About the Brand

In 1995, George Samaras made the move from his homeland of Greece to the United States. On Thanksgiving Day, George experienced a kamado roasted turkey for the first time and was amazed by the delicious flavor. He was so impressed, he bought a kamado for himself and cooked on it regularly. He told his friends and family about it and began shipping kamados back to Greece. Soon after, George had over 80 people in Greece requesting a kamado. George asked the manufacturer if he could begin distribution in Greece, but they declined his request.

Not to be deterred, George began making his own kamado cookers. He was told by many, including ceramic engineers, that it could not be done. He persevered and spent a great deal of time developing and testing his own formula for the refractory material to achieve the right blend. In 1996, he was ready to sell his first ceramic grills. His manufacturing facility was a rented 700 sq. ft. space. Due to size restraints, he could only make two grills at a time and had to drive across town to fire them in a kiln.

Over the next several years, Primo Ceramic Grills grew in popularity as word spread about their quality and the fact they were the only ceramic grill made in the U.S. In 2000, Samaras’ love for improvement and innovation led to the introduction of the Primo 2000 - a combination gas/ ceramic grill. His idea was to use the superior heat and moisture retention characteristics of a ceramic grill mixed with the convenience of gas. It was an unrivaled product never before seen in the industry and over 700 were sold. George soon discovered that an oval-shaped grill offered greater cooking versatility and efficiency. It forever changed the direction of Primo. The introduction of the patented oval-shaped grill in 2002 established Primo as a major manufacturer in the ceramic grill market.