Celebrating 20 years in Leipzig

1993 saw the takeover of the VEB Chemisches Werk Miltitz by the US family enterprise from the German government’s Treuhandanstalt privatisation agency. Today, 250 personnel are employed on a site exceeding 200,000m2 to produce flavours and fragrances for the international market.

As Raymond Heinz embraced this adventure in Germany 20 years ago, he only had one goal: to lead this traditional location for fragrances and flavours in Leipzig-Miltitz back onto the road to success. His family enterprise, Bell Flavors & Fragrances, which is based in Northbrook, Illinois, US, recognised the enormous potential in Germany: “We wanted to establish our presence in the new Europe,” remembers Raymond Heinz. “And today we can say with pride that Bell Flavors & Fragrances has become an integral part of the region and formed a close relationship to people in the city of Leipzig.”

Since the takeover from the Treuhandanstalt in June 1993, a lot has changed at the former headquarters of Schimmel & Co., the firm that later became the VEB Chemisches Werk Miltitz. The entire plant was modernised and new research and development laboratories established. The number of employees also grew continuously. Bell Flavors & Fragrances began in Leipzig with a staff of 65. Today, 250 personnel are employed there in the development and production of flavours and fragrances for the international market on a site of over 200,000 m2.

2013 sees a complete focus on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Bell Flavors & Fragrances in Leipzig. A festive ceremony will be held on 18 June and attended by political and business personalities in the region, customers and suppliers. “The long history of the company provides us with a firm foundation on which we can also shape the future of Bell Flavors & Fragrances”, says vice president Michael Heinz, emphasising that: “The continuation of this history will be a success story.”

The celebratory program includes the opening of an exhibition entitled “Auf den Spuren der Vergangenheit” (“Tracing the Past”), which illustrates the unique history of the company. Tina Korinth, marketing manager, hopes this will stimulate a high degree of interest among people in Leipzig: “We’re looking forward to welcoming people from 19-21 June to this informative exhibition, which has been put together with such loving attention to detail.”*