The original founder of the pellet grill, Joe Traeger, has joined Louisiana Grills (Dansons, USA) to elevate the Louisiana Grills brand and product portfolio. In this partnership, Traeger will be developing new pellet grilling products alongside Louisiana Grills founder and pellet grill innovator, Dan Thiessen. Raised by an inventor father, Traeger proceeded down his own path of innovation by developing the first pellet grill to market. A longtime grilling enthusiast, he was inspired to create a new grilling experience after a friend shared a bucket of wood pellets. This bucket of wood pellets inspired Traeger’s original innovation, and the first pellet grill was born in 1983 in the signature Traeger barn, which still sits as a landmark in Mount Angel, Oregon.

“I love creating products that bring people together and that’s what grilling does; it brings people together and allows them to create lasting memories,” Traeger says.

Joining Louisiana Grills provides a unique opportunity for Traeger to keep his passion and drive for pellet grills alive. His son and longtime pellet industry veteran, Brian Traeger, will also be joining the organization as divisional sales manager. The families look forward to bringing next-level grilling products to market. “By adding Joe Traeger to the Dansons organization, we see an opportunity to reignite the industry with new innovations and exciting products,” Thiessen says. “As the industry founder, Joe can bring unmatched expertise to our growing organization, and we’re thrilled about the endless possibilities.”

Known for their high-quality grills, built sturdily to last a lifetime, Louisiana Grills promotes best-in-class grilling, smoking, searing, baking, and charbroiling meals to perfection, every time—in the comfort of one’s own backyard. Louisiana Grills is raising the stakes with its line of sleek, affordable, pragmatic pellet grills, and the new partnership marks a defining moment in the industry.

Dansons was founded in 1999 by Dan Thiessen and his two sons, Jeff and Jordan. They own and operate multiple companies and brands within Dansons. Each brand has a reputation that fits the founders—reliable, dependable, honest, and family oriented. From world-class wood pellet grills and vertical smokers to industrial lubricants and horse bedding, Dansons offers a wide range of products within their industries. Last year, Dansons was awarded EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2017). For more information about Dansons, visit www.dansons.com.