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Traeger Grills CEO talks disruptive innovation, ‘great brands’ at Silicon Slopes

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Ryan Smith, Josh James and others offered some quotes about Utah at the Silicon Slopes summit.

Ryan Smith, Josh James and others offered some quotes about Utah at the Silicon Slopes summit.

Herb Scribner, Deseret News

Traeger Grills CEO Jeremy Andrus spoke Thursday at the Silicon Slopes tech summit, replacing Jim Bridenstine, head of NASA, whose plane was grounded and kept him from the summit.

What he said: Andrus, who received his B.A. from Brigham Young University, talked about how Traeger Grills rose to popularity.

  • Andrus said “disruption and innovation” made Traeger Grills successful.
  • “Great brands have a different point of view.”
  • Andrus said that great brands create a great experience for consumers.
  • “I just want them to say, ‘I’m so good at cooking.”
  • Andrus said he hopes people use his grills, praise themselves for cooking well, sit down with family and have a communal experience. He never wants people to think about how much work goes into the product.

Disruptive innovation: The late Clayton Christensen, who passed away earlier this month, created the theory of disruptive innovation, which had a huge impact on Silicon Valley and Silicon Slopes, according to the Deseret News. Christensen was honored by Silicon Slopes executive director Clint Betts on Thursday.