The 2-wheel walk-behind tractor was conceived in the Romagna region of Italy in the early 1950's to work in the orchards. The goal was to perform many functions using one machine. The working part of the machine could be detached so different implements could be added to do many jobs.

The first Grillo Walk-Behind Tractor was born in 1953. In 1955, "mass production" began with the production of 16 machines. From that humble beginning, today tens of thousands of machines are distributed throughout the world.

There are over 1,000 Dealers in Europe and 50 importers worldwide. In 2005, Grillo America began importing to North America. For over 50 years, Grillo, Cesena, (ER) Italy, has been one of Europe's leading manufacturers of commercial lawn & garden equipment. They offer a variety of machines for professional agriculture, consumer and professional mowing equipment, and consumer and professional motorized dumpers/transporters. Grillo employees approximately 160 people in 3 factories that feature the latest technology including laser cut, robot work, and some automated assembly.

Each machine is tested and must pass accurate inspections. The products are confirmed per the ISO9001 standard which Grillo obtained in 1999.