Premium Charcoal – Restaurant & BBQ Grade

Premium Restaurant Grade Charcoal Wholesale from Ukraine

Carbonis LLC supplies premium hardwood lumpwood charcoal to restaurants, catering companies, BBQ distributors, and commercial grilling operations across Europe and globally. Our charcoal is produced using traditional retort kiln technology from pure hardwood species without chemical accelerants, ensuring superior grilling performance, authentic flavor, and consistent quality for professional food service applications.

As a Ukrainian charcoal manufacturer and exporter, we offer competitive wholesale pricing, reliable supply, and flexible logistics for container loads and pallet shipments to meet the demands of restaurant distributors, catering suppliers, and commercial food service operations.

Product Specifications & Technical Data

Available Fractions (Sizes):

1. Standard Fraction (20-60mm): General purpose charcoal suitable for retail BBQ, portable grills, camping, and home use. Pieces range from 2-6cm diameter, providing versatile sizing for consumer applications.

2. Restaurant Fraction (60-150mm): Professional grade charcoal specifically sized for commercial restaurant grills, steakhouses, and high-volume food service. Large 6-15cm pieces provide extended burn time, consistent heat output, and reduced refueling frequency required for busy service periods.

Wood Species Composition: Premium hardwood blend including:

• Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus): Primary species, 40-50% of blend. Exceptional density provides longest burn time and highest heat output. Minimal sparking.
• Oak (Quercus robur): 25-30% of blend. Traditional charcoal wood, excellent heat retention, neutral flavor profile.
• Ash (Fraxinus excelsior): 15-20% of blend. Clean burning with minimal ash production.
• Birch (Betula pendula): 5-10% of blend. Quick ignition properties balance the denser hardwoods.

Technical Specifications:

• Fixed Carbon Content: 76-90% (superior grade)
• Moisture Content: 3-8% (optimal for immediate use)
• Ash Content: 1.5-3% (minimal residue)
• Volatile Matter: <20%
• Calorific Value: 7,000-7,500 kcal/kg (29-31 MJ/kg)
• Burn Time: 3-4 hours for restaurant fraction under restaurant grill conditions
• Ignition Time: 15-25 minutes to reach optimal cooking temperature
• Peak Temperature: 600-700°C achievable with proper airflow

Production Process: Our charcoal is produced using traditional retort kiln carbonization at 400-500°C. This controlled pyrolysis process drives off moisture and volatile compounds while preserving carbon structure, resulting in consistent quality and predictable performance characteristics.

Why Restaurant Grade Charcoal?

Extended Burn Duration: The 60-150mm restaurant fraction provides 3-4 hours of sustained heat, critical for busy restaurant service where constant refueling disrupts kitchen operations. Larger pieces burn slower and more consistently than small retail charcoal.

Consistent Heat Output: Professional kitchens require predictable temperatures for consistent food quality. Our hardwood blend provides steady heat without dramatic temperature fluctuations common in mixed-quality charcoal.

Minimal Ash Production: With 1.5-3% ash content, restaurant charcoal reduces grill cleaning frequency and maintains airflow through grates during extended service periods. Less ash means fewer service interruptions.

High Carbon Content: 76-90% fixed carbon ensures maximum heat energy per kilogram. This efficiency translates to lower fuel costs per cover served and reduced storage space requirements.

Clean Flavor Profile: Pure hardwood without chemical additives or binders produces authentic charcoal flavor without off-tastes. No petroleum smell or chemical residue that can contaminate food.

Minimal Sparking & Popping: Hardwood species selected for low sparking tendency. Critical for open-kitchen concepts and safe for front-of-house grilling stations.

Low Smoke During Cooking: After initial ignition, properly lit hardwood charcoal produces minimal visible smoke during cooking phase. Important for indoor ventilation systems and urban restaurant locations with air quality concerns.

Applications & Target Markets

Fine Dining & Steakhouses: Prime cuts demand premium charcoal. Restaurant-grade lumpwood provides authentic char, consistent searing, and clean flavor profile expected in high-end establishments. Ideal for Josper ovens, charcoal grills, and wood-fired concepts.

BBQ Restaurants & Smokehouse Operations: Long burn times support extended smoking operations. Large pieces provide stable heat for low-and-slow BBQ techniques. Clean combustion won’t overpower smoke wood flavors.

Hotels & Catering Operations: Bulk volume requirements met through pallet and container loads. Consistent quality ensures predictable results across multiple events and venues.

Restaurant Supply Distributors: Wholesale quantities available for distributors supplying restaurant networks. Private label packaging options for building distributor brands.

Outdoor Catering & Food Trucks: Portable grilling operations require reliable fuel. Restaurant fraction provides professional performance in mobile cooking environments.

Retail BBQ Market: Standard fraction (20-60mm) suitable for garden centers, hardware stores, and consumer BBQ retailers. Consumer-sized packaging available.

Export Markets: Currently supplying EU restaurant markets with capacity for UK (post-Brexit), Middle East, and other international food service markets.

Packaging Options

Restaurant/Commercial Packaging:

• 15 kg paper bags: Professional size for restaurant storage, easy handling by kitchen staff
• 10 kg paper bags: Standard commercial size, balance between weight and convenience
• 5 kg paper bags: Smaller restaurants, catering services, specialty uses
• 2.5 kg paper bags: Retail/consumer market, portable grills

Bulk Packaging:

• Big bags (bulk sacks): 200-300 kg capacity for high-volume restaurants and industrial users
• Loose bulk: Available for customers with dedicated storage facilities

Pallet Configuration:

• 15 kg bags: 64-80 bags per EUR pallet (960-1,200 kg)
• 10 kg bags: 96-100 bags per EUR pallet (960-1,000 kg)
• Custom pallet configurations available for specific distributor requirements

Container Loading:

• 20ft container: Approximately 18-20 pallets (18-20 tons depending on packaging)
• 40ft container: Approximately 42-44 pallets (40-42 tons)
• 40ft HC: Approximately 44-46 pallets (42-44 tons)

Quality Control & Consistency

Raw Material Selection: Only hardwood logs from managed forests. No construction waste, painted wood, or contaminated materials. Each production batch uses consistent wood species ratios.

Carbonization Control: Retort kilns provide controlled temperature and oxygen environment. Consistent carbonization ensures uniform carbon content, ash levels, and burning characteristics across production batches.

Size Screening: Mechanical screening separates fractions accurately. Restaurant fraction contains minimal small pieces or fines. Standard fraction excludes oversized pieces.

Quality Testing:

• Fixed carbon analysis on representative samples
• Moisture content measurement using calibrated meters
• Ash content determination through laboratory testing
• Visual inspection for contamination, foreign materials
• Calorific value testing (periodic batch verification)

Consistency Guarantee: Every container/pallet shipment meets specified technical parameters. Laboratory analysis certificates available upon request for commercial customers requiring documentation.

Comparison: Hardwood Lumpwood vs. Briquettes

Why Choose Ukrainian Hardwood Charcoal?

Superior Hardwood Species: Ukraine’s temperate forests produce exceptional hardwood including hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), one of the densest hardwoods in Europe. Hornbeam charcoal provides the longest burn time and highest heat output, superior to oak-only or mixed softwood charcoals.

Traditional Production Methods: Retort kiln technology produces consistent, high-quality charcoal. Unlike earth pit methods (common in developing markets), retort kilns provide controlled conditions ensuring reliable specifications batch after batch.

Competitive Wholesale Pricing: Ukrainian production costs enable competitive pricing (€450-650/ton range depending on volume and packaging) while maintaining premium quality. Cost-effective alternative to Western European suppliers.

Geographic Advantage: Western Ukraine location provides shorter transportation to Central and Eastern European restaurant markets compared to imports from Asia, Africa, or South America. Reduced shipping costs and carbon footprint.

Flexible Volumes: From single pallets for local restaurant groups to container loads for international distributors. Minimum orders significantly lower than many competitors.

European Standards Compliance: Production meets European quality expectations. Documentation available for food service applications requiring supplier certifications.

Sustainable Forestry: Wood sourced from managed forests with proper documentation. FSC-certified charcoal available for orders requiring verified sustainable sourcing.

Usage Guide for Restaurant Operations

Lighting Instructions:

• Use chimney starter or electric starter for restaurant fraction
• Avoid lighter fluid (petroleum taste contamination risk)
• Allow 20-25 minutes for charcoal to fully ignite and ash over
• Gray ash coating indicates ready for cooking (no black/sooty areas)

Grill Loading:

• Restaurant grills: Create 2-3 inch deep bed of coals for consistent heat
• Two-zone cooking: Bank coals on one side for direct/indirect heat zones
• Refueling: Add fresh charcoal to edges, allow 10-15 min to ignite before positioning

Temperature Control:

• Airflow adjustment primary temperature control method
• Increase oxygen = higher temperature (searing steaks)
• Reduce oxygen = lower temperature (gentle roasting)
• Add/remove charcoal quantity for larger temperature changes

Safety & Storage:

• Store in dry location away from moisture
• Keep away from ignition sources until ready to use
• Dispose of ash completely cooled (24+ hours)
• Ensure adequate ventilation in indoor grilling environments

Certifications & Documentation

Available Certifications:

• Certificate of Origin (Ukraine)
• Phytosanitary certificates for export
• Laboratory analysis reports (carbon content, ash, moisture)
• FSC certification available upon request (for certified production batches)
• Food safety documentation for food service applications

Export Compliance: Complete documentation for international shipments including commercial invoices with proper HS code (4402.10 for wood charcoal), packing lists, certificates of origin, and phytosanitary certificates where required by destination country.

Minimum Order Quantities & Pricing

Sample Orders: 1-5 pallets available for restaurant testing and quality evaluation

Regular Wholesale: 10 pallets minimum (approximately 10 tons)

Container Loads: 20ft container (18-20 pallets) or 40ft container (42-44 pallets) for optimal pricing

Pricing Structure:

• Pallet quantities: Premium pricing (small volume)
• 20ft container: Standard wholesale pricing
• 40ft container: Best wholesale pricing
• Multi-container contracts: Negotiable volume discounts
• Packaging and labeling affects final pricing (private label additional cost)

Lead Times:

• Stock availability: 5-10 days for pallet/container preparation
• Production orders: 20-30 days manufacturing time
• Private label orders: 30-40 days (including custom packaging)

Private Label & White Label Services

Carbonis offers private label charcoal packaging for distributors and restaurant supply companies:

• Custom bag printing with distributor branding
• Custom label design and application
• Quality certification under distributor brand name
• Flexible MOQs for private label (typically 20ft container minimum)
• Design consultation for retail/foodservice presentation

Request Wholesale Quote

Contact Carbonis LLC for restaurant grade charcoal quotes. Please provide:

• Desired fraction: Standard (20-60mm) or Restaurant (60-150mm)
• Required volume and frequency
• Packaging preference (2.5kg, 5kg, 10kg, 15kg bags, or bulk)
• Destination country/port
• Delivery timeline requirements
• Certifications needed (FSC, food safety documentation, etc.)
• Private label requirements (if applicable)

We respond within 24 hours with detailed quotes including current pricing, available delivery schedules, and logistics options. Sample pallets available for quality testing before committing to container loads.

Frequently Asked Questions – Restaurant Grade Charcoal

What makes restaurant grade charcoal different from retail BBQ charcoal?

Restaurant grade charcoal features larger pieces (60-150mm) that burn 3-4 hours versus 1-2 hours for retail sizes. The extended burn time is critical for busy restaurant service periods, reducing refueling frequency and maintaining consistent cooking temperatures throughout service.

Why should I choose hardwood lumpwood over charcoal briquettes?

Hardwood lumpwood contains 100% pure wood with no binders or fillers, providing cleaner flavor, higher peak temperatures (600-700°C vs 500-600°C), less ash (1.5-3% vs 5-15%), and no chemical additives. Fine dining establishments prefer lumpwood for authentic charcoal flavor.

What wood species are used in your charcoal?

Our blend includes hornbeam (40-50%), oak (25-30%), ash (15-20%), and birch (5-10%). Hornbeam is one of Europe’s densest hardwoods, providing exceptional burn time and heat output superior to oak-only or softwood charcoals.

What is the minimum order quantity for restaurants?

Sample orders of 1-5 pallets available for testing. Regular wholesale minimum is 10 pallets (approximately 10 tons). Container loads (20ft or 40ft) provide best wholesale pricing.

Do you offer private label packaging for distributors?

Yes, we provide private label services including custom bag printing, label design, and quality certification under your brand. Minimum order for private label is typically one 20ft container.

How long does restaurant grade charcoal burn?

The 60-150mm restaurant fraction burns 3-4 hours under typical restaurant grill conditions. Actual burn time varies based on airflow settings, grill type, and loading density, but consistently exceeds retail-sized charcoal.

Can you provide certifications for food service use?

Yes, we provide certificate of origin (Ukraine), laboratory analysis reports (carbon, ash, moisture content), food safety documentation, and FSC certification upon request for orders requiring verified sustainable sourcing.

How does Ukrainian charcoal compare to imports from other regions?

Ukrainian hardwood (especially hornbeam) provides superior density and burn time compared to tropical hardwoods or oak-dominant European charcoals. Geographic proximity to EU markets reduces shipping costs versus Asian, African, or South American imports.

9Expert Score

Outstanding charcoal quality! Burns hot and long with minimal ash. Perfect for professional grilling and BBQ. Highly recommended.

PROS

• High heat output
• Long burning time
• Minimal ash production

CONS

• Store in dry place