CHALLENGES INSPIRE INNOVATION
Grill Advantage began with an idea from Triandafilos Hatjopoulos, a Greek immigrant with big dreams. Being in the restaurant indusry for over three decades, he noticed that a low factory backsplash led to grease splatter, flue fires, and food falling behind the grill. Determined to address these issues, he crafted a piece of stainless steel with welded clips. During a busy breakfast rush, he installed what would later be known as the “Backsplash Extender,” revolutionizing kitchen efficiency and laying the foundation for something much bigger.
Revolutionizing
Kitchen Efficiency
Balancing the demands of running the family restaurant with patenting their product, George and John worked tirelessly to refine the business. After solving flue fires with the Backsplash Extender, they noticed a new pain point: clutter on the flat top grill. During rush hour, pans and tools created a mess, led to cross-contamination, and left little room to cook food. This sparked the creation of the "Staging Area," a solution that kept pans of ingredients & accessories safely above the grill, improving organization and safety. Through constant innovation and problem-solving, they established Grill Advantage as an essential tool for commercial kitchens.
Our Mission
What started as a single solution in a small family restaurant has grown into a trusted brand for chefs and kitchens worldwide. Today, Grill Advantage is proudly made in the USA and run by five members of the Hatjopoulos family, with a shared mission: to bring safety, efficiency, and organization to every kitchen, one grill at a time.
Grill Advantage began with an idea from Triandafilos Hatjopoulos, a Greek immigrant with big dreams. While working at his family restaurant, he noticed that low grill backsplashes led to grease splatter, flue fires, and food falling behind the grill. Determined to address these issues, he crafted a stainless steel piece with welded clips. During a busy breakfast rush, he installed what would later be known as the “Backsplash Extender,” revolutionizing kitchen efficiency and laying the foundation for something much bigger.
CHALLENGES INSPIRE INNOVATION
After the initial success of the Backsplash Extender, Triandafilos's sons, George and John Hatjopoulos, stepped in to grow Grill Advantage. Recognizing that many other kitchens faced similar challenges, they took to the road to spread the word. Knocking on restaurant doors, they pitched the idea and asked for the opportunity to install their product. Before long, they found themselves walking out of restaurants with cash in brown paper bags from the registers, realizing, “This could actually become something.”
Industry Solution
Balancing the demands of running the family restaurant with patenting their product, George and John worked tirelessly to refine the business. After solving flue fires with the Backsplash Extender, they noticed a new pain point: clutter on the flat top grill. During rush hour, pans and tools created a mess, led to cross-contamination, and left little room to cook food. This sparked the creation of the "Staging Area," a solution that kept pans safely above the grill, improving organization and safety. Through constant innovation and problem-solving, they established Grill Advantage as an essential tool for commercial kitchens.
Revolutionizing
Kitchen Efficiency
What started as a single solution in a small family restaurant has grown into a trusted brand for chefs and kitchens worldwide. Today, Grill Advantage is proudly made in the USA and run by five members of the Hatjopoulos family, with a shared mission: to bring safety, efficiency, and organization to every kitchen, one grill at a time.
Our Mission
Industry Solution
After the initial success of the Backsplash Extender, Triandafilos's sons, George and John Hatjopoulos, stepped in to grow Grill Advantage into an industry-changing brand. Recognizing that many other kitchens faced similar challenges, they took to the road to spread the word. Knocking on restaurant doors, they pitched their idea and asked for the opportunity to install their products. Before long, they found themselves walking out of restaurants with cash in brown paper bags pulled from the registers, realizing, “This could actually become something.”