Clipper Corporation Hires Two New Directors of Sales to Grow Viking Kitchenwares Line

Clipper Corporation, a global distributor and supplier for the food service and consumer products industry, is pleased to announce the hiring of Jason Ledbetter and David Wenz, as Directors of Sales for the consumer packaged goods division. The duo will manage the Viking Culinary® line, where they will handle the brand distribution, increase revenue growth and work diligently with specialty retailers to build the culinary brand’s prestigious reputation.

"Jason Ledbetter will bring over 11 years of experience building brands and developing sustainable relationships with independent and specialty retailers in the cookware and cutlery categories, most recently with Swiss Diamond. David Wenz has over 15 years of experience in sales and management most recently with Breville, where he specialized in creating exponential revenue growth and brand expansion among key specialty retailers.

Together they leverage their extensive knowledge to create an industry leading customer experience and work to strengthen Viking Culinary’s relationship with top independent culinary retailers in the United States. Jason & David will divide the country and focus on strategically expanding relationships and developing brand loyalty amongst customers. Together, their knowledge will continue to position Viking Culinary at the forefront of the kitchenware industry.

“As we continue to grow our brand, we are elated to welcome new and innovative leaders who embody the company’s goals,” said Jeff Malkasian, Executive Vice President of Clipper Corporation. “With Jason and David’s proven success in the housewares industry, we are confident they will be valuable assets in building and positioning the Viking Culinary brand as a leading provider of high-quality cookware products.”

About Clipper Corporation

Founded in 1994 by award-winning entrepreneur Lina Hu, Clipper Corporation is recognized as a leading global distributor and supplier of professional kitchen accessories and restaurant supplies for national and global chains, including Capital Grille, Denny’s, Yum Brands, Darden Restaurants, UPS, California Pizza Kitchen, TGI Fridays, among others.

In 2014, Viking – the manufacturer and marketer of premier kitchen appliances worldwide – chose Clipper Corporation to develop and launch this top-tier kitchenware program under an exclusive licensing agreement. Clipper is the sole manufacturer and distributer of the new Viking Culinary collection, with the ultimate goal of maintaining the image and quality that the world has come to associate with the Viking brand. The Viking Culinary collection encompasses cookware, cutlery, tableware, barbecue tools, cutting boards and other non-electric kitchenware.

About Viking

Viking Range, LLC originated ultra-premium commercial-type appliances for residential use, creating a whole new category of home appliances. Committed to innovative product design, unrivaled performance and peerless quality. Viking is headquartered in Greenwood, Mississippi, and is a subsidiary of The Middleby Corporation, a long-time leader in commercial kitchen technology. Viking appliances are recognized globally as the foremost brand in the high-end appliance industry and are sold through a network of premium appliance distributors and dealers worldwide.