BBQ grill company marks 50th anniversary by cooking up record serving of chicken wings
To commemorate their 50th anniversary, barbecue grill company Big Green Egg (USA) aimed for more than just a celebration; they sought to create the largest serving of chicken wings.
With an astonishing total of 297.5 kg (655 lb 12.8 oz) of chicken wings, or approximately the weight of three baby elephants, Big Green Egg smashed the minimum requirement of 250 kg (551 lb).
The record attempt took place on 5 October in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA, as part of Big Green Egg’s annual Eggtoberfest, a traditional gathering of grilling fans and chefs the company started in 1998.
To prepare the enormous quantity of chicken wings, 47 of Big Green Egg’s extra-large kamado-style grills were utilized.
The wings were prepared using "Ed's Famous Wing Sauce," named after company founder Ed Fisher, who was also present at the attempt.
The totality of the wings was either consumed by attendees or generously donated to charity during the event.
This effort satisfied the appetites of attendees and highlighted the spirit of community by ensuring that over half of the chicken wings were donated to Lettum’ Eat, a local meal ministry programme, and to some of those affected by Hurricane Helene, which had recently impacted the state of Georgia.
The weighing of the food was monitored by witnesses from the Georgia Department of Agriculture during the attempt. Food preparation and handling was monitored by a representative from food safety company Ecolab.
We recognize the power of food to bring people together. We are proud to honour the legacy of Big Green Egg and our commitment to support local communities, especially in times of need. This milestone marks one of the most significant days in our history, and we are excited to continue this tradition of giving back, with even bigger plans for 2025 and beyond. - Dan Gertsacov, CEO, Big Green Egg.
Why chicken wings?
The company chose to grill chicken wings to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a fitting tribute to the very first bite taken by founder Ed Fisher outside the original Big Green Egg store in 1974.
Five decades ago, when Fisher opened the doors of his first store in Atlanta, Georgia, he saw the need to demonstrate how the egg-shaped grills worked to his potential customers, as this was a new product to most American shoppers.
To attract the curiosity of passersby, Fisher placed one of the grills outside the shop, grilled some chicken wings, and before long, the delicious smell drew in curious onlookers.
With a limited budget, Fisher had bought a couple pounds of chicken wings, but they were enough to amaze people and to successfully make his first sale.
Fast forward 50 years, there was no better celebration than grilling chicken wings again and sharing with the company’s community in the greater Atlanta, Georgia, area.
Congratulations Big Green Egg. You are Officially Amazing!