Primo 773X 브로셔
When George Samaras completed his tour of
duty as a pharmacist in the Greek military in
1986, he needed to find a career so he turned
to his love of the sea. He began racing sailboats
and captaining a yacht for tourist excursions
throughout the Greek islands.
In 1988, he met his future wife Kelley, an
American who was vacationing with her family
and had chartered Samaras’ boat. George was
taken with Kelley and they stayed in touch
after she returned home. She eventually
moved to Greece and later the two
were married. Seven years later,
the couple decided to move to the
United States.
George’s father-
in-law had a
Kamado cooker and
on Thanksgiving Day,
George had roasted turkey for
the first time. He was amazed at
the juiciness and delicious flavor
of the bird that was cooked
on the kamado. It looked and
performed unlike any grill he
had ever used.
He bought a kamado for
himself and cooked on it
regularly. He told his friends and
family about it and began shipping
them back to Greece for them to
use. Eventually George had over 80 people
in his homeland that wanted a kamado, so
he asked the manufacturer if he could start a
distributorship in Greece, but they declined.
Not to be deterred, George saw a niche in the
market and decided that he would make his
own kamado cookers. He was told by many
people, including ceramic engineers, that it
couldn’t be done, but he pressed on and spent
the next several years developing and testing
his own formula for the refractory material to
get the right blend.
duty as a pharmacist in the Greek military in
1986, he needed to find a career so he turned
to his love of the sea. He began racing sailboats
and captaining a yacht for tourist excursions
throughout the Greek islands.
In 1988, he met his future wife Kelley, an
American who was vacationing with her family
and had chartered Samaras’ boat. George was
taken with Kelley and they stayed in touch
after she returned home. She eventually
moved to Greece and later the two
were married. Seven years later,
the couple decided to move to the
United States.
George’s father-
in-law had a
Kamado cooker and
on Thanksgiving Day,
George had roasted turkey for
the first time. He was amazed at
the juiciness and delicious flavor
of the bird that was cooked
on the kamado. It looked and
performed unlike any grill he
had ever used.
He bought a kamado for
himself and cooked on it
regularly. He told his friends and
family about it and began shipping
them back to Greece for them to
use. Eventually George had over 80 people
in his homeland that wanted a kamado, so
he asked the manufacturer if he could start a
distributorship in Greece, but they declined.
Not to be deterred, George saw a niche in the
market and decided that he would make his
own kamado cookers. He was told by many
people, including ceramic engineers, that it
couldn’t be done, but he pressed on and spent
the next several years developing and testing
his own formula for the refractory material to
get the right blend.
In 1996, he was ready to sell his ceramic
grills. Samaras chose the name, “Primo”
which means “the best” in Italian. His first
manufacturing facility was a 700 sq. ft. space
he rented. Due to the limited space he could
only make two grills at a time and he had to
drive across town to a kiln to have them fired.
grills. Samaras chose the name, “Primo”
which means “the best” in Italian. His first
manufacturing facility was a 700 sq. ft. space
he rented. Due to the limited space he could
only make two grills at a time and he had to
drive across town to a kiln to have them fired.
Over the next several years, Primo’s kamado
style grill grew in popularity as word spread
style grill grew in popularity as word spread
about their quality and as the only ceramic
grill made in the United States.
Samaras has a love for improving
his ceramic grills and innovative
products and in 2000
he introduced the
Primo 2000, a
combination gas
combination gas
and ceramic grill.
His idea was to use the superior
heat and moisture retention
characteristics of a ceramic grill
and the convenience of gas as a
heat source that so many outdoor
cookers prefer.
It was an unrivaled product never
before seen in the industry, and
over 700 were sold. Production
over 700 were sold. Production
was discontinued a few years later
due to the shipping and assembly
requirements.
George was also looking beyond the round
shape of the traditional kamado and discovered
that an oval-shape offered a much higher
cooking versatility and efficiency. It forever
changed the direction of Primo.
shape of the traditional kamado and discovered
that an oval-shape offered a much higher
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.
grill in 2002 established Primo as a major
manufacturer in the ceramic grill market.
Today, Primo is headquartered in a 92,000
sq. ft. facility in Tucker, Georgia where their
ceramic grills are produced. Primo is available
in more than 24 countries around the world.
sq. ft. facility in Tucker, Georgia where their
ceramic grills are produced. Primo is available
in more than 24 countries around the world.
The Primo Story