Is Cuisinart's new product truly lower-priced competition for Thermomix?

[ThermomixBlogger]

I'm really sorry to be so absent from here lately  and then when I do drop in, it's so brief  but truth is, I'm just swamped with work  and emails here....

Just wanted to pass on this little nugget of interesting info that may be of particular interest to demonstrators everywhere. It applies to North America specifically, but also to UK and perhaps even Australia (if now now, maybe coming to Oz some time soon?!)

Article is about the new Cuisinart product that has been called "new lower-priced competition for Thermomix..." Well, the fact that it is being compared to Thermomix is the ultimate compliment  ! (imho)

See the full story on the blog here:
http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2011/10640/cuisinart-soup-maker-thermomix-usa.html

Have fun reading!
 
oh -- ps --I've only posted part one. This is an "article of discovery" and part two will be posted later this week so do check back as there's more to come!

[cookie1]

Thanks Helene. I wonder if it is at all like the vitamix? I found your article interesting and will look for instalement 2.

[cathy79]

I saw the ad in the Jamie Oliver magazine my DH bought me the other day.  No price tag, but from the picture it has four speeds, 3 heat settings and a stir function.  The catch phrase is "It sautes, cooks, simmers, blends and then you serve".

Looks like another "single use" piece of equipment that the thermomix can market itself against, along with the rice cooker, food processor, blender, mincer, bread maker, scales.....what have I forgotten?  No competition!

[andiesenji]

It isn't all that new in the UK as there are YouTube videos about it from November 2009.

I think the introduction to North America is indeed new.   

Williams-Sonoma sells it for $199.95.

Apparently they have it as an "exclusive" because it does not appear on Cuisinart's web site. 

I really don't think Thermomix needs to worry about this being any significant competition in countries where Thermomix is "officially" sold.

I posted about it on eGullet as I am sure that folks there will be interested.  Thanks for the information, Helene. 

[Nay-nay]

Poor substitute isn't it? It didn't have exact temps and it didn't seem to stir at the same time as cooking. I wonder if it is hard to clean.

[stacelee]

I can't see how this could be truly competition......after a month of using the Kenwood, I can definately say that it is competition...but I don't see how this device is.

Take care
Stacey

[ThermomixBlogger]

Hi all --

fyi - I posted the second part to this discussion on the blog today, along the lines of "Is the Soup Maker a Thermomix competitor?"

Which can be seen here:
http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2011/10987/cuisinart-soup-maker-usa-thermomix-usa.html

Yes, the Soup Maker is not new in the UK, but was just released in the US at beginning of January and there are links to various press releases on the blog. It was interesting to note the following findings:

- Cuisinart claims to have won the "2010 Housewares of the Year Award" with this product in the UK. Well indeed, this award is really just simply industry (peer) acknowledgment, not a 'real' award, imho.  It was curious to note that on the award video located on youtube, they refer to the Soup Maker as the Silver winner, not the Gold. But on the website for Housewares association, it is listed as winning the Gold. (maybe a little re-shuffling of the envelopes at the last minute?) 
- was also very interesting to read about the patents held for this product in the USA, developed in 2003 by a company called KitchenStir who also makes a product called the ThermoStir  which is referred to as the choice for professionals. KitchenStir has pretty much locked up all the patents for heated blenders in the USA in the last few years.  They developed the patents and are manufacturing the product in China and licensing it to Waring and Cuisinart, with Williams-Sonoma having exclusivity in the USA.

While the claims and the reports on YouTube appear interesting and quite sound, what I didn't like was the look of the product's earlier incarnations as seen on the KitchenStir website. But I'll let everyone judge for themselves. For this reason I have included a lot of links in my recent blog post comparing the two.

There are more pointers to this type of info on the new page I've just posted:
http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2011/10987/cuisinart-soup-maker-usa-thermomix-usa.html

I don't see the Soup Maker as competition, but as a real help  for Thermomix -- even in the USA. I can tell you that from the new traffic and mail to my blog since the Soup Maker announcement, there are MANY more people in the US interested in THERMOMIX.  Again, I want to reiterate that the Thermomix will not be bought by every cook, nor will the Soup Maker. I LOVE that the soup maker is being compared to the Thermomix and I think consultants will cash in on this fact, wherever both units are available in the same country. (Australia could be next, we don't know...) Think of it all in terms of the automobile world. If someone didn't know about cars, and they were given a basic Ford to drive, they would be really happy. But knowing and enjoying that Ford might just create the desire for a Mercedes in some people. The more people who drive cars, the better it is for Mercedes. (Hope you follow)

Okay, that's all for now!
Thanks to all who read and comment on the blog at SuperKitchenMachine, I truly appreciate all your support.
 

[Cyberider]

The Cuisinart was on sale last weekend for $159.96 and I was tempted.    However, I am not enthusiastic about Cuisinart's Chinese manufactured products of recent years so I didn't.  It is not exclusive to Williams-Sonoma anymore so I suspect we will see more sales in the future.  The Cuisinart doesn't look like much competition for the Thermomix but in the US, where there is no TM sales or support, it might get the market by default.