Char-Broil continues to pump out a wide range of units on the low end market. They plan to close down their Georgia production facility next year and the last American made Char-Broil will roll off the assembly line. This year Char-Broil (who was number one last year) is found in more major retailers than any other grill. For many years Char-Broil has been the biggest manufacturer of gas grills. Remember that 80% of gas grills sell for under $300 in the United States. Char-Broil is a big chunk of that. But you should also know that the average gas grill only lasts 4.5 years. Char-Broil is helping to keep that average low. Many Char-Broil gas grills (also sold as Kenmore and Thermos) have very low quality burners and while many units have stainless steel body parts this is the lowest quality stainless steel, the kind of stainless steel that rusts. If you’re looking for a cheap grill to get you through the summer this might be it, otherwise stay away. I get more complaints about the quality of Char-Broil grills than any other manufacturer.
On the low end front Fiesta continues to turn out gas grills in its American factory. In fact Fiesta is the only manufacturer of gas grills that builds its products under one roof. Not even Weber can make that claim. Fiesta grills are probably the highest quality grills in their price range (under $250 typically) but still has trouble getting distribution. Some models can be found in big box stores like Home Depot and K-Mart but there is still a lack of product that is really keeping this company from cutting into Char-Broil’s game.
At Wal-Mart you’re going to find several models of Brinkmann gas grills. Next to Char-Broil, I’ve received more complaints about these grills than any other. Brinkmann, who has very little to do with these Chinese made grills doesn’t seem to want to be bothered with support and Wal-Mart who gives bonuses to managers with the lowest number of returns doesn't want to hear your problems either. The Brinkmann grills have a large rate of assembly errors and I’ve had dozens of emails about grills that just collapsed. At the risk of making Wal-Mart mad, I’m just going to tell you to stay away from them. Wal-Mart also has a large stainless steel grill with the Igloo name stamped on it. While this unit doesn’t appear to be too bad with it’s cast brass burners I do have to warn you, just like Jenn-Air, Kenmore, Kitchen Aid and Electrolux, Igloo doesn’t make gas grills.
K-Mart has dropped Weber from its floor and has picked up a line under the name BBQ Pro. BBQ Pro is a name used by K-Mart for many of its products over the years. These grills are supposedly made by a company called Omaha Grills (that’s what the owner’s manual says). There actually isn’t a company called Omaha Grills, that’s a trademark owned by a company called the Victory Land Group, an importer of products from Asia for lower end retailers like K-Mart and Wal-Mart. These grills are pretty typical for the price range ($300 to $500). Not bad, but not great units. K-Mart will also be selling a couple of models from Char-Broil and Fiesta.
In other news, CFM of Canada, makers of Vermont Castings and Great Outdoors grills and smokers was taken over by the Ontario Teachers Union. Good deal for the teachers but really bad for the investors who found their stock drop from as much as $10 a share to under $1.50. Story is that CFM will now be seriously restructured after the former managers became more concerned with their private jets than the running of their business. What this will mean for Vermont Castings and Great Outdoors remains to be seen. While there are a lot of Great Outdoor products out there this year they are not built on the same concern for quality. You will no longer find the signature cast brass burners in their gas grills and the line of smokers appears to be seriously dumbed down. Vermont Castings is selling far more of its lower quality grills through big box stores than they ever did of their better specialty market versions.
