Northbrook, IL (August 2, 2012) — Bell Flavors and Fragrances celebrated 100 years in business on July 25th, 2012 with a formal reception at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. With over 300 guests in attendance, Bell presented a One of a Kind 3-dimensional commemorative art piece, as well as a commemorative video honoring Bell’s 100 years in business.
Click Here to View Bell’s 100 Year Video
James and Raymond Heinz, Bell C0-Presidents, shared their experiences with the company over the years. Followed by, Sandy Frum, President of the Village of Northbrook, congratulated Bell for its contribution to the community and noted how the village passed a resolution honoring the company’s milestone. Guests also viewed a video of U.S. Representative Robert Dold (IL-10) congratulating the company’s historic landmark before Congress.
Click Here to View Congressman Dold
Followed by a three course dinner, Bell’s guests enjoyed a night of music and dancing by the Don Cagen Orchestra. Guests also received gift bags with Bell celebratory memorabilia including men and women fine fragrances designed by Bell’s perfumers, a copy of Bell’s 100 year video, a historical periodical detailing Bell’s vast history and many more enticing goodies.
The company was founded in Chicago in 1912 by William M. Bell, who used his background as a flavor chemist at Kraft foods to start up his own flavor business selling flavors to local ice cream parlors, grocery stores and soda pop shops.
In the 1930s as Chicago was becoming the “Candy Capital of the World”, Bell’s flavors were incorporated into some of the first caramels and marshmallows produced in the U.S. Following William M. Bell’s death in the late 1930s, Theonett & Co. purchased the Wm. M. Bell Company and ran the company until Edward N. Heinz purchased the company in 1967.
After acquiring two fragrance companies, Heinz changed the Wm. M. Bell Company to Bell Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. Over the next 40 years, Bell acquired 15 flavor and fragrance businesses around the world including manufacturing locations in Northbrook, IL.; Middletown, NY.; Guadalajara, Mexico; Brossard (Montreal), Canada; Leipzig, Germany; Shanghai, China and Sao Paulo, Brasil.
“There are not too many companies in the U.S. that celebrate 100 years of being in business. It is quite an accomplishment,” said James Heinz, Bell’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Service has been one of the keys to Bell’s success. “We really differentiate ourselves from our competitors with the service we offer our customers. Customers want their supplier to make them feel special. They want to feel that the supplier is doing something very unique for them. That is what we provide our customers,” Heinz said.
In addition to Bell’s seven worldwide manufacturing plants, there are research and development operations in 10 countries, and sales offices in 40 countries. Bell is privately owned by the Heinz family with 1,200 employees worldwide, including 14 with doctorates and 125 research-based personnel.
For more information on Bell’s 100 year history, event photos or to receive a copy of the 100 year periodical or video please email kheinz@bellff.com.
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About Bell
Bell Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. is a leader in the flavor and fragrance industry. With manufacturing plants in six countries, as well as over 40 sales offices around the world, Bell has the ability to create the flavor, fragrance or botanical for any application. For more information visit our Website at www.bellff.com.