Feed Research Firm Plans Complex Here

By Robert Sanford

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

May 13, 1992

Section: BUSINESS

Novus International Inc., a producer of animal feed supplements, has signed a lease on a 4-acre site at Missouri Research Park in St. Charles County to establish a research and development center.

Novus is a joint venture of two Japanese companies, Mitsui & Co., a large trading company, and Nippon Soda & Co., a chemical company. Novus was formed to continue research, production and marketing of farm-animal feed supplements that originally were developed and then divested by Monsanto Co. last year.

At full capacity, Novus expects to employ more than 30 scientists and technicians in its laboratories at the research park. The firm has taken an option on an additional 4 acres at the park in anticipation of future needs.

Novus has annual sales of about $200 million and plans to develop the feed supplement market with new products, with a goal of $1 billion annual sales by the year 2000. The company has offices in 15 countries, and its corporate offices are in Maryville Center.

Its principal product is a feed supplement called Alimet for poultry, said Thad Simons, general counsel. Alimet is a hydroxy analog of methionine, an amino acid, he said. It adds protein to the diet and the result is more efficient production of poultry.

Alimet is produced at a plant at Alvin, Texas.

This summer Novus will begin building the 30,000-square-foot research and development center. It will contain state-of-the-art biological laboratories. Stone, Marraccini & Patterson, architects, is designing the center; the construction manager is John Holborow of Construction Options Inc.

Missouri Research Park is owned and managed by the University of Missouri system. The park is on 750 acres at Highway 40 and Highway 94 in St. Charles County. Other tenants are the regional forecasting center of the National Weather Service, the Advanced Technology Group of MG Industries Inc. and the carbon-fiber division of Zoltek Corp.

Ned Taddeucci, president of the St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association, said the project represents a significant investment in St. Louis and the company has potential for growth.

''These are the kinds of companies we need to attract and maintain in the region,'' he said.

George A. Russell, president of the university system, said, ''Novus helps agribusiness not only through its production of feed additives but also through the technical service and industry research it provides.''

F.J. Ivey, vice president and senior scientist of Novus, said, ''This investment represents a strong commitment to growth in animal agriculture and our company. The research park is the ideal environment for our research team, and we look forward to occupying the laboratory.''