October 19/Des Moines, Iowa/Kemin Press Release -- Kemin announced a five-year expansion plan that will add six new manufacturing facilities, three new research facilities and a new corporate headquarters building in southeast Des Moines along the new SE Connector roadway. In addition to the new facilities, the company’s expansion will create 98 new jobs in the areas of research, marketing, information technology as well as other support functions.

Kemin Industries' president and CEO, Dr. Chris Nelson, shared the company’s expansion plans during a press conference held at Kemin Industries corporate headquarters in Des Moines. Other speakers included Des Moines mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines city manager Richard Clark, IDED’s director of business development, Thomas Hart, The Greater Des Moines Partnership’s president and CEO, Martha Willits, and Polk County supervisor Robert Brownell.

“As we approach our 50-year anniversary in 2011, we are pleased to be well-positioned to make this significant investment in the future and our commitment to our employees, customers and the millions of lives that we touch every day,” said Nelson. “Our expansion in Des Moines is an important part of the overall global expansion plan that will take the company to the next level.”

This is a key component of the company’s global expansion for achieving its vision of improving the quality of life by positively impacting half of the world’s population every day with its products and services. In addition to the company’s expansion in Des Moines, Kemin is actively evaluating expansion opportunities in Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Kemin has been working in collaboration with city, county and state officials in order to coordinate the acquisition of land currently owned by the city and county.

“The project is a win-win,” said Clark, “It adds new revenue to the City’s tax base and Kemin achieves part of its vision of an overall global expansion plan that will take the company to the next level. To accommodate the construction of the SE Connector between SE 4th to SE 9th, the City is working on the relocation of the City’s Service Center operations in that area. In addition, Kemin’s expansion will span 20 acres and will include parcels presently occupied by the City’s Public Works, Parks, and Traffic and Transportation Departments at 2100 Scott. Our plan is to convey those non-taxed parcels on Scott to Kemin, adding to the City’s tax rolls and consolidate these City operations at a new location,” Clark added.

From the November 1, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition