Case Study | Smarter Cooking, Delivered Faster: How Panasonic Brought Connected Cooking to Market with Fresco

Partner: Panasonic
Company size: 200,000+ employees (228,420)
Connects with Fresco appliances: HomeCHEF™ Connect 4-in-1 Multi-oven
SKU’s: NN-CV88QS and NN-CV87QS

Challenge.

Panasonic packed its 4-in-1 Multi-Oven with powerful capabilities, but complexity made it difficult for home cooks to fully realize its value. Many struggled to justify the premium price when the experience didn’t clearly surface what the appliance could do.

Solution.

Fresco partnered with Panasonic to deliver a seamlessly integrated experience that unlocks the full value of the appliance. Built on Fresco’s KitchenOS platform, the solution brings together hardware, content, and step-by-step guidance into a single, intuitive experience. Instead of building and maintaining infrastructure in-house, Panasonic could focus on delivering a differentiated cooking experience while reducing cost, time, and complexity.

Outcome. 

In just eight months, Fresco delivered a full platform solution for the HomeCHEF™ Connect 4-in-1 Multi-Oven and the Panasonic Kitchen+ app, enabling a successful U.S. launch at a premium price point. The result was a faster path to market, reduced development overhead, and a stronger value proposition for consumers. With award nominations, strong media coverage, and clear user engagement, the launch demonstrated what smarter, connected cooking can deliver.

A Recipe for Innovation

Panasonic has a long and proud history of innovation in the kitchen, including pioneering inverter microwave technology that redefined cooking quality and efficiency. But, like many appliance brands, Panasonic faced a familiar challenge: helping consumers fully unlock the rich features of its multifunctional products.  

In Japan, microwaves and multi-ovens are used for everything from cooking vegetables to steaming fish—saving energy, maximizing space, and preserving nutrition. In the U.S., however, microwaves are often relegated to reheating leftovers or popping popcorn, making a $500 price tag tough to swallow. 

The problem wasn’t the hardware. The HomeCHEF™ Connect 4-in-1 Multi-oven is a powerful appliance that combines air frying, convection baking, broiling, and microwaving into one versatile unit. It also features intelligent sensor technology that detects heat and humidity for precision cooking. The real barrier? A complex interface that forced users to sift through a lengthy manual to unlock its full potential.

"The biggest barrier is the appliance interface. We really wanted to improve and renovate the UI...smart technology was key for a better customer experience.” Hiroko Kobayashi, Director of Global Marketing at Cooking Business Unit, Panasonic.

The Proof is in the Pudding

To validate the experience, Fresco and Panasonic tested the product with real home cooks. In a study of 30 families, participants prepared over 200 guided recipes using the connected appliance and app.

The result: meals were faster and easier to prepare, and users felt more confident using advanced features. Many reported discovering capabilities they hadn’t previously used, unlocking more value from the appliance.

For busy parents, the connected experience didn’t just save time; it brought peace of mind. Real-time updates topped off the experience, freeing them up to focus on priorities outside the kitchen.

"I have 3 girls. One is 6 months old, and the middle one is autistic. Being able to control the device through my phone and essentially cook without having to be in the kitchen the entire time was incredible,” a participant shared.
 

Turning Ingredients into Innovation

The challenge wasn’t capability; it was usability.

Panasonic’s multi-oven already includes advanced features like precision sensors and multi-function cooking modes. But accessing those capabilities often required navigating complex controls or lengthy manuals, limiting how much value users could unlock.

Fresco simplified the experience with Ingredient Presets, enabling home cooks to achieve high-quality results with a single tap. Paired with guided recipes, step-by-step controls, and real-time updates, the experience removes guesswork and makes advanced cooking accessible from day one.

With over 300 appliance-specific recipes and an interface designed for clarity and ease, the Panasonic Kitchen+ app helps users get more from their appliance and builds confidence with every cook.

From Concept to Kitchen in Record Time

This is where a platform approach made the difference.

With Fresco’s KitchenOS, Panasonic moved from concept to launch in months, not years. Building this in-house would have taken significantly longer.

KitchenOS enabled rapid onboarding through standardized firmware, cloud integrations, and app frameworks, significantly reducing engineering overhead. When custom requirements arose, the platform adapted, balancing speed with flexibility.

Beyond the product itself, Fresco supported the launch with built-in tools for content delivery and consumer engagement, helping Panasonic educate users, drive adoption, and keep them engaged over time.

Perfectly Paired: How we Collaborated 

The partnership between Fresco and Panasonic was built on three principles:

• Ownership and autonomy: Panasonic retained control of its product experience while leveraging Fresco’s platform to accelerate delivery.

• Open communication: Teams stayed aligned across regions and time zones through simple, consistent collaboration.

• A foundation of trust: Built over time, enabling faster decisions and stronger outcomes.

Explore partnership models with Fresco.

Early Signs of a Game-Changing Cooking Experience 

Early market feedback suggests a turning point for smart appliances. “The HomeCHEF™ Connect 4-in-1 Multi-oven doesn't just represent an evolution in kitchen technology; it represents an opportunity for both retailers and consumers to embrace a smarter, more efficient way of cooking. With its sleek design, versatility, and integration with Fresco's smart platform, the HomeCHEF Connect is poised to become a game-changer in the world of kitchen appliances." Tony Monteleone in Twice Magazine.

This excitement was echoed at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where Panasonic officially launched the oven, and IHA 2025 in Chicago, where the product earned a finalist spot at the Global Innovation Awards. A media event hosted by Hearst Publications at Good Housekeeping's Innovation Kitchen reinforced this narrative, drawing attention from major publications like Delish and Cosmopolitan. 

A survey at CES of 200+ respondents revealed that 80%+ said they were likely or extremely likely to purchase the oven, with versatility and ease of use via the app as the key drivers.

"We focus on developing innovative features, but for customers, it’s all about the final result. With the app, they’re using these advanced functions effortlessly through presets and recipes, often without even realizing it. That simplicity really stood out at the launch events," said Sayaka Matsumoto, Assistant Chief of Product Planning at Panasonic. 

The Future is Connected

The smart kitchen is moving from promise to reality, and this launch shows what’s possible when hardware, software, and content work together.

This is the Connected Kitchen in action: appliances, experiences, and data working seamlessly together to simplify cooking and unlock new value for both brands and consumers.

Post-launch, the experience continues to evolve through real-world usage data and continuous platform updates, ensuring the product keeps getting better over time.

For Panasonic, this partnership created a faster, more scalable path to innovation. For other appliance brands, it offers a clear model for unlocking the full potential of connected cooking.

To learn more about the Panasonic HomeCHEF™ 4-in-1 Multi-oven, connected by Fresco, click here.

Want a taste of what Fresco can do? 

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale, we’ll help you serve up a smarter kitchen experience. Book a custom demo with Fresco.