Corticeira Viking, commonly known as Viking,was created in 1995 when Åke and Cita, joined Eva Silva and Tozé Silva, the former owners of A. Silva, to create a joint venture company between Sweden and Portugal, based in Rio Meão, Portugal.

From raw materials up to finished products, the goal was to supply a new variety of cork products to suit different customers all over the world.

Now, 30 years later and despite the early departure of Åke and the retirement of Cita, the new family generation took over Viking, maintaining and even enhancing the performance and reputation of this serious, innovative, and growing cork company.

Américo Espírito Santo, commonly known as Américo Cita, was born in 1951 in Santa Maria de Lamas, a small village situated in the north of Portugal, being part of a large family of cork workers.

He studied at a seminary and completed his basic education at Colégio dos Carvalhos, achieving excellent results in most school subjects.

After his mandatory military service, which included a period overseas (Angola), he joined Corticeira Amorim, where he met a true school of the cork industry.

He absorbed all the teachings provided by the Amorim family (especially Mr. Américo Amorim and Mr. António Amorim), growing professionally over the years.

Later, he expanded his knowledge by working with other cork groups, including Corksribas and A. Silva. Along the way, he married Isabel, with whom he had two children.

In 1978, at an exhibition in Copenhagen, he met his future business partner and friend, Åke Sandgren, who was also involved in the cork industry, not only as a small producer of corks and specialties but also with a small yet dominant presence in the Scandinavian market.

Sven Åke Oscar Sandgren, better known as Åke, was the owner of Eslövs Korkfabrik and partner and founder of Corticeira Viking. He was born in Eslöv in 1952, a small city located in the south of Sweden.

After school he started his career as a welder, but it lasted just a few weeks. Soon he realized that he fitted best working for himself. 

In late 1800’s there were many spirits and beer factories in the south of Sweden and one of those was located right in Eslöv. Close to this unit there was a small cork factory where Åke’s father worked.

Åke joined this cork factory in mid 1970, producing cork stoppers to spirit and wine bottles and promoting other direct sales to end users.

The raw material was coming from Portugal, through the sales person Américo Cita, with whom he developed a great commercial and friendship relationship.

After some years, despite the closing of the wine and spirit factories in Eslöv, Åke continued to sell, mainly to Scandinavian countries, a wide range of Portuguese cork items.

During that time, Åke met Linda, his wife, and had four kids.

In Sweden, Åke family still runs Eslövs Korkfabrik as well as a bottle and jars supplier for Scandinavian market, named Flaskor & Burkar.