Panasonic and Good Housekeeping Kick-Off the Interactive Tasty Tips Tour Truck in New York City

NEW YORK, Sept 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Home & Health Company and Good Housekeeping announce the launch of the Tasty Tips Tour, which kicks off Monday in front of the Hearst Tower at 57th Street & 8th Avenue in New York City and then travels to four other Manhattan locations for the rest of the week. This free tour invites consumers to visit the Tasty Tips Tour branded truck starting at 11:30am to taste samples of food prepared with Panasonic's home appliance products; learn nutritional facts and healthy eating tips from a registered nutritionist; and have the chance to win prizes, including a Panasonic microwave, bread maker, vacuum cleaner, and more.  

The Panasonic Tasty Tips Tour truck will visit the following locations between the hours of 11:30am – 3:00pm.

Monday, September 19: West side of 8th Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets

Tuesday, September 20: North side of 23rd St between 5th and 6th Avenues

Wednesday, September 21: East side of 5th Avenue between 59th and 58th Streets

Thursday, September 22: West side of 8th Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets

Friday, September 23:  East side of Broadway between 11th and 12th Streets

Visitors to the five-day Tasty Tips Tour truck will have the opportunity to sample food that was cooked and prepared only in Panasonic microwave ovens.  Panasonic microwave ovens feature Inverter™, a proprietary technology that allows for more even cooking. Unlike other microwave ovens, Inverter allows for an always-on, constant energy flow at variable intensities. Panasonic's consistent and precise heat means more control over cooking, reheating and defrosting with more even results and no overcooked edges. The recipes that will be sampled on the Tasty Tips Tour were developed by Certified Master Chefs at The Culinary Institute of America.

In addition, the Tasty Tips Tour will have a registered nutritionist available to answer questions, while also providing helpful and healthful cooking and eating tips.  Visitors will also have the chance to 'spin to win' for prizes ranging from measuring spoons to dollar-off coupons for Panasonic products to a daily grand prize winner who can choose one of the following Panasonic appliances: NN-SF550M microwave, SR-MS103 rice cooker, NI-WL600 360 Degree Freestyle Iron, MC-UL815 vacuum cleaner, and SD-RD250 bread maker. There will be a limit of one spin per person.

"Panasonic is thrilled to introduce this interactive Tasty Tips Tour direct to consumers who can personally experience – and taste – the advantages and benefits of Panasonic's home appliances," said David Williams, Group Marketing Manager, Home Appliances Group, Panasonic Home & Health Company. "We hope to educate consumers that Panasonic makes industry-leading and innovative home appliances that are truly unique and offer exceptional value.  But even more so, we want visitors to see that Panasonic Home Appliances, when combined with practical and healthful nutritional tips – offer a solution in their home that will make their busy lives a little easier."

Panasonic's Home Appliances Group makes a variety of small appliances for the home, including microwave ovens, irons, vacuum cleaners, rice cookers, bread makers, and meat grinders.  A total of 109 of Panasonic's Home Appliances products have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, including the company's current line of steam/dry irons, microwave ovens, bread makers, and rice cookers. Since 1909, the prestigious Seal has been granted to products that have been submitted for and passed a rigorous evaluation by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. As part of Good Housekeeping's policy, if a product receiving the Seal proves to be defective within two years from the date it was first sold to a consumer by an authorized retailer, Good Housekeeping will replace the product or refund the purchase price.

Follow the Tasty Trips Tour as it makes its way through New York City on Twitter @PanasonicDirect. For more information about Panasonic's Home Appliances products, including healthy recipes for cooking in Panasonic microwaves, visit www.panasonic.com/recipes.

About Panasonic Home & Health Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Home & Health Company is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  Panasonic Home & Health Company is dedicated to helping consumers live well-balanced and healthy lives with a product portfolio ranging from microwaves, massage chairs, men's and women's shavers, blood pressure monitors, ventilation fans, vacuums and more.  Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

About Good Housekeeping

Founded in 1885, Good Housekeeping (www.goodhousekeeping.com) magazine reaches nearly 25 million readers each month.  In addition to the print title, there is The Good Housekeeping Research Institute, the consumer product evaluation laboratory of Good Housekeeping magazine.  Founded in 1900 and continuing today with the same mission, the Research Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of consumers and their families through education and product evaluation.  Only products evaluated by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute can be accepted for advertising in the magazine, and thereby become eligible to display the Good Housekeeping Seal, the hallmark that provides assurance to readers that the products advertised in the magazine are backed by a two-year limited warranty against being defective, with specified exceptions.  In 2009, the Green Good Housekeeping Seal was introduced as an environmental overlay to the original Seal, offering consumers guidance on products making environmental claims.  Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front, with Good Housekeeping mobile (m.goodhousekeeping.com), at Goodhousekeeping.com and through its GH@Home iPhone app. In addition to its U.S. flagship, Good Housekeeping publishes 10 editions around the world.  Good Housekeeping is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com).  

SOURCE Panasonic