Viking Range

In the late 1970’s, a light bulb moment came to Fred Carl, Jr. A fourth generation building contractor, Carl observed the trend of commercial ranges popping up in residential kitchens. Understanding the obvious appeal that the timeless and durable stainless steel restaurant ranges offered to aspiring 5 Star chefs of the stay-at-home variety, Viking Range Corporation was conceived. 

 Though the aesthetic and culinary advantages to high end, restaurant styled commercial ranges in the home were obvious, Carl was met with a barrage of technical roadblocks: searing heat output and extremely hot surface temperatures, a lack of safety features, excessive energy consumption, a forever burning standing pilot and dimensions that were ill equipped for standard residential cabinetry were a few. The solution came in the form of a hybrid, one that pulled from the assets of both. The problem was, it was not only a hybrid, but nonexistent. This was a blank space that Carl and Viking Range Corporation would soon fill.



The exponential growth over the next few decades not only built the very foundations of family dinners and special occasions in the homes of millions, it created a lifestyle. While Viking endures as the premier provider of immaculate culinary appliances, wine cellars, outdoor grills and much more, what began as Fred Carl Jr.’s vision has morphed into a culture- The Viking Life. Viking is not only a major appliance manufacturer, but a culinary company that indulges in all aspects of the kitchen as well as the world of food and wine.  Culinary schools, cooking classes, gourmet events and online instruction, the Viking Life, as the company says, makes the savory world of Viking tangible.

Viking Range Corporation was inspired by Fred Carl Jr.’s quest to make his wife (and perhaps a little bit of himself) happy with the kitchen. With a little perseverance and outside-the-box thinking, he managed to make a nation of gourmands happy as well.