Good Morning! 

There was a big acquisition that took place early last year that flew completely under the radar. Charbroil acquired Spark Grills last February. Spark Grills created an innovative grill that could have had a big future.

They made a grill that looked sleek and was perfect for people that were new to grilling. It was fueled with proprietary charcoal blocks that they called Briqs, and it was temperature controlled through a phone app. Unfortunately, they started scaling up just as the market came crashing down. As the company was going out of business, Charbroil scooped them up.

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!

There was a fire on Monday at a Dansons' pellet mill in Hope, Arkansas. Two people were injured and the facility sustained minor damage. Thankfully, the two employees were released back home after receiving treatment. The source of the fire is under investigation.

The keynote speakers and educational programming schedule was released for the 2025 HPBExpo. They'll cover topics that will help run a grill business today and trends that will help for the future. The large outdoor cooking focused expo takes place in New Orleans for 2025. 

It's the end of the year, so that means it's time to look back at some of my favorite articles from the year. A big one for me was a changing of the guard at Big Green Egg with a new CEO taking over. That's such an iconic brand, and I know they're working on big things to come.

It's expensive to take a trip to Austin to enjoy great barbecue. Good thing you can order whole cooked briskets through the mail. One article I enjoyed doing this year is I tested out ordering a whole Franklin Barbecue brisket from Goldbelly. It didn't disappoint.

Finally, I did an interview earlier this year with the CEO of Breeo, an American made fire pit company. The CEO is exactly who you want running the company, he lived out of a camper and cooked his meals on a Breeo fire pit while he drove around the country promoting the brand.

Happy New Year!

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 User Researcher; Distribution Center Order Fulfillment Coordinator; Senior Accountant; Event Activation Manager