While outdoor cooking may date back to prehistoric times, today’s outdoor cooking and patio living takes place in what has been termed “outdoor rooms”. Many Americans moved from urban living in the 1950’s suburban towns and communities that makes up the majority of modern day America. The backyard has become a social hub, today called outdoor rooms. According to Masonry Magazine, U.S. Pool and spa stores report that about 90% of their customers want an outdoor kitchen facility as part of their new installations. The U.S. Census Bureau advises that consumers now spend upwards of $40 billion annually on upgrading outdoor living areas and garden amenities.
The HPBA, Hearth, Patio, Barbecue Association reported, in 2011, more than 14 million grills and smokers shipped in North America. Gas grills continue to top the charts as the most popular type of grill, followed by charcoal and then electric. Over the past 10 years nearly 155,000,000 grills and smokers were shipped in North America. During the past five years (2007-2011) nearly 79,000,000 grills and smokers were shipped which is a 3.9% increase over the prior five-year (2002-2006) period.
86 percent of North American households own a grill or smoker. Nearly one fourth of households in North America own two grills.
