Bell Flavors & Fragrances
Bell Earns 3 Excellent Ratings in SQF Audit
Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. announced the company’s successful completion of its annual SQF Food Safety Program Audit, conducted by the Safe Quality Food Institute, across all North American facilities.
This past year, the highest possible Excellent’ratings were achieved by three of four locations, including its global headquarters in Northbrook, Ill. (96/100) in addition to Middletown, N.Y. (96/100), and Guadalajara, Mexico (100/100). Just shy of Excellent, its Brossard, Canada, facility secured a Good rating of 92/100.
“The SQF scheme recognized under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is widely known across the food industry as one of the highest standards in food safety. Our exceptional ratings are a true testament to our unwavering commitment to food safety and quality. Bell’s collaborative, cross-functional efforts have contributed to our growth and positively impacted the programs that keep products safe for our customers,” said Martha Herrera, Quality Assurance Project Improvement Manager at Bell’s global headquarters.
The SQF Food Safety Program is a “rigorous and credible food safety and quality program geared toward businesses looking to satisfy their retailers’ and buyers’ GFSI requirements. Their program
includes 13 codes that are designed to meet industry, customer, and regulatory requirements from all sectors of the food supply chain. These codes provide sites with a HACCP-based approach to ensure that their products meet food safety requirements.” (SQF Institute, 2025)
Bell actively participated in the unannounced, three-day SQF Food Safety Program audit, covering key categories of focus such as food quality, employee training, product identification and traceability, allergen management and more as part of the Food Ingredient Manufacturing scope of certification. Bell follows the Approved Supplier Program with specific guidelines and requirements established by the SQF Institute, assuring consistent and safe production of products and services to strategic partners.
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Bell Brazil Announces Leadership Promotions
Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. Brazil announced a series of strategic leadership promotions aimed at spearheading innovation and fostering continued growth. These key changes reflect the company’s commitment to strengthening its core capabilities and reinforcing its position as a global leader in providing cutting-edge flavor and fragrance solutions.
“I am excited for the next stage of growth by our newly promoted Bell Brazil management team,” said Ron Stark, president & CEO. “Led by Marco, these veteran leaders have laid a strong foundation since Bell’s entry into Brazil. Bell Brazil is now perfectly positioned to accelerate their employee engagement, customer experience, and market growth.”
Marco Conte has been promoted to Bell Brazil’s General Manager. In his new role, Conte will be responsible for spearheading commercial and R&D initiatives, ensuring a strong alignment with operational capabilities and fostering sustainable growth and innovation across the organization.
Conte earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Campinas and a Master of Business Administration degree in business strategy from Getulio Vargas Institute.
Stepping into his new role, Conte is eager to inspire the Bell Brazil team to live by words of wisdom he’s carried with him throughout his career:
• Listen proactively – always.
• Break boundaries with creative solutions that deliver impact.
• Chase your dreams with steady steps, fierce belief and unshakable persistence
André Silva has been promoted to R&D Technical Manager. In his new role, André will lead the R&D team, driving cross-functional collaboration, supporting key commercial initiatives and aligning goals with the National Sales Manager.
Silva earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
Igor Florido has been promoted to National Sales Manager. In his new role, Igor will be responsible for fostering sales growth, aligning pipeline strategies and improving success rates across the organization.
Florido possesses strong leadership skills and earned his bachelor’s degrees in both chemistry and marketing.
Giulia Gagliardi Stramandinole has been promoted to Junior Sales Account Manager. In her new role, Giulia will oversee key accounts and collaborate closely with the Bell Brazil Commercial team to drive pipeline growth and support long-term sales objectives.
Stramandinole has proven expertise in quality assurance and customer service and earned her bachelor’s degree in food engineering at São Paulo University.
These leadership advancements reflect Bell Brazil’s dedication to pushing boundaries, deepening customer connections, and championing creative innovation across its operations. With their forwardthinking leadership and deep industry insights, the team is set to fuel dynamic growth and reimagine the future of taste and fragrance experiences.
For more on Bell Flavors & Fragrances, visit www.bellff.com or follow Bell Flavors & Fragrances on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
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Bell Flavors & Fragrances Appoints Lee Brooks as COO
Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. has appointed Lee Brooks as chief operating officer at the company’s global headquarters in Northbrook, Ill.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce Lee Brooks’ appointment to chief operating officer of Bell Flavors & Fragrances. This well-deserved promotion is a testament to Lee’s unwavering dedication, exceptional work ethic, and inclusive cross-functional and operational leadership,” said Ron Stark, president & CEO.
“Since joining our team, Lee has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to drive operational excellence, while taking on more responsibilities and fostering a culture of teamwork focused on safety and continuous improvement. Lee leads by example with thorough execution and follow-through, and he demonstrates a personal commitment to each direct report, his team and our company’s success. He has been instrumental in increasing our growth and laying the strategic groundwork for even greater growth for our company in the future.”
Brooks will oversee Bell’s global operations, driving excellence in service, efficiency and innovation while ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic objectives.
Previously serving as vice president of global flavor & fragrance operations, he brings extensive leadership experience in optimizing operational systems, enhancing regulatory and quality compliance, and fostering a culture of growth, safety, sustainability, and employee engagement across Bell’s worldwide locations.
Brooks joined Bell Flavors & Fragrances in January 2020 as the vice president of fragrance operations in Middletown, N.Y., and was then promoted to his previous role in September 2020, based in Northbrook. Since 2020, Brooks has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s operations and quality systems through a global enterprise resource planning implementation and strategic alignment across Bell’s international operations.
With over 25 years of experience in the flavor industry, Brooks is a seasoned leader dedicated to operational excellence. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, he is an active member of the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce, where he serves as director at large.
“I am truly honored and grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to continuing to work alongside the talented and dedicated teams at Bell. Together, we will refine our processes, embrace innovation and leverage our automated, global infrastructure to streamline operations and deliver exceptional service to customers worldwide,” Brooks said.
“Let’s build on Bell’s success and achieve even greater accomplishments ahead.”
“Please join us in congratulating Lee on this significant achievement. We are confident that under Lee’s leadership, his expanded cross-functional teams will continue to thrive and reach new heights,” Stark said.
For more on Bell Flavors & Fragrances, visit www.bellff.com or follow Bell Flavors & Fragrances on LinkedIn, X and Facebook..
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