Middleby Swings Deal for Viking Range
Middleby Corp., a manufacturer of commercial cooking, food-processing and packaging equipment for the food-service industry, has purchased Viking Range Corp.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed in a statement issued by both companies. Selim Bassoul, Middleby’s chairman and CEO, said Viking Range will maintain its headquarters and operations in Greenwood, Miss. Fred Carl Jr., Viking’s founder, president and CEO, will remain in his post.
Bassoul said, “As our entry into the residential appliance industry, we see many synergies and growth opportunities between Viking and our existing business units. We hope to aggressively grow and expand the Viking brand, and add to their product offerings in the residential market.”
Viking’s product line currently includes both major and small appliances, cutlery and outdoor products, among others.
Good Cook Gets New Look
Bradshaw International has debuted a new look for its Good Cook brand of bakeware, cookware, gadgets, kitchen tools, cutlery and barware.
The revamp involves new branding and packaging. The centerpiece of the new branding involves placing the Good Cook logo front and center on all product packaging, in an effort to spread brand loyalty and make the Good Cook name more recognizable on all of the brand’s products.
Good Cook merchandise is currently available at supermarket chains, mass merchants and drugstores. The collection is also increasing its presence in social media by way of Facebook and Pinterest.
Bradshaw said it would present the new-look Good Cook products at the upcoming International Home + Housewares Show in March.
New Name, Larger Sales Team for Jura-Capresso
Jura-Capresso has changed its name to Jura North America and has bolstered its sales organization with a number of promotions and a new hire.
The newly named company will continue to market products under the Jura and Capresso brands in the United States, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, David Shull, previously vice president of sales and marketing, has been promoted to senior vice president of Jura North America.
Tom McMahon, formerly director of sales-Midwest, has been elevated to vice president of sales USA, reporting to Shull. John Brennan—a sales executive with Chantal Cookware, Le Creuset, M. Block and Sons, PHD Southwest and Pepsi-Cola—has joined the company as director of sales Midwest, reporting to McMahon. John Evans, director of sales East, has been given the additional responsibilities for sales in the Caribbean and Central America.