Viking appliances are made by Viking Range, LLC, an American premium appliance manufacturer headquartered in Greenwood, Mississippi, that has been a subsidiary of Middleby Corporation since Middleby acquired the company for 380 million dollars on December 31, 2012.
Viking is widely credited with creating the professional-style residential appliance category in 1987, bringing commercial-grade cooking power and stainless steel aesthetics into home kitchens for the first time and establishing the segment that countless competitors have since followed.
Middleby Corporation is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker MIDD, headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, and is one of the world’s largest commercial foodservice equipment manufacturers with more than 45 brands in its portfolio.
Knowing that Middleby has reengineered 85% of Viking’s product line since the acquisition while keeping all manufacturing in Greenwood, Mississippi helps explain how the brand has modernized its technology while preserving its founding American manufacturing identity.
This article covers who makes Viking appliances, where they are produced, who owns the brand, its history, how it compares to a rival, and whether the appliances are any good.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Makes Viking Appliances?
Viking appliances are made by Viking Range, LLC, which operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Middleby Corporation following the 2012 acquisition.
Viking manufactures its core cooking lineup including ranges, rangetops, wall ovens, cooktops, and outdoor grills at its Greenwood, Mississippi facility, the same location where Fred Carl Jr. founded and built the company.
Some Viking dishwashers and refrigeration products are outsourced to other manufacturers including Beko, while microwaves are typically supplied by Sharp, a common practice across the premium appliance industry where brands focus manufacturing depth on their core product categories.
Middleby’s acquisition brought over 50 new product innovations to Viking, including energy-efficient 5-Series and 7-Series ranges and vacuum-insulated refrigeration technology, as confirmed in Viking’s company profile.
Where Are Viking Appliances Made?
Most Viking appliances are manufactured in Greenwood, Mississippi, where founder Fred Carl Jr. built the company’s headquarters and primary production facility starting in the 1980s.
When Middleby completed the acquisition, both Selim Bassoul of Middleby and Fred Carl Jr. publicly committed to keeping Viking’s manufacturing operations in Greenwood, a promise that has held true through the present day.
Viking’s outsourced product categories, including some refrigeration and dishwashers, are manufactured by third-party partners outside Mississippi, while cooking appliances, ventilation, and grills remain core to the Greenwood facility’s production.
Middleby’s broader manufacturing network spans dozens of brands and facilities globally, but Viking’s identity as a Mississippi-made brand has remained a key marketing and engineering pillar since its founding.
Who Owns Viking Appliances?
Viking is owned by Middleby Corporation, which acquired the company on December 31, 2012, for 380 million dollars in cash, marking Middleby’s entry into the premium residential appliance market.
Before Middleby, Viking was privately held by founder Fred Carl Jr. and a group of individual shareholders affiliated with Stephens Inc. and The Stephens Group of Little Rock, Arkansas, along with longtime Viking executives.
Middleby Corporation is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker MIDD and is a global leader in commercial and residential kitchen equipment, with Viking representing its flagship entry into the high-end home cooking segment.
Middleby’s full brand portfolio and the Viking acquisition details are documented on Middleby’s official investor relations page.
What Is the History of Viking appliances?
Fred Carl Jr. began developing the concept for Viking in the early 1980s, driven by his vision of bringing high-quality commercial cooking technology into the home kitchen, a market segment that did not yet exist.
Viking was incorporated in 1984, and after several years of working through manufacturing and safety challenges, the first Viking range models shipped in 1987, creating what is now recognized as the professional-style residential appliance category.
Viking quickly became the appliance of choice among high-end homeowners seeking commercial-grade performance, earning dozens of industry awards and mentions, including Good Housekeeping’s Best Electric Ranges recognition.
Middleby’s 2012 acquisition for 380 million dollars positioned Viking as the centerpiece of Middleby’s expansion into residential cooking, and the company has continued investing in product innovation and warranty improvements ever since.
Viking vs Wolf: How Do They Compare?
Viking and Wolf are the two pioneers of the professional-style residential appliance category and remain the most frequently compared premium American range brands.
Wolf is part of Sub-Zero Group, a family-owned Wisconsin company, and is widely regarded for its dual-stacked burners and consistently strong cooking performance reviews from professional chefs.
Viking, now backed by Middleby’s global engineering resources, has invested heavily in modernizing its lineup with the 5-Series and 7-Series and offers one of the best warranties in the industry following its reengineering push.
Both brands remain Mississippi and Wisconsin manufacturing icons respectively, and the choice between them often comes down to specific feature preferences, dealer relationships, and regional service availability.
Are Viking Appliances Any Good?
Viking appliances are well regarded as a pioneering and capable premium brand, with the company’s investment in product modernization since the Middleby acquisition having significantly improved reliability compared to earlier generations.
The reengineered 5-Series and 7-Series ranges have earned strong marks from appliance reviewers for energy efficiency, even cooking, and modern convection technology that addresses some of the reliability concerns associated with older Viking models.
Viking now offers one of the best warranties in the professional appliance industry, reflecting Middleby’s confidence in the improved engineering and manufacturing quality control implemented since 2012.
Outsourced categories like dishwashers and some refrigeration carry different reliability profiles than Viking’s in-house cooking products, so buyers should research specific product lines individually before purchasing.
For buyers who want the original American professional-style cooking brand, now backed by Middleby’s global engineering resources and an improved warranty program, Viking remains one of the most historically significant and currently competitive choices in premium cooking appliances.
For more on related premium appliance brands, see Who Makes Dacor Appliances and Who Makes Blomberg Appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions About Viking Appliances
Who makes Viking appliances?
Viking appliances are made by Viking Range, LLC, a subsidiary of Middleby Corporation since December 2012. Founder Fred Carl Jr. built the company in Greenwood, Mississippi, where most manufacturing still takes place today.
Where are Viking appliances made?
Most Viking appliances, including ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, and grills, are made in Greenwood, Mississippi. Some product categories like dishwashers and certain refrigeration are outsourced to other manufacturers.
Who owns Viking Range?
Viking Range is owned by Middleby Corporation, a publicly traded commercial foodservice equipment company headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. Middleby acquired Viking for 380 million dollars in December 2012.
When was Viking founded?
Viking was incorporated in 1984 by Fred Carl Jr. and shipped its first range models in 1987, creating the professional-style residential appliance category that countless competitors have since followed.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.