Talk:Bell Flavors & Fragrances

I would like to submit these changes to the Bell page. It provides more background and history and information for the company. I was asked by a friend who is a consultant for Bell Flavors & fragrances to help him fix up their wikipedia page.

Here are my suggested edits.



Bell Flavors & Fragrances is an American multinational manufacturer of flavors, fragrances, botanicals and ingredients. Bell has 800 employees in over 20 different countries and has 40 sales offices throughout the world. Bell is privately held by the Heinz family.

Overview edit

Bell develops flavors and fragrances for the food, beverage, cosmetic, household care, personal care, oral care, and tobacco companies throughout the world.

History[1] edit

Early Years edit

In 1912, Bell Flavors & Fragrances began as the William M. Bell Company founded in Chicago, Illinois. In the early years, William M. Bell sold his flavors to local ice cream parlors, grocery stores, and soda pop shops.

In 1930, the William M. Bell Company’s has its first manufacturing facility was on West Grand Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

50’s -60’s edit

In 1959, FEMA (Flavor Extract Manufacturing Association), led by Edward N. Heinz, began to establish the FEMA GRAS Program.

In 1960 the FEMA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) program launched and would serve as the primary body for the safety evaluation of food flavorings for the flavor industry, and the public through its GRAS assessment of flavoring substances.

In 1968, Edward N. Heinz left his job at Food Materials and purchased The Wm. M. Bell Company from Theonett & Co. At the time of the purchase, Wm. M. Bell Co. had two employees, Mr. Harold Mathews and Ms. Anne Erlandson.

70’s - 80’s edit

By 1974, Bell moved its operation to Melrose Park, Illinois. A year later Bell is featured in the Chicago Tribune for the chemistry side of the flavor business and how they bring real tastes to food in a safer way – to adhere to FDA regulations.

The following year in 1976, Bell’s first acquisition is Maumee Flavors & Fragrances, located in Danbury, Connecticut. Maumee developed a line of standard flavors and fragrances and also manufactured primary ingredients in the Anthranilate group (Methyl Anthranilate; Dimethyl Anthranilate; Ethyl Anthranilate) – key ingredients in creating berry and grape flavors. Bell moved the manufacturing of Maumee to its Melrose Park, Illinois plant, but kept some sales offices and labs on the East Coast.

In 1979, the Wm. Bell Company changed its name to Bell Flavors & Fragrances after Bell acquired a fragrance company called Roubechez, Inc. This company specialized in developing and selling fragrances to the candle, soap, detergent and household care industries. Bell moved Roubechez, Inc. into their Melrose Park plant with the additional rental of 30,000 square feet of space. Edward Heinz receives the Distinguished Associate Award as the President of the NCA (National Confectioners’ Association) at the 1979 NCA/AACT Convention.

Bell purchases the flavor division of the Stepan Chemical Company in 1981, and moved its headquarters into a new manufacturing plant located in Northbrook, Illinois. This location is Bell’s Corporate Headquarters today. Bell’s acquisition of Stepan also included Fries & Bro. Two years later Bell acquired Nestlé’s flavor and fragrance division known as Synfleur. This acquisition acquired two additional manufacturing plants for Bell in White Lake, New York and Montecello, New York, as well as an R&D Center in Paramus, New Jersey. Synfleur had supplied Johnson & Johnson their baby powder fragrance for over 100 years, as well as Nestle with many of its flavors for beverages, confections, savory and dairy products.


In 1984 Bell consolidated the Synfleur R&D facility in Paramus, New Jersey into its existing R&D facility in Northbrook, Illinois. In 1985, Bell acquired American Brosynthetics Corporation located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. American Brosynthetics was the only domestic producer of Heliotropin, a primary ingredient used by the flavor and fragrance industry.

Also, in 1985, Bell acquired a California flavor, fragrance and ingredient manufacturer called Ritter Company. In 1987, Mr. Edward N. Heinz passed away.

90’s-Present edit

In 1993, Bell privatized the operations of Schimmel & Company in Leipzig, Germany. Schimmel is considered to be the founding flavor and fragrance company in the world. Thie Schimmel & Company facility is also home to the Schimmel Library, the oldest chemical library in the world. A year later, Bell purchases manufacturing plant from PFW-Hercules, in Middletown, New York.

In 1995, Bell acquires the flavor company, Naturome, located in Brossard, Canada. This division is now called Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Canada. Bell also starts a flavor and fragrance business in Hong Kong to supply flavors and fragrances to China as well as the Asia Pacific countries. In the late 1990’s to 2001, Bell opens offices in Russia, Poland, UK, France and Ukraine.

Throughout the early 2000’s Bell acquires more flavor and fragrance companies including: Empresa Industrial Izadora de Guadalajara S.A. de C.V. (EIGSA) out of Guadalajara, Mexico in 2001, and Penrith Akers from Minnesota in 2003.

In 2005 they 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.

In 2007, Bell registered and trademarked Belltanicals®. By 2009, Bell incorporates Bell Flavors & Fragrances do Brasil Ind. Com.E Repress, Ltda. In 2012 Bell celebrates 100 years. The following year Bell acquires Iceberg Industries’ flavor division in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bell continues its operations today from its headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois along with its contiguous 85,000 sq ft warehouse that was built in 2011.


Sustainability[2] edit

Bell complies with all environmental laws and permits, and trains all employees on sustainability principles. Bell makes no impact on wetlands nor endanger wildlife species. Bell minimizes the risk of spills and other harmful environmental incidents. They also measure and efficiently manage water usage as well as minimize waste and handle all waste generated in a safe, legal, responsible way. Bell takes measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and track their carbon footprint using the GHG Protocol.


Partnerships[3] edit

Bell has global certifications with OU Kosher(US & Europe), Kosher Certified (Canada), Safe Quality Food Institute, ISO 9001-2015(US & Europe), The European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients, Certified Organic, EU Organic(Europe), FAMI-QS(Europe), HACCP(Europe), FSS C22000(Europe), ISO 14001-2015(US) and ISO 2200-2018(US)


References edit

  1. ^ "Over 100 Years Of Rich Tradition". Bell Flavors & Fragrances. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  2. ^ "Sustainability Management". Bell Flavors & Fragrances. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  3. ^ "Certifications & Associations". Bell Flavors & Fragrances. Retrieved 2021-03-24.

External links edit