Lionel Hitchen, an independent, family-owned manufacturer of natural flavours and flavour ingredients for the food and beverage industry, has been named a finalist in The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.
The Hampshire company, which employs 160 people across two sites, earned its place on the category shortlist after refreshing its sales strategy and committing to an ambitious programme of international expansion. According to the business, 80% of its sales are now exported to more than 60 countries, either directly or through its 13 distributors and its USA subsidiary.
Six decades of flavour manufacturing
The firm’s history stretches back to 1965, and Companies House records confirm it was incorporated on 19 February 1965, trading as Lionel Hitchen (Essential Oils) Limited until 2017, with its registered office now at Virginia Works in Andover. Its Barton Stacey site houses production facilities and support services, while its Andover base is home to an innovation centre alongside customer excellence, sales, logistics and warehousing operations.
A business-to-business supplier, Lionel Hitchen produces citrus specialities, including distilled, extracted or concentrated essential oils, together with herb and spice extracts made from the dried botanical or the essential oil, and natural flavourings. It also develops bespoke products for customers. On its website, the company showcases branded ranges such as its HiFruit fruit flavourings and Hifloral botanical flavours for beverages, and states that it is an accredited Living Wage Employer and a member of the UK Flavour Association and the Food and Drink Federation.
An exporter since 1965
Lionel Hitchen has sold overseas since it was founded, and the company reports that its recent international push has already delivered growth, together with ongoing engagement with significant global manufacturing brands and the new business opportunities that have followed. Nature is its inspiration, the business says, and its enthusiasm for creating innovative flavour ingredients is matched by a dedication to outstanding quality and authentic taste.
Growth plans and the Hitchen Way
The company has set itself an ambitious growth target, to be met by increasing sales of flavours to food and drink manufacturers and of flavour ingredients to flavour houses and seasonings manufacturers. It is also expanding geographically by partnering with new distributors around the world, tracking global food trends to develop products suited to different regions and tastes, and will make acquisitions where appropriate.
Underpinning those plans, according to the business, are investment in plant, equipment and resource, a World Class Manufacturing continuous improvement programme, its ‘Hitchen Way’ values and a leadership approach built on looking after and valuing all employees and partners. The business adds that it is proud of the growth achieved so far and is looking forward to further sales growth in the years ahead.
Finalists were announced in July 2026, and Lionel Hitchen will discover whether it has taken the title when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony is held at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.
SEO title: Slug: Meta description:
