Sensient Technologies moving part of headquarters to Hoffman Estates

Sensient Technologies, an international manufacturer of colors, fragrances and flavors for food and other products, is moving part of its headquarters to Hoffman Estates.

Gary Skoog, the village’s director of economic development, said the Milwaukee-based company plans to open its fragrance and flavor headquarters at 5515 Sedge Blvd. this fall. The roughly 66,000-square-foot building has been vacant for about two years since food and beverage flavor-maker Givaudan Flavors Corp. relocated to Elgin, he said.

“They really like the location, the fact that it was set up for labs,” Skoog said, adding, however, that the company will redo the interior.

Besides food, Sensient formulas are found in beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and inkjets. Sensient will join two other global food ingredient companies — Silesia Flavors and Tate & Lyle — in the Prairie Stone business park.

“I think it gives us a sense of sophistication, and kind of puts us a notch or two above other communities that don’t have that type of global presence in their town,” Skoog said. “It brings international visitors to our community and that means more people know about us, and maybe more international companies will end up moving here.”

Skoog did not know how many employees Sensient would relocate or hire at the new location.

The company said in a Feb. 7 news release that it expects to incur personnel and moving costs of $12 million to $14 million over the next 12 to 18 months relocating its Flavors & Fragrances Group headquarters, technical groups and North American management to the Chicago area. The company reported earnings last year of $142 million on revenue of $1.46 billion.