F&P engineers have designs on Chinese cooking

Fisher and Paykel Appliances designers got a taste of their own cooking yesterday when they took part in "Stir Fryday" to celebrate the opening of the new design centre kitchen.

Manager Michelle Read said the day was designed to be a bit of fun but with a serious side.

There were about 100 product designers in the new Wall Street Mall site, in central Dunedin.

As cooking products were designed, they would be tested by the designers themselves.

"They get to make sure they know how to use their products."

Yesterday, teams of designers formed themselves into teams to cook Chinese food in recognition that Chinese company Haier was a significant shareholder in the company, she said.

Having the designers learn more about the different cooking styles on the appliances they designed, made them think more about their products.

Product market manager Stephen Bruce said there was a large team of men designing cooking appliances and, for many, the test kitchen was the only exposure they had to using the products.

Some of the designers had proved to be budding chefs who were "passionate about their cooking".

Some had started working on a food blog, cooking meals, taking photos and posting them on the blog, he said.

The new kitchen would be used by all of the 150 staff, and for cooking demonstrations.

Retailers would also be trained in the kitchen, Ms Read said.

"We will make them cook their own lunch so they get to understand how to get the best out of the products."