Our recent article asking what items have sentimental value in your kitchen prompted lovefood.com reader Patricia Snowsill to say on our Facebook wall, “My Kenwood Chef. I received this as a wedding present 40 years ago and it’s still going strong!” Such is the longevity and build quality of Kenwood’s devices.

The history

After founding Kenwood in Woking in 1948, design pioneer Kenneth Wood went on to develop iconic and familiar products that over 65 years have transformed our daily lives. The A100 Turnover Toaster was the first electric toaster to allow the user to toast both sides without touching the bread, and the Kenwood Chef (launched in 1950 and redesigned for Kenwood by Kenneth Grange in the 1960s) became the standard aesthetic for food mixers, heralded for its labour-saving abilities and classic design.

A new exhibtion

For the first time, The Art of Design: Kenwood in the Kitchen at The Lightbox Gallery in Woking will bring together products from 1947 to the present day that illustrate the Kenwood design journey. Curator Michael Regan says: “The Kenwood story – of design that has continually embraced a contemporary aesthetic whilst appreciating domestic values – has resulted in 65 years of products that are both a commercial success and a joy to use. This exhibition brings Kenwood back to Woking to explore the brand’s tremendous contribution to Britain’s status as a product design pioneer and considers how its revolutionary products have had such a significant impact upon our everyday lives.”

There’s also a series of talks, demonstrations and swinging 60s-inspired food. Check the Lightbox website for details.

Do you own a Kenwood chef? Is it still going strong? Tell us in the comments below.

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