Our Company
In 1965, Lionel Hitchen founded a business sourcing, creating, manufacturing and supplying the finest flavour ingredients. Today, over five decades later, Lionel Hitchen is still an independent family-owned company, driven by that same passion.
Our success has seen the business grow over the years, laying down robust roots with suppliers and working closely with customers. From our manufacturing base in the UK, we now supply an extensive range of flavour ingredients to the food and beverage industries around the globe.
Our business thrives on close and long established relationships with our global suppliers, our team of talented employees and strong customer relationships based on trust, ethics and innovation.
Throughout the years we have established a reputation for developing and supplying unique and natural products of the highest quality. We provide a world class service to our valued customers through the application of our technical expertise, flexibility and tailored and bespoke product development. Our aim is excellence in customer care.
We operate from two sites in Hampshire in the UK. Our manufacturing site is in Barton Stacey and is home to all our production facilities and support services. Our Virginia Works site in Andover houses our Innovation Centre as well as Customer Services, Sales, Logistics and Warehousing.
In the United States of America, our wholly owned subsidiary – Lionel Hitchen USA –provides local service to our US customers. Please visit our Contact Us page for details.
We’re passionate about all that we do. Our customers enjoy:
The History of Lionel Hitchen
April 1914
Lionel Hitchen was born
Born in 1914, Lionel Hitchen was the eldest of four boys growing up in Sutton in South London.
Whilst in Sicily during WW2, Lionel made great friends with Roger Allen whose family owned Stafford & Allen, and Dr Pietro Polara, who would later establish the San Lorenzo company.
June 1949
Lionel went to work for Stafford Allen & Sons, Ltd.
As a result of these friendships, in 1949 Lionel went to work for Stafford Allen & Sons, Ltd. Lionel also became a director of the San Lorenzo citrus fruit processing company in Sicily.
After the merger of the Bush, Boake and Allen businesses in 1964, Lionel would go on to found Lionel Hitchen (Essential Oils) Limited.
February 1965
Lionel Hitchen (Essential Oils) Ltd founded
Lionel Hitchen established the business on the 19th February 1965 in Reigate, Surrey.
Sicilian orange, mandarin and bergamot oil speciality products were the first to be manufactured. From the outset Lionel’s ambition was to produce high quality products, sourced and supplied with integrity.
May 1966
First Distributor appointed
Business quickly expanded overseas and led to the appointment of our first Distributor – Tanemura & Co Ltd, a food ingredients family owned business founded in 1921 and based in Tokyo. Mr Tanemura and Lionel Hitchen had previously conducted business when Lionel worked for Stafford Allen.
April 1968
Expansion to Mitcham
In 1968, already needing more space to accommodate a growing business, the firm opened a new site in Mitcham.
August 1970
LHEO produces its first herb and spice extracts
Having established a reputation as a supplier of high quality citrus specialities, the business went on to expand the range of products manufactured and supplied.
September 1971
Alastair Hitchen joins the business
After spending time in the USA and India to gain knowledge of the flavour ingredient business, Alastair was the first of Lionel’s children to join the business, starting on the 1st September.
April 1975
Expansion to Barton Stacey
A site was acquired at Barton Stacey in Hampshire.
Existing production lines and installation of new equipment to the site would be gradual in order to maintain continuity of supply to our customers.
July 1978
Peter Hitchen joins the business
Peter Hitchen joins on 1st July, having graduated in Business Studies and learning much about the industry during his industrial placement year in the USA. Peter was now set on the path to become known as “Mr Citrus.”
October 1978
Alison Barnes (née Hitchen) joins the company
A truly family business begins to emerge as another of Lionel’s children join Lionel, Alastair and Peter in their endeavours.
Alison Barnes, née Hitchen, a chartered Accountant, takes up a role in Finance on 1st October.
January 1986
Manufacturing at Mitcham ends
During the previous 10 years, manufacturing had gradually been moved from Mitcham to Barton Stacey as the new site was developed.
June 1987
Business expands to Australia
Cooke Aromatics, owned by Peter Cooke who had previously worked for several major flavour companies including Bush Boake Allen is appointed as Distributor for Australia. On Peter’s retirement in 2007, the business was taken over by Ingredientbox Pty Ltd.
In 2015, Hawkins Watts Australia Pty Ltd. is appointed as a Distributor, following Lionel Hitchen’s success with Hawkins Watts New Zealand in 2008.
April 1989
Business expands to New Zealand
Robert Importers, based in Auckland, is appointed as Distributor for New Zealand, following a personal recommendation by Peter Cooke of neighbouring Cooke Aromatics.
Upon retirement in 2008, the business is sold to Hawkins Watts Limited, another family owned business, who remain as our Distributor to the present day.
May 1994
Business expands to Thailand
Abbra Corporation Ltd, a successful, privately owned business based in Bangkok, was appointed as our Distributor for Thailand soon after their very first meeting with Alastair and Peter Hitchen in Winchester.
January 1995
Business expands to France and Belgium
Didier Braillon, with many years experience of the flavour industry is appointed as Distributor for France and Belgium. Didier’s legacy continues today with his son Jean-Luc Braillon, owner of Braillon MPA.
March 1996
Business expands to USA
Thwaites Inc. is appointed as Agent for the US market. The owner, David Thwaites, is no stranger to the flavour industry having worked for Lionel Hitchen (Essential Oils) Limited as our very first production manager. David’s daughter Dianne Hustus enters the family business and subsequently works for Lionel Hitchen USA, founded in 2007.
January 1997
Business expands to South Korea
KNS Trading Co. Ltd, managed by Mr S.Y. Lee is appointed as Distributor for South Korea.
Mr Lee was later succeeded by his son, Ben Lee.
March 1999
Second site acquired at Virginia Works, Andover
A second site is acquired in Andover, only 8 miles from Barton Stacey. This site provides warehousing as well as being home to central services such as Customer Services, Sales and Logistics.
January 2000
Business expands to Germany and Austria
Well situated in Brechen, near Frankfurt, F.E.P.A. GmbH and its founder, Frank Gutzeit, is appointed Distributor for Germany and Austria.
April 2001
Lionel Hitchen retires
Lionel, aged 87, decides to step down from the day to day business. He continues to attend senior management meetings.
January 2005
New development labs open at Virginia Works site
In 2005, Virginia Works became home to our team of experienced flavourists.
June 2005
Business expands to Russia
Citi Impex Company Ltd, founded by Predeep Cherian, is appointed Distributor for Russia and is based in Moscow.
January 2006
Business expands to South Africa
CPL AROMAS South Africa (Pty) Ltd based in Johannesburg is appointed Distributor for South Africa. The company ownership & name changes in 2014 to Company of Aromas Pty Ltd. In 2016, the business is acquired by Carst & Walker (South Africa) who remain our Distributor for South Africa.
January 2007
Lionel Hitchen USA Ltd incorporated 5th January 2007
Lionel Hitchen USA Limited in Sarasota, Florida is established to support expansion in the USA.
January 2008
Business expands to China
Shanghai Chinyou Industry Co., Ltd (formerly Shanghai Threewin Trading Co., Ltd) founded by Fan Wang, is appointed as our Chinese Distributor.
June 2008
Lionel attends his last senior management meeting
Lionel Hitchen, aged 94, attended his last ever senior management meeting.
His spirit and business principles will forever live on within the business.
December 2011
BRC Accreditation
The business demonstrates its commitment to the highest possible food industry standards when BRC Accreditation Grade A is attained on our first attempt in 2011. We have achieved the highest grade attainable since then.
July 2012
Lionel Hitchen appointed its first CEO, Eva Agnew
A focus on manufacturing and service excellence and the implementation of our World Class Manufacturing program have assisted in ensuring that Lionel Hitchen continues to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.
Over the next few years an extended board of directors is assembled to ensure continued growth and success.
August 2013
The first of Lionel’s grandchildren joins the business
A number of Lionel’s grandchildren have spent time working in the business and today, two have full time jobs in the company.
July 2015
The business celebrates the 50th anniversary of its foundation in 1965
In the same year, a BRC AA Grade accreditation was obtained and subsequently retained, underlining our commitment to producing high quality, natural products to a consistently high standard.
November 2015
Lionel’s grand children get involved in the business
Four of Lionel’s grandchildren join the shareholders board as ‘observers’ ensuring the next Hitchen generation keep abreast of the business.
March 2021
Lionel Hitchen wins the ‘Employee Engagement & Wellbeing’ awards at The Solent 250
Lionel Hitchen was named the winner of ‘Employee Engagement & Wellbeing 2021’ categories at The Solent 250 awards night. The award aim to celebrate organisations that put their people, their employees first and invest in their success by increasing purpose, pride, and collaboration within the company.
March 2022
Lionel Hitchen wins the ‘Business Culture’ award at The Solent 250
Lionel Hitchen is named the winner of ‘Business Culture 2022’ category, at The Solent 250 awards night.
May 2022
Lionel Hitchen publishes their first Sustainability Report in conjunction with Southampton Business School
Lionel Hitchen releases of their first Sustainability Report showcasing our dedication towards sustainability. The report written in collaboration with the Southampton Business School, adopts the Global Reporting Initiative Standards based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This will be an annual report going forward demonstrating how Lionel Hitchen can drive the company’s sustainability.
September 2022
Lionel Hitchen wins the Central South Business Award 2022 for “International Business of the Year”
The award acknowledges that Lionel Hitchen is a growing international business, with the majority of our sales going to markets outside the UK.
In addition, Lionel Hitchen was awarded the highly commended award for ‘Employer of the Year’. This recognition is a testament to our company culture, our WCM programme, our employee benefits package, and our commitment to employee health and wellbeing.
March 2023
Business expands to Malaysia
Headquartered in Malaysia, with over 20 years of experience and operations in 7 Southeast Asian countries, ITS Nutriscience is a leading distributor specialising in providing specialty food and nutraceutical ingredient solutions for the food, beverage and healthcare industries.
April 2023
Business expands to Vietnam
Dating as far back as 1840 Behn Meyer has evolved into a specialty supplier for a wide variety of industries. Their history is one of persistence, partnership, and innovation with a continued focus on building lasting relationships with their customers and suppliers.
December 2024
Present Day
Today, in conjunction with our distributors, Lionel Hitchen supplies Naturally Fabulous Flavour Ingredients to over 50 countries around the world.
Accreditations and Certifications
It is the policy of Lionel Hitchen Limited to provide professional and responsive service to all of our customers at all times and to provide safe and legal products and services of the highest possible standards of performance, reliability and specified quality.
All of our product are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
We operate a strict policy to exclude nuts and sesame seeds from our facilities to give our customers assurance regarding allergen controls.
