Start with the range, not the product
A garden centre or DIY store rarely needs one grill. It needs a range by price point and fuel type, with accessories that lift the basket value. A typical structure looks like this:
- Entry: portable charcoal grills, kettle grills and fire pits for first-time buyers.
- Middle: charcoal grill carts with side tables, plancha griddles and small gas grills.
- Premium: kamado ceramic grills, larger gas grills and pellet grills.
- Accessories: BBQ tool sets, grill baskets, cast-iron grill pans, skewers, gloves, thermometers and covers.
Accessories often deliver a better margin than the grills themselves, and they sell from spring until autumn. Plan them as part of the same order. Our barbecues and grill accessories page shows MOQs and indicative prices per model.
What to compare between charcoal grills
Two kettle grills with the same diameter can differ a lot in use and lifespan. Ask for and compare:
- steel thickness of the bowl and lid, in millimetres;
- finish: enamel, heat-resistant powder coat or painted steel;
- grate material: chrome-plated, stainless steel or cast iron, with the wire diameter;
- ash management: open tray or closed ash catcher;
- vents, lid thermometer and handle material;
- assembled height, cooking area and weight;
- number of parts and the clarity of the assembly instructions.
Fire the sample, cook on it twice and leave it outside in the rain for a week. Peeling paint near the firebox and rust at welds show up quickly.
Gas grills: a different set of rules
Gas grills and gas plancha griddles fall under the Gas Appliances Regulation (EU) 2016/426. They may only be sold with the manufacturer’s EU type-examination certificate issued by a notified body and the EU declaration of conformity. The appliance must also match the gas category and connection used in the destination country. Propane and butane supply, pressure regulators and hose connections differ between Germany, France, Poland and other markets.
In practice this means you should:
- ask which countries and gas categories the type-examination covers;
- check the data plate and manual for the correct category and pressure;
- confirm which regulator and hose are supplied, or whether they are sold separately;
- provide instructions and warnings in the language of each country of sale.
If these documents are missing, do not import the gas grill. A charcoal or electric version is a safer choice for a first season.
Food contact: grates, griddles, pans and tools
Grill grates, plancha plates, grill pans, baskets, skewers and tongs come into contact with food. They fall under Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, and the manufacturer should provide a declaration of compliance. Plastic parts, such as handles that might touch food, also fall under Regulation (EU) 10/2011. For coated cookware, ask what the coating is and request the migration test summary.
Cast iron is popular for pans and griddles, but it needs a clear seasoning instruction in the manual, otherwise customers return it as rusty. Stainless steel grates cost more but reduce complaints.
Kamado and pellet grills
Kamado grills are heavy ceramic products. Check the wall thickness, the gasket, the hinge mechanism and the stand. Breakage in transit is the main risk, so packaging deserves as much attention as the grill: foam inserts, a strong outer carton and pallet loading that keeps the cartons upright.
Pellet grills have an electric auger, fan and controller. That brings CE marking for the electrical parts, WEEE registration and a manual with electrical safety instructions. Treat them as electrical products, not only as grills.
Fire pits, covers and spare parts
Fire pits sit between garden decor and barbecue. Customers judge them by steel thickness, the stability of the legs and whether a grill grate or spark screen is included. Check that the manual explains safe distances and that the product is not described as suitable for indoor use.
Covers and spare parts are often forgotten. A fitted cover for each grill model is an easy add-on at the till, and it reduces complaints about rust. Spare grates, charcoal baskets, ash pans and thermometers keep customers coming back to the same store. Ask the factory whether spare parts will be available for the next two or three seasons, and order a small stock with the first shipment. Without parts, a missing screw or a cracked thermometer turns into a full return.
For hotels, beer gardens and campsites, grills and fire pits are used far more intensively than at home. Choose heavier steel, simple designs and models where parts can be replaced on site. Our page for hospitality buyers covers outdoor fit-outs.
Cartons, freight and delivered cost
Barbecues are bulky. A grill cart can take several times the volume of a box of hand tools at a similar value. Freight is calculated by volume, so:
- ask for carton dimensions and units per pallet for every model;
- prefer flat-packed designs where assembly is realistic for customers;
- compare delivered prices, not ex-factory unit prices;
- plan grills and accessories in one shipment to fill the space efficiently.
We quote grills and other bulky goods delivered for that reason. The logistics page explains how mixed shipments are combined.
Timing the BBQ season
BBQ sales run from April to August, with the first warm weekend often deciding a lot. Imported and private label grills should be ordered by October–November for delivery in March and April. Accessories can follow in a second wave. Orders placed in January–March are served from stock items or scheduled for later in the season.
Private label grills
A logo on the grill lid, a branded thermometer and a printed carton are the most common requests. Coloured enamel lids and custom tool sets are possible at higher quantities. Private label starts from 300 pieces per model. Approve the pre-production sample before mass production, including the colour of the enamel and the position of the logo.
A short checklist before ordering
- Range by price point and fuel type, with accessories.
- Samples fired, used and left outside.
- Gas grills only with type-examination and correct gas category.
- Food-contact declarations for every part that touches food.
- Manuals and warnings in the languages of sale.
- Carton data, pallet plan and a delivered price.
- Order by October–November for the coming season.
