combining the kitchen, living room, and dining room into one great space. The custom cabinets are made of bamboo, a material that's increasingly being used in the kitchen for its durability. And the turquoise countertops, manufactured in Kentucky, are made of Avonite. The appliances, some of which are on the market now, showcase the latest trends in cooking. Here's a look at some of the gadgets and gizmos inside Kraft's pantry.