Kemin is celebrating 61 since 61 this year as the celebration of partnership.
“While Kemin has grown tremendously in 61 years, our mission has remained: Use science at the molecular level to provide exceptional products and superior customer service while making a positive impact. As we look to the future, we stand ready to expand our mission and accelerate our ability to transform lives.”
– Dr. Chris Nelson, President, and CEO
R. W. Nelson and Mary Nelson started Kemin as ‘Chemical Industries’ from a vacant wool barn in Des Moines east side in 1961 with 2 product lines of silage preservatives and feed flavours that were sold through the Midwest. R.W. was mixing the ingredients for animal feed in a Maytag® washer and Mary looked after the administrative side of the operation.
It has come a long way since with more than 15 manufacturing facilities worldwide, operating in more than 90 countries, with customers in 120 countries for a range of more than 500 specialty ingredients used in feed, pet food, health and food industries, nutrition and horticulture and textile markets.
Dr. Nelson joined Kemin as director of research and development in 1980 leading to a more structured approach to research and development. Nelson and his team pioneered the process of isolating and purifying the antioxidant molecule lutein for human consumption in supplements and fortified foods. He holds 10 patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed, published research studies. Dr. Nelson was recognized as one of the top 100 CEO Leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) by STEMconnector at the 2013 U.S. News & World Report’s STEM Solutions Summit. In 1995, Kemin innovated lutein, a carotenoid molecule from marigolds that the company had been selling into the animal feed industry for years, for human use.
Kemin Industries is a family-owned-and-operated company. R.W. Nelson serves as Chairman of the Board playing an integral role in steering the company’s vision and its continued success.
“I believe work is a privilege.”
– R.W. Nelson, Chairman of the Board
Mary Nelson serves as Corporate Vice President and Chair of the Kemin Charitable Contributions Committee guiding the company’s corporate philanthropic giving and culture of servant leadership. The Nelsons’ eldest daughter, Elizabeth “Libby” Nelson, joined Kemin as Vice President and General Counsel and has been instrumental in protecting Kemin’s intellectual property and overseeing the company’s regulatory affairs, audit and environmental health and safety programs worldwide. David Nelson, son of R.W. and Mary Nelson, serves on the Board of Advisors.
In 2017, the third generation of Nelson family members began taking on roles within Kemin. Kimberly Nelson, daughter of Dr. Chris Nelson, joined Kemin as a business development manager and now serves as General Manager of Kemin Nutrisurance. Lucas Nelson, son of David Nelson, has been recently promoted to the role of CEO of MedPharm, a national cannabis manufacturer and dispensary, owned by Dr. Chris Nelson. Dan Ryan, son of R.W. and Mary Nelson’s youngest daughter, Molly, is a research associate in microbiology at Kemin.
“We have a responsibility to return to our community and the world a portion of what we earn from our endeavors.”
– Mary Nelson, Co-founder of Kemin Industries
To R.W. and Mary Kemin is their 6th child. It is such family values that lend to Kemin its core strength. The belief is in good science and good business practices, hard work, integrity, and moral obligation to improve lives.
An organization with a bold and forward-thinking approach Kemin is creating technology at the molecular level and fostering continuous improvements in its people, processes, and products. The aim is to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with their products and services. In 2021 they announced their commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
