Pellet Grills

[36Tango]

A busines aquointance of mine calls me the other day to pick my brain about a new product that they have developed. It is a pellet grill. There is really no new technology in the grill itself, other than a different look, bigger cooking surface, and the fat that it is made in the USA (Traegers are all chine now). He asked me to sell them, but I am really not set up for it. I did, though, suggest this to him (I did offer to help with this).

Find some teams on the BBQ circuit, and sell them some grills cheap in exchange for them using them in competition. Have the cooks wear aprons with the company name while in competition (and also for those that do catering) and annoint them as "Field Staff". These Field Staff guys, if the product is viable, would begin the process of getting a following for the grill. It takes this in order to drive value to the grill.. These Field Staff guys would also help refine the product over time by making observations and relaying them back to the company. I also suggested developing a BLOG so that these Field Staff could post thoughts, idea, and suggestions to other owners of this grill. Liek I told him, if his company can develop a small "cult-like" following, he will be able to find retailers to handle his product.

My suggestion was that he have this Field Staff in as many areas of the country as possible, but especially the major markets.

I did tell him that if he made me a smokin deal on 6 of them that I could get thenm into the hands of some guys that know what they are doing with them. It appears that they retail for about a grand. At some time I can divulge more.


So, with this all being said, how would you BBQ guys suggest he get the company off and moving forward? Who out there sells BBQ's on the forum? I believe there is a couple.

[Christian]

Biggest thing I would say is, is it a grill or a smoker, most of the comp teams want a pellet smoker (so they can set it and forget it) but it does need to be able to be used as a smoker.

The controller is also the big one, the teams will want one that is accurate (not the old style Traegers)

It would work and if I needed a grill I would look at one

the price point is right in there with the Traegers, but until we know more details (size, construction, capacity, etc) hard to tell if it is a smokin deal or not)

The place I think their is a niche is for use in outdoor kitches, where they are a drop or slide in stainless but they are a fixed install. I like my gas grill at home but would love to have a pellet so I could get more flavor profiles from the heat source

[Powerquest1]

Lets see some pics!

[mosi]

Lets see some pics!




[smilie=042.gif] Here's one [smilie=042.gif]




smok'in pellet burner



:roll:

[inshuru]

Yummy, let's get smokin'.

[seiowan]

I listened to a special about them on the BBQ central show. (it is available via podcast) They sound great! They use the same technology as a traeger or fast eddie, only in a grill format, I believe they are supposed to look more like a gas grill. They can get the heat much hotter for direct grilling as well. Right now I think they are still pricey, (compared to putting the same $'s on a FEC and having a championship smoker) I'm not sure of the size of them either, if they are portable or not.

If I were starting a restaurant, (which is an idea I have entertained, but can't figure out how to keep boating and spending time at LOTO) I would love to have one for it. I've heard that the flavor of a steak cooked over it is wonderful.

One problem with pellet smokers, is that they have many working components, thermostats, hot rods, controllers, augers, fans, auger fans fire pots. A simple smoker just takes charcoal and a human. Guys have won using Drum Smokers, trash cans, and Webbers, all run on charcoal and a little wood, and the skill is in the human doing the cooking.

There is a product that you can attach to a webber kettle or WSM to make them pellet cookers, the products cost about $300.00.

Tango if you are interested in sponsoring a BBQ team, I have a few competitions coming up this spring and early summer. I'd be more than willing to hang a banner outside my tent and pit. :mrgreen:

[36Tango]

Tango if you are interested in sponsoring a BBQ team, I have a few competitions coming up this spring and early summer. I'd be more than willing to hang a banner outside my tent and pit. :mrgreen:

I'm not looking to sponsor a grill team (we don't sell them anymore), I'm just trying to help a guy out with some suggestions to break into a market. Who knows, maybe they would?

[Baja Tender]

I will never cook on gas again. The grill on the patio with natural gas hookup has not been used in over 2 years. I am a firm believer in lump charcoal with a little wood mixed in. As for the pellet grill/smoker you don't see many if any here in Lincoln Ne. By talking to a couple vendors that sell grills/smokers here in town they are saying people over the last couple of years are going to the lump charcoal for smoking and grilling. I use my Big Green Egg for about everything. I can smoke 28lbs of pork butts at a time on it. A place here in town does sell pellet grill and I think its also a smoker but I don't think they sell many. Just my thought.

[Sea Esta]

What Christian said basically. I'd need to know if it was a smoker or grill. I'm a stick burner as I like the simplicity but I'm open to look at things.

[seiowan]

I will never cook on gas again. The grill on the patio with natural gas hookup has not been used in over 2 years. I am a firm believer in lump charcoal with a little wood mixed in. As for the pellet grill/smoker you don't see many if any here in Lincoln Ne. By talking to a couple vendors that sell grills/smokers here in town they are saying people over the last couple of years are going to the lump charcoal for smoking and grilling. I use my Big Green Egg for about everything. I can smoke 28lbs of pork butts at a time on it. A place here in town does sell pellet grill and I think its also a smoker but I don't think they sell many. Just my thought.


Some of the best Lump charcoal made is made in Missouri. Ozark Lump and another brand I can't think of right now. You can buy it at Hickman's in Mexico though.

[seiowan]

What Christian said basically. I'd need to know if it was a smoker or grill. I'm a stick burner as I like the simplicity but I'm open to look at things.


What are you burning those sticks on? I agree I like the simplicity as well, but when I'm competing there is nothing like getting 4-6 hours of uninterupted sleep. A well rested cook is going to do better later in the day than the cook that stays up all night tending the fire.

[283Check]

I am with Sea Esta and Seiowan I am a stick burner myself. If I did competions I would probably have to look at a pellet for the rest aspects but for what I do once I get the Klose rolling it holds rather well.

[Sea Esta]

What are you burning those sticks on? I agree I like the simplicity as well, but when I'm competing there is nothing like getting 4-6 hours of uninterupted sleep. A well rested cook is going to do better later in the day than the cook that stays up all night tending the fire.

I have a NBS Black Diamond and I got two others from Christian that I think one of them is a modded Black Diamond and the other is a Bandera.

I keep two at home and one at the Lake. Looking at upgrading to something I can pull and cook a larger quantity on. Possibly a Lang or Peoria cooker.

[Sea Esta]

I am with Sea Esta and Seiowan I am a stick burner myself. If I did competions I would probably have to look at a pellet for the rest aspects but for what I do once I get the Klose rolling it holds rather well.

Which weighs more, your Klose or your boat :-) That Klose is a monster!

[seiowan]

I have a NBS Black Diamond and I got two others from Christian that I think one of them is a modded Black Diamond and the other is a Bandera.

I keep two at home and one at the Lake. Looking at upgrading to something I can pull and cook a larger quantity on. Possibly a Lang or Peoria cooker.

I've heard the Peoria is a real good cooker.

[283Check]

Which weighs more, your Klose or your boat :-) That Klose is a monster!

Are you asking with or without fuel in the boat :)

The Klose if I remember right was pushing around just shy of 2,000 lbs on a trailer so it is probably 1,500 or so. My skid loader break over point is 2,300 lbs and I have had to pick it up twice now with the loader :oops: One time was mother natures fault the other mine :(

[tbird412s]

The "Yoder Smokers" brand offset smoker and pellet cookers are pretty impressive!! That will be my next one for sure.

['bout time]

Just bought a Memphis Pro pellet smoker. Any brand of pellets better than another?

[seiowan]

Just bought a Memphis Pro pellet smoker. Any brand of pellets better than another?

I like Pellet Delight. Candy Sue Weaver is the owner, she is down in Arkansas. They have real good prices if you just want a pallet of Hickory by the 40 lb bag. I think a 40 lb bag runs about 9.00 bucks, but then it costs about another 5 bucks per bag to ship. If you make a trip to Arkansas you can save the shipping fee. oh, and pick some up for me :)

[seiowan]

Does anyone on the forum ever travel through Arkansas with a truck? It'd be a great way to save on some pellets.

[zdatzkc]

Costco has BBQ delite pellets. Can't remember the exact price but I do recall it was a good score.