Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
Issue link: http://kitchenbathdesign.epubxp.com/i/106524
Industry Update Viking Acquired By Illinois Manufacturer Greenwood, MI ��� Viking Range Corp., the Greenwood, MI-based leader in the category of professional cooking appliances, has been acquired by Middleby Corporation of Elgin, IL, a publicly traded manufacturer of commercial cooking, food processing and packaging equipment for the foodservice industry. The acquisition, whose terms were not disclosed, was announced last month by Fred Carl, Jr., founder, president and CEO of Viking, which was founded in 1987. ���I am excited about the future of Viking as it becomes a part of the Middleby Corporation,��� Carl remarked. ���I have always had a great deal of respect for Middleby, a company I���ve known well over the years, and very much look forward to becoming a���liated with an organization that has such a strong and impressive track record. ���We are looking forward to launching a new product line in 2013 and are excited about the great R&D; and innovation Middleby brings to the Viking brand, including their truvection, induction and speed cooking technologies.��� ���We are delighted to add Viking to our portfolio of highly respected companies,��� said Selim Bassoul, chairman and CEO of Middleby. ���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 o���erings for the residential market.��� Bassoul said that Viking will remain headquartered in Greenwood, and will maintain its current operations there. Sales Manager Named For KBDN, Sister Pubs Fort Atkinson, WI ��� Mike Mandozzi, a veteran sales associate with Kitchen & Bath Design News��� parent company, Cygnus Business Media, has been named National Sales Manager of the Residential Group within Cygnus��� Construction Afpnity Group. In addition to managing a Midwest sales territory, Mandozzi���s duties will encompass increasing print advertising, online and ancillary sales across the group, which includes KBDN and sister magazines Qualified Remodeling and Residential Building Products, according to group publisher John Hu���. Mandozzi, who joined Cygnus in August of 2010, has been involved in integrated media sales for nearly 30 years, working with marketers and their ad agencies to create programs that reach their target audiences through print, online and e-newsletter advertising; educational webinars; live events; custom-published magazines and e-newsletters, lead generation programs, and more. ���When Mike came on board at Cygnus, he was new to the market and up against some serious competition, not to mention a depression in the housing market,��� Huff commented. ���Mike responded with gains in market share and new account breakthroughs that were critical to our success. As a 25+ year veteran of media sales, Mike is perfectly suited to help the team grow, especially as the industry rebounds.��� ���I look forward to working with our expert KBDN sales team to make sure our advertisers get the very best return on their investment in our brand,��� Mandozzi commented. Artisan Group Raises Funds for Vets��� Homes Austin, TX ��� Artisan Group countertop fabricators across the U.S. raised $27,000 at the group���s second national granite yard sale, ���Counters For A Cause,��� which helps Homes For Our Troops build specially adapted homes for veterans. Artisan Group board member and Construction Resources Co-owner Mitch Hires (left), presents a check to Homes For Our Troops with Marine Corporal Tony Mullis, Homes For Our Troops President Ken Preston and Construction Resources Co-owner Sonny Hires at Mulllis��� key ceremony. February 2013 ForResidentialPros.com | 13 Circle No. 07 on Product Card