Viking Range
Encyclopedia
Viking Range Corporation is a privately held company
that manufactures ultra high-end professional kitchen appliances for home use. Viking originated the "professional" segment of kitchen appliances with its introduction of the first professional-grade range for home use in 1987. Today the company offers three complete lines of premium appliances including cooking
, ventilation, kitchen clean-up and refrigeration
, as well as various outdoor appliances. In addition to their "Professional" and less expensive "Designer" series, Viking's latest offering is their new "Commercial" line of kitchen appliances for use in restaurant and other commercial kitchens. Headquartered on historic Cotton Row in downtown Greenwood, Mississippi
, Viking Range employs more than 1,000 people at four manufacturing facilities in Leflore County.
, founder and CEO of Viking Range, discovered some major flaws in the design of commercial appliances with respect to their installation in a residential kitchen he was designing for his family. These flaws among other things made them impractical and undesirable for use in the home. After much research and development
, Carl worked through the problems and finally introduced the first commercial-type range in 1987. The unanticipated volume and growth experienced by Viking quickly overwhelmed the capacity and capabilities of the California manufacturer and production was subsequently moved to a household appliance manufacturer in eastern Tennessee that was more accustomed to larger volumes. Although this company provided some degree of improvement, various problems and challenges persisted which were beyond Carl's control and he knew another change had to be made. Therefore, in October of 1989, Viking began preparations for manufacturing its own product line in Carl's hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi, located in the historic Mississippi Delta. By February of 1990, the first Viking-produced range top went into production. Production of the 48-inch range followed in April, and by July 1990, all models were in production in Greenwood. For the first time Viking assumed full responsibility for the in-house manufacture of its own product line. Since then the company has expanded with its increased success and currently manufactures such premium items as cookware, dishwashers, cutlery
and professional counter top appliances.
as a tourist destination came with the opening of The Alluvian Hotel on Howard Street in 2003. Built as a subsidiary of Viking Range, The Alluvian is a boutique hotel
located in the old Hotel Irving in historic downtown Greenwood.
In 2005, Viking opened 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) spa
, a cooking school and a bakery. The Alluvian Spa, Viking Cooking School and the Mockingbird Bakery are all the work of Viking Hospitality Group, and provide services to local residents and corporate clientele that Viking provides training and demonstrations to.
Outside of Viking’s development, other private ventures have flourished in the blocks surrounding The Alluvian, including museums, boutique retail stores, a book store, art galleries, restaurants and antique stores, among others.
Between 1999 and 2006, Viking manufactured approximately forty-five thousand side-by-side and bottom-freezer refrigerators that were alleged to be unsafe by the CPSC. They claimed that the defective refrigerators contained “tower” hinges (which attach the refrigerator door to the cabinet) that can detach, allowing the door to fall on and potentially injure consumers. According to the settlement agreement between the CPSC and Viking, the company received its first complaints involving hinge failure in January 2001, and introduced redesigned hinges by January of the following year. By April 2008, Viking had received eight injury complaints, and developed a field repair fix kit for consumers whose refrigerators “exhibited problems with the hinges.”
The CPSC has stated that, despite being aware problem since 2001, Viking did not report to the Commission until April 2009. By that time, the company was aware of at least ten injury reports involving hinge failures. A recall was finally issued in 2009.
In its settlement with the CPSC, Viking denies the Commission’s allegations that the Refrigerators:
Privately held company
A privately held company or close corporation is a business company owned either by non-governmental organizations or by a relatively small number of shareholders or company members which does not offer or trade its company stock to the general public on the stock market exchanges, but rather the...
that manufactures ultra high-end professional kitchen appliances for home use. Viking originated the "professional" segment of kitchen appliances with its introduction of the first professional-grade range for home use in 1987. Today the company offers three complete lines of premium appliances including cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, ventilation, kitchen clean-up and refrigeration
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
, as well as various outdoor appliances. In addition to their "Professional" and less expensive "Designer" series, Viking's latest offering is their new "Commercial" line of kitchen appliances for use in restaurant and other commercial kitchens. Headquartered on historic Cotton Row in downtown Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, Viking Range employs more than 1,000 people at four manufacturing facilities in Leflore County.
History
In the 1980s Fred Carl, Jr.Fred Carl, Jr.
Fred E. Carl, Jr. is founder and current president and chief executive officer of Viking Range Corporation, a manufacturer of professional kitchen appliances for use in the home. Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, Carl attended Greenwood High School, graduating in 1966. He then continued his...
, founder and CEO of Viking Range, discovered some major flaws in the design of commercial appliances with respect to their installation in a residential kitchen he was designing for his family. These flaws among other things made them impractical and undesirable for use in the home. After much research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
, Carl worked through the problems and finally introduced the first commercial-type range in 1987. The unanticipated volume and growth experienced by Viking quickly overwhelmed the capacity and capabilities of the California manufacturer and production was subsequently moved to a household appliance manufacturer in eastern Tennessee that was more accustomed to larger volumes. Although this company provided some degree of improvement, various problems and challenges persisted which were beyond Carl's control and he knew another change had to be made. Therefore, in October of 1989, Viking began preparations for manufacturing its own product line in Carl's hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi, located in the historic Mississippi Delta. By February of 1990, the first Viking-produced range top went into production. Production of the 48-inch range followed in April, and by July 1990, all models were in production in Greenwood. For the first time Viking assumed full responsibility for the in-house manufacture of its own product line. Since then the company has expanded with its increased success and currently manufactures such premium items as cookware, dishwashers, cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
and professional counter top appliances.
Greenwood's Viking Renaissance
The establishment of Viking's hometown of Greenwood, MississippiGreenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
as a tourist destination came with the opening of The Alluvian Hotel on Howard Street in 2003. Built as a subsidiary of Viking Range, The Alluvian is a boutique hotel
Boutique hotel
Boutique hotel is a term popularized in North America and the United Kingdom to describe intimate, usually luxurious or unique hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and motels by providing personalized accommodation and services / facilities...
located in the old Hotel Irving in historic downtown Greenwood.
In 2005, Viking opened 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) spa
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
, a cooking school and a bakery. The Alluvian Spa, Viking Cooking School and the Mockingbird Bakery are all the work of Viking Hospitality Group, and provide services to local residents and corporate clientele that Viking provides training and demonstrations to.
Outside of Viking’s development, other private ventures have flourished in the blocks surrounding The Alluvian, including museums, boutique retail stores, a book store, art galleries, restaurants and antique stores, among others.
2011 product safety settlement
In June 2011, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accepted a settlement under which Viking agreed to pay a $450,000 in civil penalties to settle charges that it failed to report defects in its refrigerators.Between 1999 and 2006, Viking manufactured approximately forty-five thousand side-by-side and bottom-freezer refrigerators that were alleged to be unsafe by the CPSC. They claimed that the defective refrigerators contained “tower” hinges (which attach the refrigerator door to the cabinet) that can detach, allowing the door to fall on and potentially injure consumers. According to the settlement agreement between the CPSC and Viking, the company received its first complaints involving hinge failure in January 2001, and introduced redesigned hinges by January of the following year. By April 2008, Viking had received eight injury complaints, and developed a field repair fix kit for consumers whose refrigerators “exhibited problems with the hinges.”
The CPSC has stated that, despite being aware problem since 2001, Viking did not report to the Commission until April 2009. By that time, the company was aware of at least ten injury reports involving hinge failures. A recall was finally issued in 2009.
In its settlement with the CPSC, Viking denies the Commission’s allegations that the Refrigerators:
- “contain a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, and denies that it violated the reporting requirements of Section 15(b) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. § 2064(b).”