¡Olé! Northbrook, Ill.-based Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is pulling out all the stops for its new innovations center in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

The new facility, Centro Innovación  Bell (CIB), will be the comnpany's hub for creativity and customer collaboration servicing the Mexican and Central American market. 

“Creativity and innovation are two ingredients that have driven Bell’s growth over the last 100 years,” says James Heinz, the company’s president and ceo. “Investing further into Mexico and with our key partners is critical to our company’s success. This CIB facility will allow us to focus as a company on these critical objectives.”Focusing on new product creation and direct interaction with customers, CIB will encompass all areas of Bell products — from food to fragrance.

Three test kitchens and two creation labs will give Bell the space to develop and test sweet, savory and beverage flavorings that are at once distinct while remaining locally rooted. Two state-of-the-art fragrance laboratories will serve to create and test fragrances in the categories of personal care, household care and consumer products. A consumer product sensory laboratory will help Bell to work directly with customers as they test new products in preference and sensory-driven testing.

Moreover, the new 900-sq. meter CIB facility isn’t only about creating new products; it’s also intended to foster a positive environment for employees, customers and the planet alike.

Michael Natale, general manager, Bell Mexico, sees the CIB as an investment in the present that will pay off in the future.Designed by Pimential Architects, the minimalist and clean-building plan focuses on natural light, fresh air, green space and a minimal use of energy. At the center of the CIB, a “Green Wall” garden with more than 500 plants will bring a sense of peace and nature to the space, while also purifying up to 80 sq. meters of air a day.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for our company here in Mexico,” says Natale. “We believe very much in the Mexican market and our key partners in Mexico and this investment reassures them we are investing in the future.”