Middleby UK is the wholly owned subsidiary of The Middleby Corporation in Illinois, USA and is based near Wigan. The corporation is listed on the top 100 of the New York NASDAW.
The corporation purchased the Viking brand, along with all manufacturing, sales and marketing infrastructure in 2013. Following a restructuring and investment period, including a new 50,000 sq ft UK headquarters building in Goldborne, the Viking brand will be relaunched to specialist retailers and interior designers.
Managing Director of Middleby UK Adrian Wood explains, “Middleby is well known internationally and nationally for its commercial catering brands. The Company is hugely successful and growing strongly by acquisition. The Viking brand is a perfect fit for Middleby, whilst moving us into the high end of the residential market – a market that also offers us potential with our other brands.
“During early summer we will unveil a brand new 10,000 sq. ft. dedicated Viking showroom, it will take pride of place alongside all our other brands and be an inspiring destination=showroom for consumers used to an extraordinary buying experience.”
Stephen Stroud, formerly of Samsung Appliances, has been heading up the residential sales division since January 2014. He said: “We’ve been working away in the background for almost 12 months to ensure that Viking customers get the service the brand demands. We have taken over all legacy servicing and taken a good hard look at the entire range in the UK.
“It’s important to make clear we are not just distributing the range, Middleby Corporation own Viking which means it will receive the investment it needs to enable it to reach its potential. Viking is a highly specialist product range and we anticipate much of its growth coming through designer specification. It’s our job to make the products available, to look after them all properly and convey the American Dream.”