Our History

A Women’s Business Enterprise and family-owned business, Integrative Flavors® has deep roots in the food and flavor industry

Culinary Expertise and Manufacturing Perfection
Since 1938

For over 80 years, chefs and food specialists have been turning to the culinary expertise and manufacturing perfection behind the Cook’s Delight® brand.

We pride ourselves in our clean label practices and continual innovations, offering one-of-a-kind soup base and flavor concentrate products with exceptional culinary versatility.  We’re rooted in history, but continually adapt. With a strong culinary R&D department, we help our customers meet the demands and expectations of their markets.

Since 1938, we’ve exceeded the expectations of our customers. We’re ready for what comes next.

The Beginning: Soup for Soldiers

Integrative Flavors® was started as Williams, West and Witt’s Product Company in the 1930s. While we were doing well, it was in WWII that we found our stride.

We were proud to produce bouillon for the troops during World War II, bringing nutrition to soldiers around the world. With that success, and with the war over, it was time to grow.

Dr. Williams (a dentist), Mr. West (affiliated with West Coffee Company) and Webster W. Witt (former proprietor of the Spaulding Hotel in Michigan City, IN) bought the West Coffee Company in Chicago and changed the name of the company to Williams, West and Witt’s Products Company.

From the First Soup Bases to Today

They enlisted the help of a Palmer House Chef, Ernest E. Amiet, in developing their first line of soup bases and bouillon formulations. Chef Amiet is the featured chef on the original Cook’s Delight® labels. The company was located at 125 West Ohio Street near the historic Water Tower in the Magnificent Mile.

Victor and Dorothy Palmer purchased the company in 1981. It was affectionately known as “The Soup Plant.” Their daughter, now President Georgeann Quealy, began working with the company in 1990. Her husband, now Vice President Brian Quealy, joined the company in 1995. The two purchased the business from Georgeann’s parents in 2005, and began doing business as Integrative Flavors® in 2009.

In 2010, the team opened a state-of-the-art soup base manufacturing facility in Michigan City, Indiana, expanding production capacity and upgrading its technology, to meet growing national demand for Cook’s Delight® soup bases and flavor products.

Different Times. Different Needs. Same Commitment To Quality.

It’s safe to say that tastes have changed since 1938. A demand for clean-label products, transparency, and natural ingredients has increased. We’ve led the way in healthy, clean soup and food bases, and we’ll continue to do so.

Our soup base product line clean label line includes savory solutions for certified gluten free, no big 8 allergens, low sodium, certified organic, and more.

Some of the nation’s largest restaurant chains, food manufacturers, food distributors, chefs, and foodservice operators rely on Integrative Flavors® for exceptional recipe ingredients, menu inspiration, and outstanding customer service. We also offer private labeling and custom soup bases as well.

From Bouillon to Bases and Beyond

Times change. Markets change. Locations change. But what doesn’t change is a commitment to excellence in every field. We’ve been exceeding the needs of our customers, whether in uniform, at fancy hotels, in your workplace kitchen, or anywhere.

We’ve lasted 80 years because we are creative, innovative, and dedicated to true customer service. Partnerships are how we thrive, and our only real metric of success is how your customers enjoy the food you create.

Those values are the history we were built on. And it’s those values on which we’ll grow.

Integrative Flavors has been honored to receive:

  • 2013 Indiana Companies to Watch
  • 2013 Recognition for President Georgeann Quealy, selected as a Finalist – Influential Women of Northwest Indiana
  • 2012 Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year
  • 2010 Business Investment Award – Michigan City Economic Development Corporation

Woman Owned. Working for You.

Integrative Flavors was an early adopter in offering certified organic soup bases. Cook’s Delight® certified organic soup bases have been available since 2004.

Integrative Flavors® has been certified as a woman-owned business since 2011. The company is certified in both the state of Indiana and nationally through WBENC. Our certification provides many advantages to our customers, including tax incentives, new revenue opportunities and shows interest in working with diverse markets.

In 2022, Integrative Flavors® again scored in the highest category (Excellent) for the SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacturing.

Build Strong Flavors

Let Cook’s Delight® help you build strong flavors with our soup bases. 

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