High Bar Brands (HBB), the parent company of Minimizer and Premier Manufacturing, is adding to its portfolio of brands by acquiring Viking Sales Inc.
Viking, based in Brighton, Mich. is an industry leader in mud flap production and distribution through its established relationships with several OEMs and aftermarket distribution customers.
“We are extremely happy to be partnering with High Bar Brands,” say Viking Sales owners Gary and Kathi Kramer and Elizabeth Spitler. “We feel the fit, culture and capabilities High Bar Brands brings to Viking will help the brand expand in the industry.”
Viking’s manufacturing process is ISO-9001 certified. Under the HBB umbrella, the brand will have expanded marketing and sales support and an expansive distribution network throughout North America. The HBB portfolio also will benefit from the deep-rooted OEM relationships and high-quality manufacturing capabilities that Viking has already established, the company says.
“For over 50 years, Viking has provided custom mud flaps to the transportation industry, and we see the addition of those capabilities complementing the brand portfolio within High Bar Brands,” says HBB President and CEO Christopher “CT” Thorpe. “Along with rubber mud flap solutions, Viking also sources raw polyethylene to manufacture industry-leading mud flaps with custom logos. Their offerings, including Viking’s rain-guard, anti-spray and anti-sail technologies, will significantly expand our current portfolio offerings.”
Hart Marx Advisors, Heartwood Partners and HBB collaborated to facilitate the Viking Sales acquisition.
“I would like to thank Hart Marx and Heartwood Partners for all of their help in finalizing this important addition to High Bar Brands,” Thorpe says. “A key element of High Bar Brands’ growth strategy is to expand through acquisitions to leverage core competencies of well-established iconic brands. To this end, we continue looking for additional growth opportunities to complement our growing portfolio.”