Høje elpriser holder grillen i gang
The retail chain Biltema is currently experiencing record sales of charcoal and briquettes, and this is very unusual since, according to the calendar, it’s autumn, and we are thus outside the traditional grilling season. Turnover on charcoal/briquettes has increased more than 50% in the past 3 weeks – and although late summer this year has been particularly sunny, it’s not only because of the weather. According to Jens Stig, Biltema’s Marketing Manager, Danes have started grilling instead of using the stove and oven to save on ever-increasing electricity bills:
“We simply asked customers because we became curious about the high sales. And the answer took us by surprise. It turns out that it’s for financial reasons more than because they just wanted to grill. If this holds true, sales will continue for the rest of the year.”
150 kg charcoal instead
Figures from the Danish Energy Agency show that it currently makes a lot of sense to use the grill instead of the oven and hob. The stove is one of the major electricity consumers in the home. A stove in an average Danish family consumes 223 kWh per year. With the electricity prices we had in one week in August 2021, this corresponds to approximately DKK 500 per year. But if you compare this with the same week this year, the price has risen to DKK 1,300 – which could buy you around 150 kg of charcoal.
Our customers express that they find it easier to calculate their consumption when using grills because electricity prices are so unpredictable right now; they can vary by several kroner per kWh from hour to hour,” says Jens.
