CERRITOS, CA - Twin Eagles (Cerritos, California) recently celebrated two decades in business, hosting employees and their families at the company’s factory in Cerritos, California. Patio & Hearth Products Report caught up with Brian Eskew, director of Marketing, to learn more about the company—past, present, and future.

How was the 20th anniversary celebration?
Eskew: There were a total of nearly 500 in attendance including the mayor and many other local officials. We brought in food trucks, hosted guided factory tours, held a huge raffle and presented attendees with 20th anniversary gifts.  It was an opportunity to celebrate our employees and their dedication to building great quality products.  We also wanted to give their families a chance to see where they work and what they produce.  We are very proud of our employees and the work they do!

How was the company founded?
Eskew: Our owner and founder, Dante Cantal, a gas engineer by trade, had nearly three decades of experience designing and building residential and commercial cooking equipment before co-founding his first grill company (Lynx) in 1996. 

Soon after, Dante began designing and manufacturing for many other major brands including Viking, Maytag, Dynasty, JennAir and Ducane. Around this time Dante, who is a true entrepreneur, set out to introduce his own brand and in early 2000,  Twin Eagles was born.  Named after the American Eagle because of its’ strength, beauty and perseverance and his twin children who held the same characteristics.

What are the key strengths of the company that have led to 2 decades of success?
Eskew: From a product perspective, staying focused on performance, reliability and innovation has keep our brands in the forefront. This combined with a commitment to our Twin Eagles and Delta Heat lines being made in the USA. We also believe that establishing and maintaining strong, lasting relationships with employees, vendors, distributors and dealers is critical. Without them, we would not be successful.

How has the company changed during the past 20 years?
Eskew: We started with 2 employees in a 2,500 square foot facility in Anaheim, California.  Today, we have over 140 employees and operate out of two company owned buildings totaling 75,000 square feet in Cerritos, California. The product offering has increased from 10 models to nearly 300 under our Twin Eagles, Delta Heat, Delsol and OEM brands—not to mention a more than $10M investment in state of the art manufacturing technology including; automation, laser cutting, robotic welding and production software.

Last year, you introduced the Wood Fired Pellet Grill and Smoker and the Eagle One. How have these products performed in the marketplace?
Eskew: These products represent our commitment to performance, reliability, and innovation. The Wood Fired Pellet Grill features many industry firsts and is the only premium pellet grill on the market that is made in the USA. Dealers and consumers were ready for this product and it has been very well received.

The EAGLE ONE is positioned as a super-premium grill that targets luxury consumer who are looking for the very best.  It carries all of the core features that our Twin Eagles gas grill are known for, plus several exclusive features and some very distinctive aesthetic qualities.  The EAGLE ONE has only been on the market for a few months but it has already exceeded our expectations. Both the Pellet Grill and the EAGLE ONE have elevated the entire Twin Eagles offering.  The year is off to a great start!

In terms of product features, how do Twin Eagles grills stand out from the competition?
Eskew: You can look at our products and it’s easy to see and feel the quality.  From a distance, it is easy to identify a Twin Eagles product. The visible and tangible ques are very important because consumers want good looking, well-built equipment for their outdoor kitchens first and foremost. This combined with Dante’s history and heritage as a gas engineer and industry innovator have given us the opportunity to offer the ultimate in performance and reliability. This is evident in our proprietary, exclusive 5-Part Grilling System found in every Twin Eagles Gas grill.

Are plans underway for any additional product launches this year?
Eskew: After two major Twin Eagles launches with Pellet Grill and Eagle One,  we are now planning some meaningful introductions in the Delta Heat line.  This summer, we will introduce a Delta Heat Power Burner and Teppanyaki Griddle.  We are taking every opportunity to increase the breadth of our offering as consumers continue to trend towards more fully featured outdoor kitchens.  They want an outdoor kitchen that suits their personal cooking and entertaining style.  It’s also worth noting that we are developing a Twin Eagles Pizza Oven that we hope to debut in 2021.

Given the coronavirus pandemic, what are your expectations for Twin Eagles and the grilling market overall?
Eskew: This unprecedent event certainly shifted our focus to the safety of our employees and their families.  When the dust settles, we are very optimistic about the rest of the year and the years that follow.

We can look at historic events, like the influenza pandemic of 1918 that was followed by the Roaring Twenties.  Consumers recover from these setbacks by picking themselves up, dusting themselves off, and starting again.  Everyone will be excited and anxious to get back to normal with renewed focus on what is important. Home, family and gathering will be at the forefront.  Investments in quality product will be considered a good value.  Our products fit well into these societal shifts and Twin Eagles will be ready to jump forward in the reviving economy.

www.twineaglesgrills.com