By Andrea Lillo
NEW YORK–With its healthy launch last year nationwide, integrated physician Dr. Andrew Weil and Spring Switzerland have expanded their Weil by Spring Healthy Kitchen Collection in cookware and electrics, along with a dip into the home environment category with air purifiers.
“We’re moving from the kitchen to the whole home,” said Teri Haymer, president of Spring Switzerland.
New small electrics include a Belgian waffle maker, a two-tier electronic food steamer and a juice extractor, while a round grill pan, a roasting pan, and a “try-me” set of a 7.5-inch fry pan and a sauce pan for $79.99 are among the new cookware additions. Earlier, smaller versions of the rice cooker and slow cooker—two of the big hits from last year, Haymer said—were added.
At retail, the collection’s electrics are slightly outpacing cookware, Haymer said.
Known for promoting integrated medicine, which combines both conventional and alternative medicine, Weil initially launched the collection because he wanted to help consumers have access to products that aid in healthy cooking. But he had selfish reasons as well, he said, as he is a serious chef himself. “In my own life I wanted these types of products. … Food is such a passion of mine.”
Per Weil’s specifications, all of the cookware pieces include rolled edges to prevent the aluminum core from getting in contact with the food. In addition, an enameled set will debut at the International Home & Housewares Show.
Weil also requested that home purifiers be incorporated into the line, so now the collection will have one for in-home use, as well as a solar-powered one for the car. In the future, Weil would like to go into sleeping systems, he told HFN. He and Spring are also still searching for a non-stick coating that doesn’t arouse health concerns, he added.
“My mission is to transform medicine and health care,” Weil told HFN. “I’ve been working on this for 30 years.”
