LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The kitchen of tomorrow has arrived and attendees of the International Association of Culinary Professionals conference got a preview today during a keynote session with former White House chef and senior nutrition policy advisor Sam Kass, who has been working on Innit’s founding team over the last year and has now been named chief consumer experience officer.
Innit, based in Redwood City, Calif., was founded in 2013 and emerged from stealth mode in November 2015 with $25 million in funding. Innit’s team of chefs, nutritionists and engineers use cutting-edge food science and technology to help people manage and prepare their food with ease. The Innit platform identifies and measures food using advanced sensors in the kitchen, recommends recipes based on inventory and executes expert cooking techniques on connected kitchen appliances to produce perfect results every time.
“I know how challenging it can be to manage food and cook at home, and to date technology and innovation have been missing to help people succeed in the kitchen,” said Kass. “Over the past decade I’ve seen many projects aimed at improving how people eat, but I can’t recall one that has greater potential impact than Innit. By bringing the right technology into the equation, we can unlock information within food to help people with food management, preparation and cooking. We can tackle some of the toughest food challenges for consumers and get people cooking more often at home, which is the foundation of a healthier lifestyle. I’m thrilled to be part of the Innit team.”
Innit’s co-founders have deep expertise in food and technology. Eugenio Minvielle, president and founder, previously served as president and CEO of Unilever North America and CEO of Nestle for multiple regions. Kevin Brown, CEO and co-founder, is a 20-year Silicon Valley veteran who built multiple infrastructure technology firms. Francisco Deolarte, chief development officer and co-founder, is an award winning chef and food and beverage innovation industry leader.
“The Innit team is passionate about empowering people to get the best out of their food,” said Minvielle. “Sam brings a tremendous level of experience and energy to Innit, and has already made major contributions in shaping our mission and strategy.”
While IACP attendees got a preview of how Innit-enabled kitchens will offer culinary, nutrition and sustainability advantages, the first public demonstration of Innit’s platform will be on display in May in New York City. Innit has announced its partnerships with Good Housekeeping and with PIRCH, an interactive retail concept curating the leading kitchen, bath and outdoor living products, who together will showcase the Innit Connected Food platform starting with the opening of their SoHo showroom in Manhattan.
Consumer trials, where home cooks will be able to test the Innit platform in their kitchens, are expected to begin in the second half of 2016.
About Sam Kass
Sam Kass is the chief consumer experience officer for Innit. He is a food entrepreneur, former White House chef and senior policy advisor for nutrition. During his White House tenure, Kass took on several additional roles including executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign. Kass is the first person in the history of the White House to have a position in the Executive Office of the President and the Residence.
In 2011, Fast Company named Kass to their list of 100 Most Creative People, and in 2012, Kass helped create the American Chef Corps, which is dedicated to promoting diplomacy through culinary initiatives.
Kass is the founding partner of Trove, a strategy firm to support businesses, organizations and governments who are serious about improving the health and sustainability of the food system.
About Innit
Innit empowers people through food. The Innit platform combines personalized culinary and nutritional science with cutting-edge information technology to power the emerging Connected Food ecosystem. For more information visit www.innit.com.
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Innit is a registered trademark of Innit Inc. Innit Empowered and Listen to Your Food are trademarks of Innit Inc.
About IACP
The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is a worldwide organization of nearly 3,000 members from more than 32 countries. Offering a forum for the development and exchange of information, knowledge, and inspiration within the professional food and beverage community, the organization includes chefs, restaurateurs, foodservice operators, writers, photographers, stylists, marketers, nutritionists, and academia, hailing from hospitality, tourism, publishing, and many other disciplines. For more information, visit www.iacp.com.
