February 29, 2016
2016 Top Barbecue, Patio and Fireplace Trends Sizzle at HPBExpo
Hundreds of Hot New Products for Home Heating and Indoor-Outdoor Living to be Featured
Arlington, Va. – More than 7,500 manufacturers and retailers are gathering at the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association’s HPBExpo 2016 in New Orleans to showcase innovative products designed to fan the flames of the latest trends in home heating and indoor-outdoor living. Linear fireplaces, out-of-the-box barbecue accessories, and app-friendly technologies are just some of the hot, new product finds the industry anticipates seeing showcased.
“As the largest North American trade show for the hearth, patio, and barbecue industries, HPBExpo sets the stage for the latest trends and the best products that the industry offers,” said Jack Goldman, President & CEO of HPBA. “HPBExpo showcases the hottest, new products developed for every type of consumer, from the novice griller to pitmasters and homebuilders to DIY designers.”
HPBA has identified the top trends for the hearth and barbecue industries for 2016:
Integrating Smart Technologies. As the world embraces smartphone apps and technology to assist with everyday tasks, more and more hearth and barbecue products are becoming ‘smart’ enabled. From fireplace temperatures controls to grills and propane tank monitoring systems, app-friendly products will abound in 2016. They become more common features that give more control at the push of a button and let consumers know when to heat their homes from anywhere, or when the grill is hot or fuel is low.
Experimenting with Accessories. As consumers look for options to grill and barbecue in new ways, specialized accessories are set to surge in 2016. According to recent HPBA consumer research, pizza stones, fish/broiling baskets, cedar planks, rotisseries and grill woks are among the top accessories consumers plan to purchase.
Improving Biomass-burning Products. This is the first HPBExpo since the new EPA regulations on woodstoves were announced in May 2015. New mandates for wood burning and pellet products will affect how manufacturers may redesign products to meet more stringent emission standards. HPBA anticipates this trend toward reduced emissions and increased efficiency to accelerate in 2016 and beyond.
Upgrading Outdoor Kitchens. Already 10% of grill owners have an outdoor kitchen, featuring primarily premium grills, furniture, lighting, and outdoor fireplaces and fire pits. Of these outdoor kitchen owners, 35% are likely to upgrade in the next three years. Features such as storage spaces, refrigerators, dishwashers, built-in sinks, bottle rails, cocktail bars, seating options, and food preparation areas, as well as entertaining features like televisions and surround sound are among the products HPBA anticipates gaining prominence.
Embracing Clean, Modern Fireplaces. Linear fireplaces continue to interest consumers in both indoors and outdoor products with their sleek, modern design. Coming in sizes up to 12-feet wide, with high-heat tolerant glass and no-trim options for builders and homeowners as well as electric models with multicolored, realistic flames, linear fireplaces are being sought by consumers for a sophisticated, contemporary style.
Adding to the heat from the show floor, HPBExpo also hosts an annual barbecue cook-off competition to be held on Thursday, March 17, featuring attendee retailer teams and judged by representatives from the New Orleans food and news scenes, as well as the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
About HPBA
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based in Arlington, Va., is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms and allied associates for all types of barbecue, patio and hearth appliances, fuels and accessories. The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, advertising, and consumer education.
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