Grill and outdoor cooking equipment fulfillment presents unique challenges that standard 3PLs aren’t equipped to handle.
Between heavy grills weighing 150+ pounds, oversized smokers and outdoor kitchen components requiring specialized handling, dimensional weight surcharges ratcheting up the cost of each shipment, and the need to protect high-value inventory from damage, you need a fulfillment partner who understands the outdoor cooking industry’s operational complexities.
The right grill and outdoor cooking equipment 3PL can save you thousands in carrier surcharges, protect high-value inventory from damage, and deliver the careful handling customers expect when purchasing premium outdoor cooking products online.
Here are the top 3PL providers specializing in grill and outdoor cooking equipment fulfillment.
| 3PL Provider | Specialty | Key Features | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Stag Fulfillment | Heavy, bulky, oversized items (Parcel, LTL, & FTL); High-value products | Zero shrinkage guarantee; Negotiated heavy-item carrier rates; 99.99% accuracy; Same-day shipping; Multiple delivery options | Selective client acceptance |
| ShipBots | Multi-channel fulfillment; Heavy items | Vision AI packing verification; LA port proximity; No long-term contracts | Has worked with major brands like Sony and Wrangler |
| Buske Logistics | Oversized products; Multi-channel distribution | 37 warehouse locations; Climate-controlled storage; White-glove partnerships | Family-owned operation since 1923 |
| Speed Commerce | Large, bulky products; Furniture & bedding | Integrated contact center; White-glove delivery; Specialized returns processing | Generalist across industries and sizes |
Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag Fulfillment specializes in heavy, bulky, and oversized products. They offer industry-leading accuracy guarantees backed by financial compensation and negotiated carrier discounts that reduce the handling surcharges that typically hurt grill and outdoor cooking equipment shipping economics.
While big products are our specialty, we are also equipped to efficiently fulfill common grilling accessories like grill covers, utensil sets, wood chips, and other smaller products.
Strengths:
Zero shrinkage guarantee with full reimbursement. Unlike typical 3PLs with shrinkage allowances, Red Stag reimburses you for your costs for damaged or lost grills and outdoor cooking equipment. This eliminates the risk of absorbing total losses on high-value inventory that can’t be resold once scratched, dented, or damaged with broken igniters or bent grates.
Negotiated carrier rates for heavy items. Because of our focus on big, heavy, and bulky items, we have secured industry-leading discounts on Additional Handling Surcharges, Large Package Surcharges, and dimensional weight charges—particularly important for large kamado grills, pellet smokers, and built-in outdoor kitchen components that routinely exceed 100 pounds and trigger maximum carrier surcharges.
Same-day shipping with strategic warehouse positioning. Our clients have the option to ship same day from our facilities in Tennessee and Utah. These locations reach 96% of the U.S. population within two business days via ground shipping, matching the speed and reach of many-warehouse networks at lower costs—helping customers receive their grills before holiday cookouts, summer barbecue season, or planned backyard renovations.
Purpose-built facilities with outdoor equipment-specific infrastructure. Both of our warehouses feature high ceilings for vertical storage of boxed grills, reinforced flooring that handles concentrated weight from palletized outdoor kitchens, and wide aisles that accommodate large grill boxes during picking and packing. Staff receive training in proper handling techniques to prevent damage to porcelain-coated surfaces, glass windows in grill lids, and delicate electronic temperature controls.
99.99% pick accuracy with financial guarantees. We analyzed our 2025 accuracy and found only 9 errors per 100,000 items picked. We also pay clients $50 per order error plus cover shipping costs for corrections. This creates incentive alignment that protects customer satisfaction and brand reputation—critical when customers are investing in premium outdoor cooking equipment and need all components including burners, grates, side shelves, and propane connections to arrive together.
Flexible delivery options including white-glove service. We can handle a variety of delivery options including curbside, threshold, and white-glove delivery with assembly, allowing grill and outdoor cooking brands to offer the customer experience that matches their brand positioning—from budget-friendly curbside delivery to premium assembly with propane hookup and debris removal.
Key considerations:
Selective client acceptance process. Red Stag screens potential clients for mutual fit and works with less than 5% of businesses that initially inquire. This means you can’t assume automatic acceptance and should have alternative options during evaluation. However, grill and outdoor cooking equipment brands have a higher chance of being accepted than other types of products because they fit our big, heavy, bulky specialty.
Parcel, LTL, and FTL shipments are all supported. We can ship parcels and pallets to retailers, marketplaces, and direct-to-consumer.
ShipBots
ShipBots is a California-based 3PL founded in 2012 that operates three U.S. fulfillment centers. They offer heavy and bulky package handling with pick-pack-ship services, powered by ShipHero warehouse management software and dedicated in-warehouse account managers.
Strengths:
Vision AI packing verification. This system records the entire packing process for each order. Grill and outdoor cooking equipment brands can review video footage to determine whether damage occurred during warehouse handling or carrier transit—critical for resolving customer complaints about scratched stainless steel surfaces, cracked ceramic components in kamado grills, or broken glass viewing windows that could have occurred at any point in the supply chain.
Specialized heavy item infrastructure. ShipBots uses dedicated equipment for handling large and oversized packages, plus negotiated reductions on carrier accessorial charges for the additional handling surcharges that grill shipments typically incur—particularly the oversized and additional handling fees that apply to large smokers and built-in grill islands exceeding standard parcel dimensions.
No long-term contracts with Master Service Agreement structure. This gives emerging grill and outdoor cooking brands the flexibility to scale up or down without penalty, particularly valuable during seasonal demand fluctuations when sales surge in spring before Memorial Day and taper off after Labor Day as grilling season ends.
Key considerations:
West Coast focus with LA port proximity. ShipBots’ California-based operations offer advantages for brands importing through West Coast ports, though this may require evaluation of coverage for other regions depending on your customer base.
Buske Logistics
Buske Logistics is a family-owned 3PL operating since 1923 with 37 warehouse locations across the U.S. and Canada. They specialize in oversized product fulfillment with climate-controlled storage facilities and white-glove delivery partnerships specifically designed for grill and outdoor cooking equipment companies.
Strengths:
Specialized outdoor cooking equipment handling infrastructure. This includes climate-controlled environments that prevent rust on metal components and moisture damage to wooden accessories, expert packaging protocols that protect porcelain enamel finishes and ceramic heat deflectors, and secure loading techniques designed specifically to prevent shifting of internal components like burners and heat plates during storage and fulfillment.
Geographic distribution with 7.5+ million square feet. Their 37 strategically positioned facilities enable regional fulfillment strategies that reduce shipping costs and accelerate delivery timelines for grills shipped nationwide—particularly valuable for reducing transit time during peak grilling season when customers want fast delivery before weekend cookouts and summer holidays.
White-glove delivery partnerships. These enable in-home delivery, backyard placement, and professional assembly services, allowing grill brands to offer premium customer experiences that include unboxing, assembly, propane or natural gas connection, and packaging removal—without managing complex final-mile logistics in-house.
Made4Net warehouse management system. This system provides real-time inventory tracking across all 37 locations, automated storage and retrieval systems that optimize vertical space for palletized grill storage, and GPS-enabled shipment tracking. It gives you visibility throughout the fulfillment process from warehouse to customer doorstep—essential when customers need delivery coordination around specific events like holiday parties or outdoor kitchen installations.
Multi-channel fulfillment flexibility. Buske supports direct-to-consumer, retail store fulfillment, and wholesale distribution from the same facilities. This is ideal for grill companies testing different sales channels or operating hybrid business models between online sales and partnerships with home improvement retailers and outdoor specialty stores.
Key considerations:
May not be suited for smaller grilling accessories that ship parcel. Buske specializes in freight and LTL shipments for full-size grills, smokers, and outdoor kitchen components. If you primarily ship smaller items like grill brushes, thermometers, or spice rubs via parcel, they may not be the best partner.
Speed Commerce
Speed Commerce is a 40-year-old Las Vegas-based 3PL that combines fulfillment, warehousing, and integrated contact center services. They are adept in handling large, bulky products like grills and outdoor cooking equipment, with specific expertise in furniture and bedding categories.
Strengths:
Carrier optimization for dimensional weight. Speed Commerce maintains negotiated shipping relationships with FedEx, UPS, USPS, and regional freight carriers that deliver discounts on standard rates. This is specifically valuable for grills and outdoor cooking equipment where dimensional weight charges can significantly increase shipping costs—large pellet grills and offset smokers often measure 60+ inches wide, triggering maximum dimensional weight penalties without proper carrier negotiations.
Specialized big and bulky handling. Speed Commerce operates climate-controlled facilities with 24/7 security specifically equipped for storing and handling oversized products. Their proven experience fulfilling furniture, bedding sets, and other large items translates directly to understanding grill-specific packaging and storage requirements—including protection against moisture that can cause rust on cooking grates and burners, and preventing damage to temperature gauges and control knobs.
Integrated customer service operations. They run Premier U.S. call centers plus 24/7/365 contact center capabilities that coordinate directly with warehouse operations. This enables seamless resolution of delivery timing questions and return initiations common in grill sales—particularly important when customers need to coordinate deliveries around patio installations or realize sizing issues after measuring their outdoor cooking space.
White-glove delivery coordination. Speed Commerce offers specialized handling and delivery services beyond standard parcel shipping, accommodating premium grill brands requiring in-home delivery, backyard placement, and assembly services—allowing customers to schedule complete outdoor kitchen setup without managing the complex process of grill assembly and gas line connections.
Key considerations:
Canadian and US warehouses. If you need a presence beyond the United States, Speed Commerce might be a good bet.
