About Us

History

Vigon International, Inc. was founded in 1988 by Victor Fulgoni, a former Vice President of Manufacturing at Norda. The company began operation with two employees and a facility totaling 8,000 square feet.

In 1998 Vigon International was purchased by Steve Somers, formerly of Givaudan. At the time of purchase Vigon employed 10 individuals. Under the leadership of Somers, Vigon International now employs more than 65 in a facility totaling over 105,000 square feet on seventeen acres of property.

The growth and success of Vigon is due in large part to a unique corporate concept that Vigon has developed and established within the industry: Creative Partnerships. This partnership concept has been and continues to be the foundation and guiding principle for all of Vigon's activities.

Mission Statement

Vigon International, Inc. is dedicated to creating open, honest partnerships with its customers, employees, and suppliers. These partnerships are based on utilizing the skills, talents and expertise of those involved, to benefit all. As a supplier of flavor and fragrance products, Vigon International is committed to:

Understanding its customers' needs, and providing them with the highest quality, service, and value, allowing them to achieve their goals and market objectives.
Creating a friendly, innovative, open workplace allowing all employees to reach their full potential and share in the success of the company.
Developing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers who can provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of the company and its customers.
Managing the company on a basis of profitable controlled growth, sharing the rewards with those contributing to its success, and investing for the future.

Manufacturing Capability

Vigon International possesses extensive on-site manufacturing capability including vacuum distillations, extractions, reactions, and liquid compounding. This capability allows Vigon to produce and offer a wide variety of products in virtually any quantity. In addition, our on-site process development lab allows us to add new products to our offering based on the broader needs of the market, or to custom manufacture based on the specific needs of our customers.

Strategic Partnerships

At the core of Vigon International's unique partnership based business model are the key partnerships that have been established with major multinational flavor and fragrance and ingredient manufacturers. These partnerships combine the product manufacturing expertise of the manufacturer with the marketing, sales, customer service and distribution expertise of the Vigon team.

Vigon International currently has strategc partnerships with both the fragrance and flavor divisions of Givaudan, the world's largest flavor and fragrance manufacturer based in Vernier, Switzerland. Since 1998, Vigon International has been responsible for marketing and supplying Givaudan's fragrance ingredients to a select group of customers in the United States and Canada. In 1999, Vigon began marketing and supplying Givaudan's flavor ingredients and compounds to flavor manufacturers in the United States. For more information about Givaudan, please visit their web site at www.givaudan.com.

In December of 2000, Vigon International established a strategic partnership with the Fine Chemicals Division of Degussa (now Evonik Industries), a global chemical manufacturer. As part of the partnership, Vigon markets and supplies a wide range of Evonik's intermediates to the flavor and fragrance market in the United States. For more information about Evonik, please visit their web site at www.evonik.com.

In 2004 Vigon International established a partnership with Rhodia Inc., a leading global specialty chemicals manufacturer, for the management and supply of Rhodia’s flavor and fragrance ingredients to the flavor and fragrance industry. As part of this partnership, Vigon manages the sales, customer service, warehousing, and shipping of Rhodia’s flavor and fragrance ingredients to a select group of customers in the North American market. For more information about Rhodia, Inc., please visit their web site at www.rhodia.com.

At the outset of 2005, Vigon International established a strategic partnership with Symrise Inc., one of the world’s top flavor and fragrance manufacturers, for the management and supply of the Symrise Aroma Chemicals and Cosmetic Ingredients to the flavor and fragrance industry. As part of this partnership, Vigon manages the sales, customer service, warehousing, and shipping of Symrise aroma chemicals and Cosmetic Ingredients to a select group of customers in the North American market. For more information about Symrise, please visit their web site at www.symrise.com.

In March 2006, Vigon International and Firmenich, one of the preeminent global leaders in the flavor and fragrance industry, created a strategic partnership for the management and supply of the Firmenich Ingredients to the North American marketplace. The partnership was established in order to provide the maximum level of service possible for the supply of the Firmenich Ingredients to the flavor and fragrance industry. As part of this partnership, Vigon manages the sales, customer service, warehousing, and shipping of the Firmenich Ingredients to a select group of customers in the North American market. For more information about Firmenich, please visit their web site at www.firmenich.com.

At the beginning of February 2007, Vigon established a partnership with BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, in order to maximize the level of service that customers receive for the procurement of BASF’s Aroma Chemicals in the flavor and fragrance industry. As part of this partnership, Vigon will be managing the sales, customer service, warehousing, and shipping of BASF Aroma Chemicals to a select group of flavor and fragrance customers in the North American market. For more information about BASF, please visit their web-site at www.basf.com

Beginning in July 2009 Vigon International and DRT established a strategic partnership for the management and supply of the of the DRT resin and terpene products in North America. This partnership was established in order to maximize the level of service that customers receive for the procurement of DRT resins and terpene products. As part of this partnership, Vigon will be managing the sales, customer service, warehousing, and shipping of DRT resins and terpene products to customers in the North American market. For more information about DRT, please visit their web-site at www.drt.fr.

Management Profiles

Vigon's most important resource is the human resource. Our ability to recruit and retain some of the most talented, knowledgeable and dedicated people in the industry has been the cornerstone of our success. Our collective experience is as broad as it is deep, enabling us to fully understand our customer's strategic objectives, resolve technical issues quickly and develop insightful and innovative solutions that exceed expectations.

	Steve Somers - Owner and President Steve Somers, owner and president of Vigon International began his career in the flavor and fragrance industry at Felton International in 1982. Steve worked in the lab at Felton as a Quality Control Chemist while studying to obtain his Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry from St. John's University. Steve maintained his focus on the technical side of the business moving to Fritzsche Dodge & Olcott as a Quality Control Chemist in 1984. Over the next thirteen years and through the company's mergers with Givaudan Roure, Steve moved rapidly up through the organization holding various production and sales positions. Based on Steve's unique combination of technical/production expertise and sales/marketing knowledge, he was appointed Business Director of Givaudan's Fragrance Ingredient Division in 1993. After successfully overseeing the Fragrance Ingredient business, Steve was promoted in 1997 to Director of Sales for North America. With such a broad and comprehensive perspective of the flavor and fragrance industry at a senior level, Steve decided to pursue his vision of creating a unique and progressive company, and purchased Vigon International in 1998. Under Steve's leadership, Vigon International is becoming one of the industry's fastest growing companies. [Click Here to meet Steve]
	Dennis Dittrick - Vice President of Maintenance Engineering Dennis Dittrick with extensive experience in the flavor and fragrance industry got his start in the industry with Fritzsche Dodge & Olcott in 1970 where he was responsible for project and plant engineering. Dennis' project and plant engineering responsibility continued with the company throughout the mergers with BASF and Givaudan Roure. Dennis left Givaudan in 1996 to become involved with safety and environmental engineering at Troy Chemical where he remained until 1998 when he joined Vigon International. As Vice President of Operations for Vigon International, Dennis is responsible for overseeing all safety, environmental, and facility/engineering operations. [Click Here to meet Dennis]
	Bill Blake - Controller Bill Blake, our Controller brings to Vigon many years of accounting and financial experience including experience as a controller in a manufacturing environment, as well as extensive financial experience in the Pocono/Slate Belt Region. Bill comes to us from Derma Sciences, Inc., where he held the position of Controller. [Click Here to meet Bill]
	Steve Somers Jr. - Director of Purchasing Having worked in virtually all areas of the business at various times since he was sixteen years old, Steve Somers Junior has a broad and deep knowledge of all facets of the business at Vigon and this understanding is a strong foundation from which he has built upon since joining Vigon full time. Prior to joining Vigon full time Steve worked in real estate management at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Steve studied Finance and Accounting at Bentley College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, was extensively involved in the Entrepreneurship Society and where he founded the Bentley Real Estate Group. As director of Materials Management, Steve is responsible for all areas of product procurement and management including purchasing and planning.
	Pierre Hellivan - Director of Natural Ingredients Pierre comes to Vigon with extensive experience in the flavor and fragrance industry specifically in the natural ingredients arena. Having spent eight years with Charabot as Corporate Vice President, Pierre’s knowledge in naturals is both broad and deep and this knowledge has been instrumental in further developing Vigon’s natural ingredients portfolio and positioning Vigon as a key player in this increasingly strategic product sector. As Director of Natural Ingredients, Pierre is responsible for all aspects of product management of natural ingredients including involvement in sourcing, quality, and operations, as well as working hand in hand with sales and marketing managing a select group of customers.
	Dave Soltis - Account Manager Dave Soltis, another longtime flavor and fragrance industry veteran, possesses many years of solid experience with Givaudan. During his years at Givaudan, Dave held positions ranging from Chemical Operator to Customer Service Manager providing a broad scope of experience covering all aspects of the business from product formulation to management of key accounts. Dave joined Vigon International in 1999 as Account Manager. In his position, Dave is responsible for managing existing accounts as well as developing new business opportunities. [Click Here to meet Dave]
	Jeffrey Milton - Sales & Marketing Director Jeff Milton comes to Vigon International and the flavor and fragrance industry with extensive years of marketing, advertising, and general business experience. Jeff's background and expertise is in building and promoting national and global brands. Jeff has worked in corporate marketing and advertising for companies such as Seiko Corporation of America, and KPMG LLP. He has also worked for the worldwide advertising agencies of McCann-Erickson and Wells, Rich, Greene. Jeff adds a new and different perspective to marketing in our industry. As Sales and Marketing Director, Jeff is responsible for developing and managing all marketing programs, as well as managing and directing a group of customer accounts and developing new business opportunities. [Click Here to meet Jeffrey]
	Felicia Perryman - Quality Assurance/Production Director Felicia Perryman began her career in the flavor and fragrance industry right here at Vigon International. After graduating from Muhlenberg College with a degree in Biology in 1993, Felicia came aboard at Vigon as a lab technician. She quickly mastered all aspects of the lab and was given full responsibility for managing all aspects of quality assurance. In 2002, Felicia was given the additional responsibility of overseeing all aspects of production as well. As Quality Assurance/Production Director, Felicia is responsible for overseeing all aspects of quality control, process development, and manufacturing.
	Danna Ward - Office/Quality System Manager Danna Ward has been with Vigon International virtually from the start. Danna started with Vigon in 1989 as a lab technician and then moved into office management where she established many of the systems and procedures used today at Vigon. Danna was also instrumental in helping Vigon International to achieve ISO certification. As Office/Quality System Manager, Danna is responsible for overseeing all office and administration functions as well as maintaining the ISO certification process. [Click Here to meet Danna]
	Peter Crimi - IT Director Pete Crimi joined Vigon International full-time in 2002 after a previous stint here as a consultant. Pete brings to Vigon the expertise of utilizing technology to develop new business processes, support of existing systems, all the while keeping an eye on emerging technological advances. Pete previously worked in the computer leasing industry with Neptune Computer Group and Unilease Computer Corporation. He also worked as a consultant for MacMillian Publishing and Freedom Yachts. As IT Manager, Pete is responsible for maintaining and expanding the infrastructure, developing new programming initiatives, and integrating technology throughout Vigon. Pete graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in English and a concentration in Music. [Click Here to meet Peter]
	John Ehman – Director of Operations John’s brings to Vigon broad experience in all areas of general management and operations having held the position of General Manager at Aramark Cleanroom Services prior to joining Vigon. Adding to this experience are multiple years as General Manager and Director of Operations at General Chemical Corporation and General Chemical Industrial Products respectively. Complimenting John’s experience is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification and an MBA from the University of North Carolina and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell. As Director of Operations, John is currently responsible for all areas of operations for the Vigon distribution and logistics activities.
Click here to meet the rest of the Yipppeee! Team