Viking Range Corporation - More Than Just a High-Finish Grill Manufacturer5284165
Some of the most innovative inventions stem from somebody searching for a product that hasn't been produced however. That is what happened to Fred Carl Jr., the founder of Viking Variety Corporation, when he was looking to renovate his home more than twenty years ago. As a fourth generation contractor, he was familiar with the positive and negative attributes of industrial ranges, and noticed them appearing in residential homes. Realizing there wasn't a residential appliance out there that met both the rigors of high-heat restaurant-style cooking however still conformed to strict building codes, he decided to create his personal hybrid variety. After several years of research and development, by January of 1987 Fred Carl Jr. was distributing the first commercial-style residential range.
These days, Viking Range Corporation earns much more than 300 million dollars in annual sales and employs much more than 1,000 local Greenwood, Mississippi residents. Being a lifelong Greenwood citizen, Carl Jr. just could not develop his business anyplace else. With a 87,000 square foot manufacturing plant and several distribution centers situated in the Greenwood area, Carl Jr. has not only produced one of the biggest privately held businesses in the South, but also brought income to this depressed small town. Home to cotton, catfish, and the blues, the Mississippi delta area is one of the most impoverished in the nation, which is all the much more purpose to praise Carl Jr. for his commitment and dedication to his hometown.
Carl Jr., in fact, has reinvigorated a dilapidated downtown, known as historic Cotton Row, and converted many abandoned buildings into Viking destinations. A Viking Mecca, so to speak, with 23 restored buildings and nonetheless counting. The Viking headquarters requires up two blocks of downtown and is situated near Viking's Alluvain Hotel and Spa, a luxury hotel and 7,000 square foot spa that entertains not only Viking dealers and sales representatives, but also customers and would-be clients who want to tour the Viking plant or take a cooking class at the nearby Viking Cooking School. But even if you do not make the pilgrimage to Greenwood, you can nonetheless test out your cooking abilities on a Viking range at any of the 16 Viking Cooking Schools scattered across the country. These state-of-the-art demo and lecture-style Viking classrooms draw more than 70,000 students annually and offer classes from regional cuisine to formal cooking and grilling techniques.
Over the years, Carl Jr. has added high-overall performance appliances to the Viking line up. From the first Viking outdoor grill in 1997 to a full outdoor kitchen line up in 2004, Carl Jr. has developed appliances for the Viking indoor and outdoor kitchen that exceed expectations. The newest line is the Designer Series, a full line of appliances that appeals to the homeowner looking for a more contemporary, streamlined design that can be integrated into current cabinetry. It's a more modern look with a more competitive cost point.
Viking manufactures virtually each appliance for the home such as ranges, ovens, cook tops, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers. Countertop appliances such as toasters and blenders and cutlery also bear the Viking brand name. All products are manufactured in the United States and sold worldwide. And if you believe that Viking only produces stainless steel appliances, think again. Hot new colors from cobalt blue to racing red define a cooking space and visually entertain the eye, making the perfect blend of high-overall performance output with trend-setting style.
Even with the financial downturn, Viking Variety Corporation has a bright future with its powerhouse appliances offering trend-focused styling and tough construction. Carl Jr. has created a lifestyle brand synonymous with a luxury way of life that many strive to live.
