Please do not participate in a Facebook scam about a $100 voucher. Facebook is working to have it removed.
Please do not participate in a Facebook scam about a $100 voucher. Facebook is working to have it removed.
No matter the climate one lives in, the love of gathering to grill is shared from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. That desire to get by the fire has only grown following the stay-at-home orders from the early onset of the COVID pandemic according to Rich Prast, sales team leader for Clorox’s wholesale, military, and natural channel, which includes Kingsford charcoal. Prast spoke with IGA’s Heidi Huff, vice president of business partnerships, in a video interview about how independent retailers can make the most of the grilling category.
Grocers no longer have to sit back and wait for the major spikes to market backyard grilling to their shoppers—the spike in sales can come all 52 weeks of the year.
“People are all about the flavor, and the fat—as it cooks off the meat—renders and falls into the coal. That floats back up into the meat and sears in, giving you that extra flavor for chicken, beef, or other proteins,” says Prast.
Clorox has outlined the principles a grocer should follow to promote a successful grilling category.
The grilling category itself has evolved exponentially in the last 15 years, and the options of how to prepare proteins have expanded to suit various experiences.
Consumers these days are no longer limited to traditional charcoal, Prast says. These are the four different forms of wood-based fuel:
Pellet has been the largest growing segment of the business for the last several years. Prast says this is because Traeger Grills’ patent wore off, giving the opportunity for other companies to step in and allowing more affordability.
Kingsford has taken their grilling fuels a step further with its new signature flavors:
These new grill additions come in three different flavors: garlic, onion, and paprika; basil sage; and cumin chili.
Prast says that 9 out of 10 households have a Clorox product. “We’re in a healthy position. Our brands are at an all-time high in terms of demand. Some of our brands have hit an all-time household penetration,” he says.
Kingsford has provided a layout on displaying how each of its products, along with its iconic blue and white bag, plays a unique role in its grilling portfolio. They can offer that advice on how to restore the shelf, no matter what amount of space for assortment.
“We have to get the shelf back to what it looked like prior to COVID. Or frankly even better than COVID,” Prast says. “Because I don’t think we were all the way there, until the pandemic hit.”
The grilling experience is one that can’t be replicated with propane, according to Prast. The game has changed in grilling, and Kingsford offers a wide variety of products and cooking styles to serve various occasions and consumer needs. The opportunity is here to get in business year-round.
Would you like customized advice from Kingsford on maximizing the impact of your grilling category selections? Fill out the form below and they will contact you directly.
These Stories on Grilling Category
8745 West Higgins Rd. Ste 210
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: (773) 693-4520
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