insight • AEI Corporation
Legacy series commercial grill
AEI Corporation has made its mark with a diverse portfolio of outdoor products and a well-oiled sales channel. BY CHERISE FORNO
Sustained Success It’s been a monumental half-century tenure for AEI Corporation. Over the
course of five decades, the company has grown from a wholesale distributor of gas grills and lamps to a distributor of multiple brands of gas grills and outdoor heating equipment, as well as a manufacturer of its own patio and hearth products. “In 1966, AEI was a true wholesale distributor,” says Pete Ar nold, the co-owner of AEI and son of the company’s founder, Phil Arnold. “Over these past 30 years, we have grown as we have added manufacturing our own line of grills and patio heating equipment.” Phil Arnold took his experience as a gas engineer with a public utility company in Wisconsin and moved to Southern California when he had the opportunity to distribute Charmglow gas grills and lamps. Alongsid e his wife, Libby, Phil developed a company that focused on valuing its employees and customers and selling quality products to enrich consumers’ lives. “A phrase often repeated but is accurate for AEI is it is our team that makes us outstanding,” Arnold says. “We have attracted and retained great people. Many have been part of AEI for years, some for decades, and a few for over 40 years.” Today, AEI distr ibutes patio heating equipment
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and grills from three highly reputable brands, along with manufacturing its own line of grills, Performance Grilling Systems (PGS), and outdoor infrared patio heaters with its Patio Comfort line that provides ambiance, comfort, and warmth to outdoor dining, relaxing, and entertaining that is clean and efficient. Sunglow and Sunpak produce their high-quality heaters in Yorb a Linda, California, and Infratech heaters are manufactured in Gardena, California. Arnold explains that one of AEI’s strengths is focusing on gas grills and patio heating equipment, so it is extremely knowledgeable and experienced about its products and customers. “We are truly one stop for a great solution to patio heating in our offering of umbrella domed, horizontal, gas, electric, natural gas, or pro pane heaters,” Arnold says. “The same is true for our gas grill offering of all aluminum, stainless steel, residential, commercial, builtin, or freestanding grills.” Infratech and Sunpak are two brands that have performed extremely well for AEI. “The highest growth has come from Infratech, which initially
Patio Comfort natural gas heater
Gas timer
began marketing quartz electric patio heating about 20 years ago,” Arnold says. “Infratech offers virtually endless possibilities in terms of style, color, mounting options, and how to control the heat.” Sunpak offers efficient heaters for residential and commercial use. Arnold notes that recently Sunpak has expanded its offerings with two-stage burners, a remote-control option, and three fascia kits for added design appeal.
