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..
For more news of interest to the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
Lakeview Farms, noosa Holdings Form New Company, Novus Foods
Lakeview Farms, a portfolio company of CapVest Partners LLP has announced the successful completion of its merger with noosa Holdings, Inc. The combined businesses will operate as a new company, Novus Foods, a name that reflects the company’s vision to become the leading consumer packaged goods company for the refrigerated perimeter of the grocery store.
The merger, first announced on Nov. 12, was finalized following the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. noosa yoghurt will operate as a stand-alone division of Novus Foods.
“We are thrilled to join the noosa yoghurt business with Lakeview Farms as we create Novus Foods,” said Tom Davis, CEO of Lakeview Farms. “This represents a huge opportunity for both businesses to leverage their strengths and innovate within the growing yogurt category and beyond. Novus Foods will embody the companies’ combined expertise and passion for delivering high-quality, innovative fresh foods to consumers.”
Novus Foods is well-positioned to drive category growth and retail success. The company’s products are available at major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Albertson’s, Publix and more. The rebrand to Novus Foods will be completed in the second half of 2025.
noosa is known for its premium whole-milk, Australian-style, high-quality yoghurt products, celebrated for their rich, creamy texture and unique flavors. The merger includes noosa’s outstanding portfolio of products, a talented team with deep yogurt expertise, and a state-of-the-art production facility in Bellvue, Colorado. Approximately 240 current noosa team members have joined Novus Foods as a result of the merger.
“We are excited to join Lakeview Farms, a company that shares our deep commitment to quality and a passion for the refrigerated snacking space,” said Paula Benedetto, noosa SVP / General Manager. “Together as Novus Foods, we have a stronger platform to continue growing and delivering exceptional products to our customers and consumers.”
Citi, Truist, and TD Securities served as joint lead arrangers in the financing for the merger. Citi acted as lead financial advisor to Lakeview Farms, with Truist and TD Securities also advising the company. The terms of the merger were not disclosed.
Novus Foods brings together Lakeview Farms and noosa Holdings, Inc. under a single, bold identity, aiming to become the leading consumer packaged goods company for the refrigerated perimeter of the grocery store. Novus Foods is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative fresh foods that delight consumers. The company leverages noosa’s expertise in premium whole-milk, Australian-style yoghurt alongside Lakeview Farms’ diverse portfolio of refrigerated desserts, dips, salsa, hummus and specialty products. The combined product offerings include popular brands such as Fresh Cravings, La Mexicana, Señor Rico and Salads of the Sea.
noosa yoghurt is the maker of delicious, smooth, and creamy yoghurt – made with the finest ingredients, such as whole milk, real fruit, and wildflower honey. noosa’s full product line includes yoghurts in a variety of flavors and sizes. All of noosa’s full-on tasty yoghurts begin with the freshest whole milk. For more information, please visit www.noosayoghurt.com or follow on Instagram @noosayoghurt and Facebook @noosayoghurt.
For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
DoorDash Adds Four Grocers to Marketplace
DoorDash has welcomed multiple grocers to the DoorDash Marketplace. Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, Festival Foods, Marc’s, and Woodman’s Food Markets are now live on DoorDash. Consumers can enjoy on-demand delivery of their groceries and household staples from these new partners, right to their doorsteps.
-
Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets: A family-owned business specializing in international, traditional, healthy, and organic food with ten locations in the Chicagoland area.
-
Festival Foods: With 42 locations in Wisconsin, Festival Foods is a family- and employee-owned grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and providing guests with exceptional service and value.
-
Marc’s: A locally-owned and operated discount retailer with 60+ locations throughout Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Columbus. Marc’s provides high-quality groceries, fresh produce, fresh meats, frozen and dairy, household essentials, local favorites, wellness products, and much more at discount prices.
-
Woodman’s Food Markets: An employee-owned grocery chain with nineteen locations across Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Woodman’s Food Markets offers everything from fresh produce and meats to bakery goods and household essentials.
The new partners announced today offer consumers across three states increased access to their favorite local grocers, connecting shoppers with the best of the neighborhood. Whether it’s purchasing specialty ingredients for a dinner party or stocking up on pantry essentials for the family, DoorDash is the one-stop shop for consumers’ daily needs. The selection from these new merchants adds to the over 500,000+ products available from regional grocers on the DoorDash Marketplace.
With more than 99% of DoorDash’s monthly consumers in the U.S. having access to a non-restaurant retailer on the DoorDash Marketplace, DoorDash continues to bolster its offerings in the Grocery vertical. In 2024, many of consumers’ favorite grocers joined the platform, including all Ahold Delhaize USA banners, Haggen, H Mart, La Michoacana, Rouses Markets, Save A Lot, Vallarta Supermarkets, all Wakefern Food Corp. banners, Wegmans, Fresh Encounter banners, and Stew Leonard’s.
The new partners announced today will be available on DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program that offers members $0 delivery fees, reduced service fees, and member-only benefits on eligible orders from thousands of restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores nationwide.*
For more news of interest to the grocery industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
