Bell Reports Significant Growth

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—Summer 2011 brings a spate of new hiring and development at Bell Incorporated: 38 new positions with more openings anticipated; the addition of a director of sales, a new position needed to drive even more growth expected by Bell; and a new distribution center that adds 40 percent to the company’s existing warehouse space.

CEO Ben Graham attributes the company’s continuing growth, despite the economy, to ongoing execution of a strategic plan enacted years ago. The plan centers on aggressive investment in technology, continuous cost control (not always compatible goals), and a commitment to stay independent in a rapidly consolidating industry.

Bell’s recent growth has included more than $25 million in new business in the past two years, plus expansion of business with existing customers that include some of the world’s largest food companies. Two year's ago, Bell purchased the first Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 162 VLF (very large format) press to be installed in North America, which added large-format sheetfed offset printing to the company’s web offset and flexo printing capabilities, creating a springboard for the growth.

“Purchasing managers at big companies are under pressure to buy from multiple vendors,” says Graham. “It’s how they create leverage to drive better prices and improved service.”

That’s gotten harder, though, with a long-term consolidation trend that has resulted in just two large players remaining to serve most of the biggest consumer package goods (CPG) companies. As an independent, mid-sized company whose operations and investments in technology mirror those of larger companies, Graham says Bell is now better positioned than any other independent converter to be the alternative packaging source for those companies. “The CPGs tell us it’s refreshing to have Bell as an alternative and they talk in terms of partnering with us for the long haul,” he reports. “We like to hear that.”

New Distribution Center

Bell’s brand-new 64,000 sq. ft. distribution center will allow the company to stay a step ahead of customer needs, according to Graham, particularly those in the food industry where safety throughout production, including handling and storage, is paramount. More national and multi-national food companies are turning to Bell to take on portions of their business, says Graham, so the goal is for the new warehouse to be compliant with the most stringent food-safety standards. “Plus we’ll be able to service customers very quickly, and manage more of their inventory, flexibly—that’s critical in an industry where there are frequent changes in things like product coding, marketing, and promotions,” he adds. The distribution center opened on July 15.

More shifts, more jobs

Bell is adding six crews, according to Marianne Von Seggern, vice president, strategic development, including distribution center support, as well as more shifts on the very-large-format press. There are 30 new plant-floor positions, as well as eight administrative positions, including quality, engineering, and sales positions at Bell. “And with new business rolling in, I think we’ll be looking for more people beyond that,” Von Seggern says.

Bell’s new Director of Sales, Robert Rosebraugh, joins the company from Graphics Packaging International, where he was sales manager for the Midwest region. “I grew up in small or mid-sized family-owned businesses,” says Rosebraugh. “I like the action, growth, and nimble responsiveness of a company like Bell—where you can walk into the corner office, have a discussion and contribute directly to the company’s future,” he says.

Graham says Bell’s five-year plan calls for significant additional growth, with Rosebraugh in the key position to drive it. “We are thrilled to have someone of Bob’s expertise and tenure in our industry onboard. He will be instrumental in developing the skills and team needed to hit our growth targets,” says Graham. Rosebraugh will work out of Bell’s Chicago office.