May 01, 2018
It's National Barbecue Month - Here Are Seven Facts About Our Favorite Backyard Pastime
2018 State of the Barbecue Industry: Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association Shares Consumer Data on Grilling and Patio Trends
Arlington, Va. – May is National Barbecue Month – the beginning of peak grilling season as home cooks take to their backyards to fire up a quick weeknight meal or a low and slow weekend feast with friends and family.
“If May makes you excited about spring and summer barbecues, not to mention updating your patio with new accessories and furniture, you’re not alone,” said Jack Goldman, president and CEO, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. “Our most recent consumer survey continues to show that people are not just interested in cooking out, but they are also excited to try new types of grills. Homeowners are also still very interested in making their backyards a second living room this season and beyond.”
Consider these statistics from the most recent HPBA “State of the Barbecue Industry” consumer survey*:
• Seven in 10 U.S. adults own a grill or smoker, and in Canada, ownership is 8 in 10.
• Gas is the most popular grill type (64%), followed by charcoal (44%), then electric (9%).
• The most popular days to grill this season are:
o July 4, when 63% of grill or smoker owners plan to grill
o Memorial Day (60%)
o Labor Day (58%)
o Father’s Day (45%)
o Mother’s Day (34%)
• Beyond holidays, 49% of grill or smoker owners report barbecuing for birthday parties, 24% on a camping trip, 21% at a vacation home party, and 11% during tailgating activities for sporting events.
• Why do people grill? Of all grill/smoker owners, top reasons are:
o Flavor (72%)
o Lifestyle (52%)
o Entertainment (40%)
o Convenience (33%)
• Wood pellet grill ownership is currently 3%, but 11% of prospective buyers plan to purchase a pellet grill this year.
• One in 10 consumers plan to add a fireplace or heater to their outdoor kitchens.
About the Survey
The HPBA State of the Barbecue Industry Report was conducted online via Rockbridge Associates Inc. in 2017. Rockbridge conducted a 20-minute online survey with grillers who were at least 18 and were either the primary griller or shared grilling responsibilities. The margin of sampling error for aggregate results is +/- 3 percentage points, and the consumer sample was representative of the U.S. and Canadian populations respectively.
About the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
The 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 barbecue, patio and hearth appliances, fuels and accessories. The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, advertising and consumer education.
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