Viking Coke’s new product lines include Warrior Energy Drink.
was half the size it is now. “We had about half the employees and half the revenue, and just the flagship brands,” Michael said. “Michael has done a good job of staying focused on expanding our company for Coca-Cola,” Soldner said. “He’s done a good job of transitioning – keeping longterm employees focused, yet modernizing the company. Like I said, he’s created the innovation company, but he also
1995 – Joe Faber passes away from lung cancer; Rose Ann Faber, Joe’s wife, takes over as president becoming the nation’s only female president and chief executive officer of a CocaCola bottling company 1998 – Michael Faber returns from Colorado and joins Viking Coca-Cola full time; the company puts on a 43,000 square foot addition 1999 – Viking acquires the Fergus Falls CocaCola wholesaler
2000 – At age 27 Michael Faber becomes president of Viking Coca-Cola; Rose Ann Faber becomes chairwoman of the board; the Versa Vend Vending name changes to First Choice Food and Beverage Solutions, representing its expanded product offering. 2001 – First Choice acquires Hermel Vending in Marshall, MN 2003 – Viking Coca-Cola augments its production capabilities through the addition of a canning line.
purchased the Coors franchise, and expanded production – now we’re canning as well as bottling.” But growth has its challenges. “As we’ve grown, my challenge now is to balance the needs and demands of the growth with being as involved as I like to be,” Michael said. “I need to evolve as a leader and structure the organization differently so I can still stay involved, but that I don’t
A 58,000 square foot addition is built to accommodate the can line. Viking becomes the only family owned distributor in Minnesota to produce its own bottles and cans. 2004 – Michael Faber creates innovation companies, such as Replenishment Solutions and Armada Beverages, developing products that fill gaps in the Viking product offering. The first product to launch is Armada Coffee.
2005 – Viking acquires Coca-Cola operations in River Falls, WI and Red Wing, MN; two months later, the Faber family enters the beer business by acquiring Lenneman Beverage, a Coors distributorship serving St Cloud, Willmar and Hutchinson; Viking sells their Pine City building and relocates their operation to a new facility in North Branch. 2010 – Replenishment Solutions launches Warrior Energy drink
spread myself so thin that I freeze the organization.” “Michael is a great owner-manager,” according to Bernie Perryman, central region business manager at Viking CocaCola. “He gives us autonomy to do the job we have to do without micromanaging. He has the confidence in his management team that we can make the right decisions and get the right things done without looking over our shoulders.” “The most valuable professional gift that I have in my life has been the opportunity to meet and work with so many wonderful people,” Michael said. “It is about the journey we share, about creating memories and creating real wealth – not measured by the value of the dollar, but measured by the value of the friendships we create.” Gail Ivers is the vice president of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and managing editor of Business Central Magazine.
2011 – Replenishment Solutions launches Avalanche Ice Slushie 2013 – Michael Faber is elected to a two-year term as president and chairman of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association; he was first elected to the association’s board in 2004 and served as chair of the Industry Issues Committee, treasurer and vice president of the association. Michael was the youngest board member and president/chairman to lead The CocaCola Bottlers’
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Association. The Red Wing operations are consolidated into the River Falls facility. 2014 Viking Coca-Cola receives ISO 9001:2008 and FSSC 22000:2010 quality management and food safety certifications 2015 – Michael Faber and Viking Coca-Cola are named the 2015 Family Owned Business of the Year by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
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