Caloric brand makes a comeback

An iconic, post-World War II appliance brand will be getting a 21st-century upgrade. Caloric, which is a brand that once was known for pastel appliances, will be reintroduced on a line of freestanding gas ranges this summer.

The Caloric ranges will feature an automatic burner reignition, and the burners will range from 9,000 Btu to 17,000 Btu. They will be available in 30- and 36-inch models in black, stainless steel and white, according to Michael Lee, who is a managing partner at JMM Lee Properties, which owns the Caloric brand.

Lee says other colors—including the brand’s classic pastels—will be an option, but he didn’t tell Consumers Digest which colors specifically.

Caloric’s heritage will be leveraged for the reintroduced brand’s marketing efforts, which will target middle-age consumers who remember the original products, as well as younger customers who are searching for something that stands out from appliances that are on the market.

Lee didn’t provide specific MSRPs, but he told Consumers Digest that the ranges will be priced at the high end of midrange, which is around $2,000.

Countertop appliances, such as microwave ovens and coffee makers, are expected to be introduced under the brand in 2013.

– K. Fanuko