When George Stephen, founder of Weber-Stephen Products Co., designed his first kettle-shaped barbecue grill in 1951, he sparked a backyard revolution. Tired of complaining about flat, open braziers that exposed his food to wind, ashes, and charring flare-ups, he decided to put a lid on it—literally.

At the time, George worked at Weber Brothers Metal Works outside Chicago, welding large metal spheres together to make buoys. It was in these very spheres that his idea took shape. He knew a rounded cooking bowl with a lid was the key to success. He added three legs to the bottom, a handle to the top, and took the oddity home.

The neighbors called it Sputnik and had a good laugh—and a taste of delicious grilled steak. George’s “folly” was in such hot demand he couldn’t make them fast enough. The popular kettle shape quickly became an American icon for food and fun. In 1985, Weber began producing the highly rated Genesis gas grill. Suddenly consumers could enjoy the convenience of gas grilling without sacrificing quality or flavor.

Today, every Weber grill comes equipped with a legacy of caring. Call us perfectionists, but we’re dedicated to building the best grill you can buy. That’s because we know that when you’ve got friends and family hovering around the grill, the last thing you want to contend with is shoddy construction or burned food.
So we do our homework, designing products that won’t let you down. The result? A line of grills that are easy to assemble, last for years, and deliver exceptional results every time.