Our next guest is Stephen Manheimer, a prominent American executive and leader in the flavor, fragrance, and essential oils industry.
Key Career and Achievements
* J. Manheimer Inc.: Joined his family's natural flavors and fragrances business in 1964 and served as its president starting in 1976, modernizing the company until it was acquired by the Kerry Group in 2004.
* Kerry Group: Served as executive vice president at the Kerry Group for 20 years until his retirement in August 2024, helping integrate the family business into a global corporation.
* Industry Leadership: Elected as the youngest-ever president of the Essential Oil Association (now the International Fragrance Association, North America) in 1973.
* Monell Chemical Senses Center: Associated with the Monell Chemical Senses Center since the early 1970s, joined its International Advisory Council in 2001, and became a member of its board of directors in 2018. In 2025, the Kerry Group and Monell inaugurated the Stephen Manheimer Scholarship in Flavor Science in his honor.
* Awards & Honors: Received the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades (IFEAT) Ron Neal Award of Excellence in 2017. He also donated a historical flavor and fragrance ephemera collection to the New York Botanical Garden Library.
Host: Trevor Groome, Michel Aubanel, Music: Aidan Kirkwood, Editing: Yusuf Toprak, Publishing: Ján Peťka