By Patrick Avenell

Through March and April in the lead-up to Mother’s Day, we’ll be taking a look at some of the major product categories and highlighting some of the better products for consumers to choose for their beloved Mums. For your complete guide to Mother’s Day, make sure you pick up the March edition of Appliance Retailer magazine.

An emerging battleground in the kitchen this year will be food choppers. These handy benchtop appliances are experiencing a technology burst as manufacturers design multifunctional units that can chop, slice and grate a variety of foods straight into a bowl.

Groupe SEB currently holds the #1 position in this category with its Tefal brand but competition will be stiff in 2013 — here are three great options:

Tefal Fresh Express Max (MB810, RRP $99)

The new top-of-the-line model from the market leader has added a Turbo Boost function and a wider feeding tube to its original winner. Five drums are included in the box: Wavy and Thin Slicing, and Coarse, Medium and Fine Grating.

The 240-watt motor is primed to prepare fruits, vegetables, nuts and cheeses; and Tefal includes a free colour recipe book in the box.

“It’s the fast and fun way to getting your recommended servings of fruit and veggies each day!” said Tefal marketer Pedro Demartini.

Morphy Richards Slicer & Salad Maker (48401, RRP $99)

Famous British brand Morphy Richards is entering the category this year with stylish metallic chopper. Power comes from the 240-watt motor and all the controls come from a single activation button for ease of use.

Three dishwasher safe drums are included in the box — one each for grating, slicing and shredding. The “extra large food chute” is big enough for an eggplant and Morphy Richards is proving a 2-year guarantee for peace of mind.

Kambrook Chop & Store Mini-Chopper (KFP, RRP $39)

A different form factor from Kambrook, with the blades mounted beneath the motor so the food is chopped after being placed in the glass bowl. This model will appeal to users who are concerned about having the chopped food shot out of the other two blenders out into the bowl.

As the name suggests, food can either be served straight after chopping from the 1-litre bowl or stored for future consumption.

While not as flexible as the other two models — and arguably not as much fun — this model is an affordable option for getting the chopping done.