Switzerland
Outdoorchef is a Swiss brand that reinvented the kettle grill with its patented funnel heat system.
Known for: gas kettle grills with a flare-up-free funnel system, plus charcoal and electric models. The idea dates to 1992, when Mike Lingwood — frustrated by flare-ups and charred food at a family birthday — experimented with a washing-machine drum and hit on the now-legendary Outdoorchef funnel system, a two-part heat design that channels dripping fat away from the burner to prevent flames and smoke while spreading heat evenly at temperatures up to 500°C.
Headquartered in Zürich and part of Diethelm Keller BBQ Brands, Outdoorchef is Swiss-engineered and produced in China, and is already a market leader in several countries. Owners praise how easy, safe and versatile its grills are — a clever alternative for anyone who finds a standard Weber kettle prone to flare-ups.
