Patio & Hearth Product Report

SINCE ITS DEBUT 10 YEARS AGO, THE BONFIRE OUTDOOR PRODUCTION CORP. (ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA) HAS EXPANDED from California to Canada and Mexico. By focusing on maintaining top-quality standards without a high price point, Bonfire Outdoor prioritizes making grills and outdoor kitchens accessible to people so they can elevate their backyards, leading to increased time spent with family and friends.  “Our model is to bring family and friends together—that’s our goal,” says Nestor Arias, sales manager.

As a company, Bonfire Outdoor is continually designing new products and looking for ways to satisfy their dealers and customers.  Products released this year include a Double Door/Single Drawer Combo and a Large Trash Can.  These products have a sleek, modern design, are constructed from food-grade 304 stainless steel, and utilize a soft-closing mechanism for added elegance and convenience.

“We are always developing and advancing new products,” Arias says. “We have developed a lot of products this year, and there’s a lot of exciting products in the development stages for 2025.”

The grill that has stood the test of time is Bonfire Outdoor’s four-burner grill that features premium 304 stainless steel construction, cast stainless burners, and a limited lifetime warranty. It is available in built-in and cart versions for natural gas or liquid propane. A rotisserie kit and grill cover are also included. “Our flagship product has always been and always will be our four-burner stainless steel grill, which has been our driving force,” Arias says. “It’s the most popular size, and it’s convenient for people.”

The three-burner grill is also popular for people who are cooking smaller amounts and want a grill that takes up less space. “It’s great for beginners and people who are starting out.”

The Whistler 500 five-burner grill offers a large cooking area for people looking to entertain for larger gatherings. “If you’re cooking for a lot of people, the five-burner is the perfect option,” Arias says.

Bonfire Outdoor’s cooking plate is another product that is in high demand for the convenience and versatility it offers. “Our number one accessory is our cooking plate,” he says.  “People like it, and they love to use the grill and cooking plate at the same time.”

STANDING OUT

One way the company stands out, Arias notes, is that their products are made with top-quality components with high-end features, while managing to keep prices reasonable. “Our products are top-of-the-line without top-of-the-line prices,” he says.

The level of service Bonfire offers is also superior.  From customer service, quality control, and the warranties that back their products, Bonfire prides itself on its unparalleled customer support.  “We have excellent and unmatched customer service,” Arias says.  “Our warranties are way above the industry’s standards.”

Depending on the product or type of part, Bonfire Outdoor warranties range from one year for electronic components, three years for warming racks, and lifetime warranties for cast and stainless-steel parts such as cooking grates and steel housing. “We’ll replace warrantied items for the customer, no questions asked,” Arias says.

To better serve its customers, Bonfire is opening new warehouses to improve shipping times and rates, and facilitate the continued growth it has seen as a company over the last decade.  “We’re always trying to come up with ideas to help our customers and our dealers,” Arias says.  “We’re in the process of opening two new warehouses— one on the East Coast, which should be opening within the next month.  Our second warehouse will be in the central U.S.  These warehouses will make it quicker and easier to get products to other parts of the country.”

As a young company, Bonfire Outdoor has experienced a lot of growth in a short time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they aren’t slowing down any time soon. “We are small but mighty,” Arias says. “We’re still growing. People love grilling and bringing family and friends together, and we enjoy helping with that.”

As people continue to want to spend more time at home, a trend that accelerated during COVID, they continue to invest in their outdoor space and increasingly get interested in grilling. “People are grilling more, with different types of food, and people get creative,” Arias says.

For example, there are many ways for people to incorporate a cooking plate, such as cooking potatoes and other veggies underneath a chicken being cooked rotisserie style, allowing all the oils from the chicken to get on the potatoes and add flavor. As people get more experienced with cooking outside, Arias notices people wanting to invest in outdoor kitchens instead of simply a grill.

“Our customers are more likely to buy not just the grill, but everything with all the accessories—the drawers, side burners, cooking plate—to make a complete outdoor kitchen,” he says. “People love to design these beautiful outdoor kitchens that are a piece of art.”

The LED lights in Whistler grills further enhance these designs with their captivating blue lighting and ambiance. “A lot of homeowners enjoy bringing friends over and grilling and showing off their patio furniture, their grills, and that little piece of heaven that’s their backyard,” Arias says.

Bonfire Outdoor wants to continue to uphold its motto by helping to bring family and friends together around their beautiful grills, accessories, and outdoor kitchens. “Our goals for the next year are to continue to grow and expand,” Arias says. “We are developing new products and ideas for the upcoming year, so stay tuned.”