Samsung fridge racking up consumer awards

Samsung’s Bottom-Mounted Freezer

Samsung Electronics’ Bottom-Mounted Freezer has topped a consumer evaluation report of refrigerators in Germany, the Korean company said yesterday.

The No. 1 spot, which was given by Stiftung Warentest, a German organization that assesses and compares the quality of goods, puts Samsung’s coolers on top in consumer evaluations in eight European countries.

The Samsung BMF fridge was also chosen as the best product in reviews from Which?, a U.K. consumer association, as well as France’s Que Choisir, the Netherlands’ Consumentenbond, Italy’s Altroconsumo, Belgium’s Test Aankoop, Spain’s OCU Compra Maestra and Portugal’s Deco Proteste.

The fridge has a multi-temperature control feature, which optimizes temperatures for both red and white wine. Its wood-trim shelf helps control vibrations and maintains high humidity while the UV protection door guards from UV radiation, which is the main cause of spoiling wine.

Samsung is leading the European fridge market at 13.3 percent, followed by Bosch, which has an 8 percent market share on the continent.

The Korean conglomerate first reached the No. 1 spot in the European freezer market in 2010 with a market share of 8.1 percent and has increased its share ever since, to 8.4 percent in 2011 and 12.1 percent last year.

“Seizing the No. 1 spot in leading consumer surveys in eight countries shows the status of the Samsung refrigerator in Europe,” said Eom Young-hoon, executive vice president of Samsung’s Consumer Electronics Division.

“We will further strengthen our market leadership with premium products that can win the hearts of European consumers.”

BY MOON GWANG-LIP [joe@joongang.co.kr]