Good Morning! 

Camp Chef has begun their multi-year partnership with Guy Fieri. As part of that, they released the Flavortown Woodwind Pro pellet grill this week. It takes the Woodwind Pro that people love and enhances it with a sleeker appearance, and Guy Fieri related badging. The grill retails for $100 more than the regular model and is available for a limited time.

Unrelated to the new Flavortown grill, Camp Chef has discontinued the innovative Apex hybrid grill that was released two years ago. I’ll miss the Apex because it was a well executed way to make searing better on a pellet grill. The Apex could run off pellets or propane all in the same cook chamber.

I was on The BBQ Central Show this week talking about all the wireless thermometers, the 7-burner grill from Nexgrill, and the Guy Fieri partnership with Camp Chef. Be sure to check out the segment and subscribe to the show, because it’s great every week.

Sponsored By Franklin Barbecue Pits

Franklin Barbecue Pits, designed by famed Pit Master Aaron Franklin are built from heavy duty USA steel and made by craftsmen right here in the USA. For BBQ beginners and pros alike, its design and construction make it one of the best offset smokers for the backyard. And it will last for generations. Get yours at a BBQ dealer near you, or direct from Franklin if you don’t have a local dealer near you. We love and support local businesses, so if you’re a BBQ dealer that wants to carry Franklin BBQ Pit, please reach out!

Big Green Egg's annual EGGtoberfest is returning to Coolray Field outside of Atlanta on October 5th. This is a special year for it because it's the brand's 50th anniversary. I went to EGGtoberfest last year and had a great time. It's a fun event for anyone, even if you've never cooked on an Egg.

Lowe’s reported earnings for their quarter ended in June, and it was the same story as we heard from Home Depot. The pressures on consumers are hurting big ticket discretionary purchases, which means less grill sales. Lowe’s said they planned for the lower level of demand they saw with grills. Conversely, they have increased online sales and are partnering with more delivery services as they build their omnichannel model.

Finally, Solo Stove is partnering with Snoop Dogg again this year, after their viral success last year. They are taking some lessons learned though and targeting more of the marketing funnel, instead of just driving awareness. They also plan to release three new products in connection with the partnership this fall.

Have a Great Weekend!

Wes Wright

Founder and CEO

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Sponsored By Big Green Egg

At Big Green Egg, we’re not just the best Kamado grill on the market; we are a lifestyle brand dedicated to enhancing outdoor entertaining. The Big Green Egg believes in bringing families, friends and neighbors together to cook over live-fire. Our “EGGhead” community of loyal fans create memories with the delicious and diverse food they can prepare on their Eggs. 

With a rich 50-year history and a strong presence as an iconic brand in the outdoor kitchen industry, we are committed to providing our customers with premium products and a seamless experience, both online and offline. And we are now hiring for our headquarters location in Atlanta!

We offer a fun work environment, with lots of food and BBQ (of course!), as well as competitive benefits, including a 401(k) match, medical and life insurance, to name a few. More detail on open roles in links below and/or click on this link to apply. 

Lead Mechanical Engineer; Lead User Researcher; Distributor Development Sales Manager