Fire Up the Grill - The weather is warm in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere; it’s time to move the cooking and festivities outdoors. However, did you know that this trend of backyard grilling only began in the 1950s?

The weather is warm in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere; it’s time to move the cooking and festivities outdoors. However, did you know that this trend of backyard grilling only began in the 1950s? When “Americana,” rock ‘n’ roll and a leisure-conscious consumer emerged, Owen Pyle, Sr. found a savory opportunity at his fingertips. Pyle bought Henry Ford’s charcoal operation in 1951 and began selling Kingsford® charcoal briquets in grocery stores, at the time a virtually untapped market.

"Sounds about as simple as falling off a log," says Pyle, "but we had a tough time those first few years convincing supermarkets that charcoal would sell."

Pyle quickly earned a leadership position with the Kingsford® brand, part of The Clorox Company since 1973. We now offer a variety of charcoal briquets and wood chips for families to enjoy. What’s your favorite type of food to grill this time of year? Tell us!