TIKI Brand released a Chiminea Outdoor Fireplace last fall. I had the opportunity to review it and really liked the versatile fuel options. It can use traditional logs, TIKI's Wood Packs, or my favorite, wood pellets. It has a gravity fed pellet hopper, so you get a pretty effortless fire.
Char-Griller followed in the footsteps of fellow Middleby brands, Kamado Joe and Masterbuilt, by
releasing their own lump charcoal. We'll see if their brand name can overcome it's pricing relative to comparable products from known brands.
It's the start of a new year, and that means looking back at my favorite stories from 2024. I was grateful to have the opportunity to interview Tom Penner, President of W.C. Bradley Co.'s grill brands, such as Charbroil, Oklahoma Joe's, and Pit Boss. He told me about their focus on cooking versatility, the rebrand of Charbroil, and about
their acquisition of Dansons.
Also from the W.C. Bradley umbrella, I did a Q&A with Stacie Pacheco, GM of Current Backyard. They're a new electric grill brand that is really pushing the envelope with innovation. They also are trying to broaden the grill market by appealing to new consumers.
I caught-up with Aaron Franklin for an article at the start of 2024 about his new restaurant. Everyone knows of Franklin Barbecue, but he saved a cool old building
that he converted to a restaurant called Uptown Sports Clubs that's inspired by his family's roots in Louisiana. It has a laid back vibe and you might even catch brisket in some recipes.
The biggest story of the year, that I feel like everyone has heard of by now, is Weber and Blackstone are merging. They will combine into a new entity that they hope will close in 2025. I dug into some of the synergies and market implications. It's really exciting to see what will come of that
next year.
Finally, there's no article on it, but I think January is going to be a busy month for new product releases. Stay tuned for cool new products coming out for the spring.
