Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Kies.
Hi Greg, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Fireball BBQ Co. started with a simple passion: bringing people together through great barbecue. I’ve always believed that some of life’s best conversations happen around a grill or smoker, and I wanted to create products that could be part of those moments.
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California, but Pittsburgh eventually became home and the city that inspired my business. Like many small business owners, this didn’t happen overnight. I built Fireball BBQ Co. while working a full-time job, spending countless nights and weekends developing recipes, designing labels, packing orders, making deliveries, and learning every aspect of running a business. Every challenge along the way has made both me and the company stronger.
Pittsburgh’s identity is woven into everything we do. Every sauce is named after one of the city’s iconic bridges, and our tagline, “Building Bridges of Flavor,” reflects what I believe barbecue is really about—bringing people together. Great food has a way of creating memories, starting conversations, and connecting people from all walks of life.
Today, seeing Fireball BBQ Co. on store shelves is incredibly rewarding, but what means the most is knowing our products have become part of family dinners, neighborhood cookouts, tailgates, and celebrations. At the end of the day, that’s why I started this journey: not just to make barbecue sauce, but to create something that helps bring people together, one meal at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most small business owners, I’ve experienced plenty of highs and lows along the way.
The biggest challenge has been balancing the dream with reality. I’ve built Fireball BBQ Co. while working a full-time career, so many evenings, weekends, and even vacations have been spent developing recipes, packing orders, making deliveries, and introducing the brand to retailers. There isn’t a marketing department, a shipping department, or a sales team—it’s all me.
About a year ago, I came very close to folding the company. The costs, the time commitment, and the uncertainty had all started to outweigh the momentum, and I found myself asking the difficult question every entrepreneur eventually faces: *Is it time to walk away?*
Instead of giving up, I chose to take a step back, reevaluate, and refocus. I reminded myself why I started Fireball BBQ Co. in the first place—not just to sell barbecue sauce, but to create something that brings people together. That decision changed everything. I began approaching the business with renewed purpose, building stronger relationships, expanding into new retailers, and finding opportunities that I never imagined would come my way.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful for that season. It taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of believing in the vision even when the road gets difficult. Sometimes your biggest breakthrough comes right after the moment you think you’re finished, and I’m thankful I chose to keep going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At its core, Fireball BBQ Co. is about creating products that bring people together. We specialize in handcrafted barbecue sauces and rubs inspired by Pittsburgh, with every sauce named after one of the city’s iconic bridges. That isn’t just a branding decision—it’s a reflection of what we believe. Bridges connect people, and so does great barbecue.
What I’m most proud of isn’t seeing a bottle on a store shelf—it’s hearing that one of our products was part of a family dinner, a neighborhood cookout, a tailgate, or a holiday celebration. Knowing that something I created helped make those moments a little more memorable is incredibly rewarding.
I also take pride in the fact that Fireball BBQ Co. has stayed true to its identity. We haven’t chased trends or tried to be something we’re not. Every recipe has been developed with the goal of creating balanced, approachable flavors that people of all skill levels can enjoy, whether they’re seasoned pitmasters or just firing up the backyard grill for the first time.
I think what sets us apart is that we’re more than just another barbecue brand. Every bottle tells a story, every product represents a piece of Pittsburgh, and every customer becomes part of the Fireball BBQ Co. family. We’re not just building a lineup of sauces and rubs—we’re building connections, one meal at a time. That’s what “Building Bridges of Flavor” has always meant to me.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success has very little to do with sales numbers and everything to do with impact.
Of course, every business wants to grow, but what truly makes me feel successful is seeing Fireball BBQ Co. become part of people’s lives. Whether it’s a family grilling on a Sunday afternoon, friends gathered around a smoker, or someone bringing one of our sauces to a neighborhood cookout, knowing we’ve played a small role in bringing people together means more to me than any sales report ever could.
Success is also about staying true to why I started. I never wanted to build a company that simply sold barbecue sauce. I wanted to build a brand that represents community, hard work, and the idea that great food has the power to create lasting memories.
If years from now someone sees a bottle of Fireball BBQ Co. and immediately thinks of a favorite meal, a family tradition, or a special gathering, I’ll know I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do. That’s the kind of success I’m chasing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://FireballBBQco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fireballbbqco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FireballBBQCo
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fireballbbqco
