Bell Flavors & Fragrances
Bell Flavors and Fragrances is a family owned company headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. Bell has been in the flavor and fragrance industry since 1912 and includes a total of eight international manufacturing locations as well as 14 international sales offices. There are currently 11 family members working for Bell Flavors and Fragrances in addition to Jim Heinz, President & CEO.
Bell develops creative flavors and fragrances for the food, beverage, cosmetic, household care, personal care, oral care, and tobacco companies throughout the world.
Locations
Manufacturing locations
- Northbrook, IL – Headquarters
- Middletown, NY
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Shanghai, China
- Leipzig, Germany
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Singapore, Singapore
International sales offices
- Argentina
- Bulgaria
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- France
- India
- Philippines
- Poland
- Russia
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Venezuela
- Vietnam HCM
History
1912: Bell Flavors & Fragrances began as the William M. Bell Company founded in Chicago Il. Bell’s previous experience as a flavor chemist in confections gave him a great understanding of flavors. In the early years, William M. Bell sold his flavors to local ice cream parlors, grocery stores, and soda pop shops.
1930’s: The William M. Bell Company’s first manufacturing facility was on West Grand Ave in Chicago, Il. William Bell was the first to develop and incorporate their flavors into caramels and marshmallows in the United States.
1955: The William M. Bell Company was sold to Theonette & Company, a flavor company devoted to the beverage industry. Although Bell was owned by Theonette & Company, Bell ran as an individual company.
1968: Edward N. Heinz purchased the William M. Bell company. Heinz as well as his sons continued to build Bell’s customer loyalty through their hard work and creativity.
1976: Bell acquires Maumee Flavors & Fragrances. Maumee developed a line of standard flavors and fragrances as well as primary ingredients in the Anthranilate group – key ingredients in creating berry and grape flavors.
1979: The William M. Bell Company changed its name to Bell Flavors and Fragrances after acquiring Roubechez Inc., a fragrance company located in Chicago, Il.
1981: Bell purchased the flavor division of the Stepan Chemical Company and moved its headquarters into a new manufacturing plant located at 500 Academy Drive, Northbrook, Illinois. This location is Bell’s Corporate Headquarters today. Bell’s acquisition of Stepan also included Fries & Bro. Founded in 1845, Fries & Bro. was the premier tobacco flavor company within the flavor industry.
1983: Bell acquires Nestlé’s flavor and fragrance division known as Synfleur. 1987: Edward N. Heinz passes away in 1987 however; his sons continue to run and expand the business today.
1993: Bell privatized the operations of Schimmel & Company in Leipzig, Germany. This company, originally founded in 1829, is considered to be the founding flavor and fragrance company in the world.
1994: Bell purchased a 100,000 square foot manufacturing plant from PFW-Hercules in Middletown, NY. This location serves as Bell’s fragrance and botanical manufacturing facility for their North American customers.
1995: Bell purchased a Canadian flavor company, Naturome to strictly supply the Canadian market now known as Bell Canada
1995: Bell established a flavor and fragrance business in Hong Kong. This business was to supply flavors and fragrance to China as well as the Asia Pacific countries.
1999: Bell acquired the medium and small flavor and fragrance business of a large competitor, Haarmann & Reimer in the United States and Canada.
2001: Bell continued to expand internationally with the acquisition of Empersa Industrial Izadora de Guadalajara S.A de C.V., a Mexican flavor and fragrance company in Guadalajara, Mexico
2005: Bell opened a manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. This facility has two separate plants, a flavor plant and a fragrance plant, along with R&D and administration offices. Bell China is a fully owned subsidiary of Bell U.S. and the only company in China with a tobacco license. With this license Bell is able to sell directly to the monopoly.
2007: Bell registered and trademarked Belltanicals. This trademark was developed to promote and support Bell’s long time research and development of botanical extracts for various applications including air care, household care, personal care, pet & animal, and fine fragrance.
The development of these botanicals focus on five areas including:
- Botanical Extracts
- Botanical Infusions
- All-Natural Essential Oil Blends
- Certified Organic Extracts
- NOP Certified Organic Essential Oil Blends
2009: Bell incorporates Bell Flavors & Fragrances do Brasil Ind. Com.E Repress, Ltda in Sao Paulo, Brasil.
2011: Bell attained the certification of SQF (Safe Quality Food) 2000 level 3 for its manufacturing facility in Northbrook, Il. This Level 3 certification requires a rigorous third party audit process in addition to an extensive review of policies, procedures, and systems. SQF Level 3 Certification provides customers with the guarantee that their products are manufactured by a consistently safe and high quality source. Bell Northbrook has maintained SQF 2000 Level 3 certification since then and Bell Canada as well as Bell Mexico attained the same certification in 2012.
2012: Bell celebrated its 100 year history with a centennial celebration honoring the company.
References
- Bell Flavors and Fragrance History and Profile
- PreparedFoods.com- Bell Flavors and Fragrances New Superfruit Flavors