The Barbecue Industry Reveals New Products and Trends to Excite Consumers to Get Outside and Cook

ORLANDO, Fla., March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- From innovative grills and accessories, to state-of-the-art outdoor kitchens, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) unveils the hottest new products and trends the barbecue industry has to offer today during the opening of HPBExpo, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, March 14-16. With more than 300 exhibitors and nearly 5,000 attendees, the annual Expo is the largest indoor-outdoor living show in North America.

Kicking off HPBExpo, HPBA announced today another strong year for the barbecue industry, with shipments of grills and smokers reaching more than 14.3 million. With 85 percent of North American households owning a grill or smoker, and the majority (62 percent) of grill owners using their grills year round, the barbecue industry continues to meet consumer demand for products to make outdoor cooking even more enjoyable.

"The 2013 peak outdoor cooking season promises to be the best yet for outdoor cooking. With consumers excited to put their winter clothes back in the closet and welcome warm weather, this upcoming season manufacturers are showcasing items that will reignite the outdoor cooking spark in all of us," said Leslie Wheeler, HPBA communications director. "This year's Expo offerings, from restaurant quality grills, multi-functional accessories, outdoor entertaining add-ons and easy cleaning supplies and gadgets, are sure to make outdoor cooking a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone from the novice to the most seasoned chef."

2013 Trend Watch
As the peak outdoor cooking season approaches (May-September), consumers can expect to see grills, smokers and outdoor living products in high demand. Unveiled today at HPBExpo, the trends that will drive sales during 2013 and beyond include:

Restaurant Quality at Home: Cooking at home can be a healthy, time-saving and budget-friendly option versus eating out. From making a gourmet meal to an easy pizza, consumers can get restaurant quality food at their fingertips. This year, grills and smokers boast traditional, simplistic appearances with modern touches and finishes that have the latest technologies from easy ignition systems to even heating distribution. Whether the grill includes a fully loaded pizza stone, stainless steel baking racks or fire bricks, consumers will be able to bring the high-quality cooking experience from a restaurant, to their backyard.

Grill-fully Clean: Starting the meal knowing it will end with minimal clean up makes the experience that much more enjoyable. From cooking sheets that keep the grill marks intact and the grill clean, to a robot deemed the "R2D2 of the grill" that gets all the grease and grime off your grill with minimal effort, these new products are designed with easy clean-up in mind.

Outdoor Entertaining Made Easy: Today's outdoor cooking and living products and accessories make outdoor entertaining stress-free so that the host will always be at ease. Fire pits that can be converted into stovetops with the elegance of a dining table can transform a gathering into a sophisticated, intimate affair. Cabinets that can be sized to easily fit into outdoor kitchens add the extra space you need to store your accessories and tableware making it easier to reach for when the food is done. These add-ons are perfect from small backyard barbecues to large birthday gatherings.

Multi-Tasking Accessories: Always a hot trend, outdoor cooking accessories continue to be more innovative year after year. This year, manufacturers are bringing multi-tasking accessories to the consumers to make outdoor cooking easy, fun and bursting with flavor. Forks now act as a baster, brush, bottle opener and flavor injector all in one device. Grilling baskets now can auto-reverse up to 180 degrees before pausing and re-rotating 180 degrees continually until you reach the perfect finish on your burger, steak or other protein of your choosing.

Shipments Remain Strong in 2012
In 2012, more than 14.3 million grills and smokers shipped in North America with a slight decrease (2.66%) from 2011. Gas grills continue to top the charts as the most popular type of grill, followed by charcoal and electric.

• Total Gas Grill Shipments (57 percent of sales) – 8,200,000
• Total Charcoal Grill Shipments (41 percent of sales) – 5,917,000
• Total Electric Grill Shipments (2 percent of sales) – 280,000

National Barbecue Month Starts May 1!
May is National Barbecue Month and the kick-off to the outdoor cooking season, and also a prime time for consumers to buy the latest grilling and outdoor equipment and accessories. Retailers see their highest sales during the summer months, but also recognize steady sales continuing into the fall with consumers cooking outdoors well past Labor Day and into the winter months.   

To keep up-to-date with the latest and greatest outdoor cooking tips, tricks and recipes throughout National Barbecue Month and all year long, follow HPBA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HPBABarbecue, and Twitter: www.twitter.com/HPBA_Barbecue.

For more industry and HPBExpo information, please visit www.hpba.org and www.hpbexpo.com.

About Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
The 2,800-member Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based in Arlington, VA, is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms and allied associates for all types of hearth, barbecue and patio appliances, fuels and accessories.  The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, advertising, and consumer education.

SOURCE Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association