Roasted by Dragons but BBQ King is red-hot

by Catherine Woods - Wednesday, 6th August 2008 - (2) comments

BarbeSkew managing director Ed Wray has done the BBQ equivalent of selling ice to Eskimos: he’s flogging his brand of BBQs to Australians and Cypriots.

Wray may not have impressed the Dragons on Monday night but he’s selling his brand of rotating skewer BBQs internationally, including to the most BBQ-mad countries in the world.

The idea for BarbeSkew came about two years ago when he went to a friend’s house where they were using a small Greek-Cypriot BBQ with rotating skewers. “I tasted some of the food and it was phenomenal," Wray says. "I asked where I could get my hands on one and they said they were as rare as gold dust.”

Wray spotted a niche in the market so quit his job and came up with a design. “I had tried to get some from Cyprus but they nearly had a heart attack when I asked for 2,000 of them! They told me they were made by old men in the hills,” he recalls.

Instead, Wray found a manufacturer in China with the help of a friend who had experience sourcing goods in the country. Today, BarbeSkew has sold £250,000 worth of stock. “We’re actually going to make a smaller BBQ,” Wray says. “It’ll come out next year.

“The Dragons suggested it. They thought a half price one would virtually dominate the BBQ market so I took their advice!”

Picture source

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2 Comments

August 20, 2008 6:58pm
Jon Says:

This is not so new I can remember my Dad had a rotisorie Barbecue that had the same cages as this guy has. Plus I found ths site with a quick search on the internet http://www.rotigrill.com/ I am sure with a little work I could find more..

August 07, 2008 3:39pm
Deni Says:

You can buy the original cypriot version in Green Lanes, North London, or on ebay for about £70!!