What Cookshack does

Cookshack is a family-owned manufacturer of commercial and residential electric and pellet-fired smokers, charbroilers, and pizza ovens, founded in 1960 by Gene Ellis in Ponca City, Oklahoma and still operating from its single domestic manufacturing facility there. The company is led by CEO Stuart Powell under continued Ellis family ownership, and runs the Fast Eddy's by Cookshack sub-brand established through a 2003 partnership with competition pitmaster Ed Maurin. Cookshack sells 50+ years of refined SmartSmoker technology alongside a newer commercial pizza oven line (PZ400, PZ420), a pellet-fired charbroiler series (CB024/036/048), and a broad residential line including the Smokette, SuperSmoker Elite, AmeriQue, PG-series pellet grills, and PZ016 residential pizza oven.

The company's core technology rests on electric and pellet-fired combustion systems engineered for consistent, low-labor operation, with commercial units (SM160, SM260, SM360, FEC120/240/300/500/750) designed for 24/7 high-volume shift-after-shift operation in professional kitchens and residential units emphasizing dishwasher-safe components, ease of use, and authentic wood-fired flavor at home. All products use 100% food-grade wood pellets (mesquite, hickory, oak, fruitwood) and are manufactured to order in Ponca City. The most recent technical addition is the IQ6, a Bluetooth-enabled control system that pairs with residential pellet grills for remote monitoring of cooking settings. Technology is electromechanical with no disclosed AI/ML or connectivity depth beyond Bluetooth.

Cookshack operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market: products are made to order at the single Ponca City plant and sold via cookshack.com and a phone sales line at 1-800-423-0698 ([email protected]), with quote-based pricing and credit terms available to approved commercial accounts. Revenue is generated through hardware sales (commercial equipment, residential equipment, replacement parts) plus consumables (sauces, spices, wood pellets, cookbooks, branded gear). Distribution is worldwide via UPS Ground, LTL freight, and USPS Priority at buyer expense, serving restaurants, caterers, supermarkets, convenience stores, meat markets (commercial segment) and backyard cooking enthusiasts (residential segment). The company is privately held with no outside capital disclosed.

Name

Cookshack

Legal name

Cookshack, Inc.

Website

https://cookshack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned Oklahoma manufacturer Cookshack builds commercial and residential electric and pellet-fired smokers, charbroilers, and pizza ovens. Founded in 1960 in Ponca City, products are made-to-order and sold direct to foodservice operators and consumers via its website.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ponca City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Equipment Sales: Sale of commercial-grade electric smokers, pellet-fired smokers, charbroilers, and pizza ovens to restaurants, caterers, and food service businesses.
2. Residential Equipment Sales: Sale of residential smokers, pellet grills, and pizza ovens for backyard cooking enthusiasts.
3. Accessories and Consumables: Sales of equipment accessories, sauces, spices, wood pellets, cookbooks, and replacement parts for both commercial and residential customers.
4. Replacement Parts: Sales of replacement parts for electric smokers, pellet smokers, charbroilers, and pizza ovens including commercial and residential categories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cookshack manufactures and sells electric and pellet-fired smoker ovens, charbroilers, and wood-pellet pizza ovens for both residential backyard cooking and commercial foodservice operations. All equipment is made to order at the company's Ponca City, Oklahoma facility. The company also sells accessories, sauces and spices, 100% food-grade wood pellets, cookbooks, and replacement parts that support its equipment ecosystem.

Product overview

Cookshack is a manufacturer of electric and pellet-fired commercial and residential smokers, charbroilers, and pizza ovens. The product portfolio spans two main equipment tiers: Residential equipment (four electric smoker models — Smokette SM009-2, Smokette Elite SM025, SuperSmoker Elite SM045, AmeriQue SM066 — plus three pellet-fired models: PG500, PG1000, and FEC100, and a residential pellet pizza oven PZ016); and Commercial equipment (three electric smoker oven models SM160, SM260, SM360, five Fast Eddy's by Cookshack pellet-fired smokers FEC120/240/300/500/750, three pellet-fired charbroilers CB024/036/048, and two commercial pizza ovens PZ400/PZ420). All products are manufactured in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The Fast Eddy's by Cookshack sub-brand, developed by Ed Maurin, extends across both residential and commercial pellet smokers and includes rotisserie models. Cookshack's commercial equipment is engineered for high-volume, continuous operation with legendary smoke flavor, while residential equipment brings professional results to backyard cooks. The product line is complemented by sauces and spices (originally developed by founders Gene and Judy Ellis), wood and pellets, cookbooks, equipment accessories, and replacement parts for both residential and commercial lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fast Eddy's by Cookshack: Pellet fired smokers developed by Ed Maurin (Fast Eddy), a retired Kansas City firefighter and former BBQ competition team member. Includes models FEC100, FEC120, FEC240, FEC300, FEC500, and FEC750.

Products and services

• Residential Electric Smokers (Smokette SM009-2, Smokette Elite SM025, SuperSmoker Elite SM045, AmeriQue SM066) Electric residential smokers for backyard cooks, available in four capacities from entry-level (Smokette SM009-2) to premium (SuperSmoker Elite SM045) and the AmeriQue model. Designed for easy loading, simple operation, dishwasher-safe grill and rack components, and consistent smoke flavor without the labor of traditional pit smoking.
• Residential Pellet Grills (PG500, PG1000) Residential wood-pellet grills offering versatile outdoor cooking with indirect heat and precise temperature control for authentic hardwood-smoked flavor. PG500 is the standard capacity model; PG1000 is the larger-capacity version designed for extended low-and-slow cooks.
• PZ016 Residential Pellet-Fired Pizza Oven Residential pellet-fired pizza oven that reaches up to 900°F for Neapolitan-style pizza in under four minutes. Features stainless steel construction, radiant heat design for even cooking, and is fueled by 100% food-grade wood pellets.
• Commercial Electric Smoker Ovens (SM160, SM260, SM360) Commercial electric smoker ovens for restaurants, caterers, and food service operators. SM160 is moderate capacity, SM260 is mid-size for reliable high-volume smoking, and SM360 is high-capacity for large-scale operations. Engineered to deliver consistent smoke flavor and dependable performance shift after shift.
• Fast Eddy's by Cookshack Commercial Pellet-Fired Smokers (FEC120, FEC240, FEC300, FEC500, FEC750) Professional competition-grade pellet-fired smokers developed by Fast Eddy (Ed Maurin) in partnership with Cookshack. FEC120 and FEC240 are fixed-shelf commercial smokers; FEC300, FEC500, and FEC750 add rotisserie capability for versatile commercial food preparation, with the FEC750 being the flagship model for the largest commercial operations requiring maximum output.
• Commercial Pellet-Fired Charbroilers (CB024, CB036, CB048) Commercial pellet-fired charbroilers that add smoked flavor to steaks, chops, and proteins while providing the temperature control of a gas-fired broiler. Available in 24-inch (CB024), 36-inch (CB036), and 48-inch (CB048) widths for kitchens of different sizes.
• Commercial Wood Pellet Pizza Ovens (PZ400, PZ420) The first commercial wood pellet pizza ovens on the market. Hand-crafted with heavy-duty stainless steel for restaurants, food trucks, and caterers. Stackable design with full heat and timing control. PZ420 offers expanded features for high-output commercial pizza operations. Custom oven builds are available for specific business needs.
• Sauces and Spices Expertly crafted line of barbecue sauces and spices developed originally by Gene and Judy Ellis, featuring competition-worthy flavor profiles designed to complement smoked and grilled foods.
• Wood and Pellets 100% food-grade wood pellets and smoking wood in 20 lb bags, available in mesquite, hickory, oak, and fruitwood varieties, formulated to ensure optimal smoke flavor with Cookshack equipment.
• Cookbooks Cookshack cookbooks providing recipes, cooking techniques, and 101 guides to help users get the best results from their smokers and grills.
• Equipment Accessories Full range of accessories for both residential and commercial equipment, including cold smoke baffles, jerky rods, pepper popper grills, rib racks, seafood grills, and flavor reservoirs.
• Residential Replacement Parts Replacement parts for all Cookshack residential smoker and grill models, including heating elements, grills, racks, and control components.
• Commercial Replacement Parts Replacement parts for commercial smokers, charbroilers, and pizza ovens, including components for the SM, FEC, and CB series equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pellet pizza ovens reach 900°F for Neapolitan-style pizza in under four minutes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fast Eddy's (Ed Maurin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003In 2003, Ed Maurin (Fast Eddy) joined forces with Cookshack after developing the FEC100 professional competition smoker. Fast Eddy, a retired Kansas City firefighter and former Kansas City Barbecue Society board member, brings competition-grade recipes and product testing to Cookshack's R&D team. The partnership launched the FEC750 and subsequent commercial units. Fast Eddy continues to work with Cookshack on product improvements and development, and teaches cooking classes.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Chef: Camp Chef competes directly with Cookshack in pellet grills, outdoor cooking accessories, and pizza ovens for residential and light-commercial customers. Both target the backyard cook segment with wood-pellet-fueled equipment, though Camp Chef has broader product breadth (camp stoves, griddles) and stronger outdoor/retail distribution.
• Bradley Smoker: Bradley Smoker is a direct competitor in electric and wood-bisquette smokers for residential use. Both Cookshack and Bradley serve the same niche of consistent, low-labor smoking for home cooks, with comparable premium positioning relative to mass-market alternatives.
• Ooni: Ooni is a leading residential wood-fired and gas pizza oven brand, directly competing with Cookshack's PZ016 residential pizza oven. Both target home pizza enthusiasts seeking Neapolitan-style results, with Ooni holding broader brand recognition and DTC presence while Cookshack leverages its pellet-fuel heritage.
• Masterbuilt: Masterbuilt is a direct competitor in electric smokers (Cookshack's SM series Smokette, Smokette Elite, SuperSmoker Elite, AmeriQue). Both target residential and light-commercial customers with electric smoker ovens, with Masterbuilt holding stronger mass-retail distribution and Cookshack emphasizing made-to-order US production.
• Pit Boss Grills: Pit Boss (owned by Dansons) is a direct competitor in pellet smokers and grills at value-to-mid price points. Both brands serve backyard and commercial smoking customers, with Pit Boss offering broader mass-market retail distribution and Cookshack differentiating via made-to-order US manufacturing and commercial-grade construction.
• Traeger Grills: Traeger is the leading pellet grill/smoker brand, directly competing with Cookshack's pellet-fired residential and commercial equipment (PG500/PG1000, FEC series). Both target backyard cooks and commercial kitchens with wood-pellet-fueled cooking, though Traeger is significantly larger, publicly traded, and offers a broader smart-cooking app ecosystem.
• Yoder Smokers: Yoder Smokers is a closely comparable niche competitor in heavy-duty pellet smokers, especially for competition and commercial BBQ use. Both brands emphasize US manufacturing, competition pedigree, and premium commercial-grade construction, targeting overlapping barbecue enthusiast and professional pitmaster customers.

Broad incumbents

• Blodgett: Blodgett is a long-established commercial oven manufacturer (baking and cooking) that competes for commercial kitchen equipment budgets alongside Cookshack's commercial smokers and pizza ovens. Both serve restaurants and food service, with Blodgett focused on traditional convection/deck ovens and Cookshack specializing in wood-fired smoking and pizza.
• Alto-Shaam: Alto-Shaam is a commercial cooking equipment manufacturer with cook-and-hold ovens, combi ovens, and warming equipment used in professional kitchens. While not a direct smoker competitor, Alto-Shaam competes for the same commercial kitchen capital expenditure dollars and offers overlapping consistency/low-labor cooking value propositions.
• Weber: Weber is the dominant incumbent in outdoor cooking with a broad portfolio of gas, charcoal, and pellet grills plus smokers. While not a direct pellet-smoker specialist like Cookshack, Weber's Weber Connect smart grilling ecosystem and massive retail distribution make it a primary competitive threat across Cookshack's residential line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CookshackInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cookshack