A nutritional ingredient manufacturer, Kemin is a privately held corporation, founded in 1961 by R.W. and Mary Nelson.

Kemin is Born

The fledgling business - initially called 'Chemical Industries' - was a family effort beginning in 1961, based on developing innovative agricultural products and marketing them throughout the mid-western United States. These early products included mold inhibitors and flavors and grew to encompass a full line of ingredients for animal feeds.

Our First Success

Spurred by a robust agricultural climate in the U.S. during the 1970s, Kemin Industries enjoyed an era of rapid expansion. As ag commodities skyrocketed and cattle prices set all-time records, the distribution of Kemin crop preservatives experienced phenomenal growth. In response to the times, our sales force increased dramatically to cover the whole of the United States. The Des Moines manufacturing facility underwent two expansions. A new plant was built in Texas. Kemin also entered the global market.

Global Growth

Entering into international business expanded the line of Kemin products in response to the needs of production agriculture around the world. Building on its early success in the U.S., Kemin Industries had embarked on its first export sale of products during the late 1960s. The company's earliest overseas markets were the United Kingdom and Spain where Kemin products were sold through European distributors. By 1973 product demand necessitated a European sales and production site which was built in Herentals, Belgium.