Good Morning! 

Market research insights firm TraQline has been acquired by OpenBrand, a market intelligence platform. TraQline is a good source of outdoor cooking market data, and according to my discussion with OpenBrand CEO Greg Munves, there will be even more resources for the industry in their new home.

It can be hard to come by market intelligence data in this industry, especially without spending a decent amount of money. As a sampling of what TraQline did pre-acquisition, check out their 2024 Market Share Trends & Rankings that was released earlier this year.

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!

I was on The BBQ Central Show this week talking about the new FireBoard Pulse wireless probe and GMG's retail strategy. Before me on the show was FireBoard co-founder Ted Conrad talking about the new probe, which was a great listen.

Luxury grill brand Fire Magic continues to introduce innovative outdoor kitchen cooking products. Their latest is a pizza oven that's thermostatic, and can be controlled with a sleek touchscreen or via a phone app. Since it's thermostatic, it also doubles as an outdoor oven.

Ace Hardware is continuing to rapidly expand their footprint. The 100 year old retail brand opened their 5,000th domestic store and have plans for another 200 yet this year. They also came out with their own brand of rubs and sauces called Loud Mouth Barbeque.

Lynx has a new Kamado grill coming out in September. It shares many features with a Kamado Joe Classic Joe Series III, but its styling is upgraded to fit in nicely with an outdoor kitchen. The main feature difference is that it comes with a rotisserie.

Finally, another company betting on the popularity of wireless temperature probes is recteq. The pellet grill company released 4X Wireless Probes, which is a hub with four wireless probes for easier cooking.

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