Based in Carroll

Devansoy, a soy-based, Carroll-based international company going strong
Devansoy, a Carroll-based company that produces and markets soy products, continued to grow in 2002 as sales were up more than 50 percent, according chief operating officer Roger Kilburn. The reason: "Our product is demonstrably better," Roger Kilburn said. Kilburn and other members of the Devansoy staff were in Carroll recently for a quarterly staff meeting. They sampled soy ice cream and a smorgasbord of other soy products and talked about ways to introduce soy into more foods and everyday products like soy skin-care lotion, which is big in Korea and South Africa. "The real way you expand is you make other traditional products soy-based and you make them with good taste, "Kilburn said. Devansoy counts some major companies as clients, but it doesn¹t release the names. Soy, you see, is something that¹s judged best by how little one can taste it. Interestingly, that's one of the ways Devansoy markets its product. Its soy is lighter in color and milder in taste. Major health and pharmaceutical companies are also in the Devansoy universe. "Our product is demonstrably better." Kilburn said. The company has a recently launched soy-processing plant in Rock City, Ill., and employs about 20 people. Founder and president Elmer Schettler of Mount Carmel sees opportunity in demographics as	more Baby Boomers age and look for healthy products - and younger people gravitate toward such purchases that lead to longer and healthier lives. Added marketing director Monty Kilburn: "This product would really target people mostly over 35." But the company doesn¹t focus solely on age. Jeff Liebrecht, a Columbus, Ohio, researcher affiliated with Devansoy works on ways to incorporate soy into various products. The health benefits of soy include possible reductions in cholesterol levels and lower risks for prostate cancer. It¹s also a good product for people who are lactose intolerant. During the quarterly meeting Schettler noted that the Internet Age has allowed him to run an international business from rural western Iowa. Roger Kilburn, his CFO, hails from London, Ky. Liebrecht is from Ohio. Schettler, business development manager Deb Wycoff, and Office Manager Donna Badding-Fleener live in Carroll County. Marketing director Monty Kilburn is from Tennessee, and the processing plant is in Illinois. Devansoy started in 1990 with a simple goal in mind: "promote healthy living through diets rich in natural soy protein." Today, Devansoy combines a passion for natural soy with industry-leading technology and facilities. With a state-of-the-art high-volume facility in the heart of soybean country, Devansoy is positioned to be the market leader in natural soy products for years	to come. Devansoy's products consist of a wide range of soy ingredients, processed using a proprietary system that results in more neutral flavor profiles, lighter colors and greater consistency. All are produced from identity-preserved soybeans and result in conventional or organic soy products. Soymilks and soy flours are made from identity preserved, non-GMO soybeans and are available from both organic and conventional soybean varieties. They also meet strict Kosher and Pareve certification standards. Soymilk concentrate and soymilk powder can be used in baby food, baking products, soymilk beverages, cereal, cheese analogs, cream cheese, powdered soy beverages, pudding, smoothies, soft-serve desserts, soy ice cream, soy-juice drinks, yogurt and confectionary products like chocolates, caramels, fillings and fudges. Soy flours can be used in breads, bagels, cakes, cookies, crackers, doughnuts, pancakes and waffles, pastries and pizza dough. Cereal products for soy flours would include breakfast cereal, cereal bars, granola and hot cereal. Meat analogs include chili, extruded products, pizza toppings, formed products, meatballs and sausage. Most of all, Devansoy understands the soyfoods business. The company's leaders have many decades of industry experience and success. The technical staff can ensure you get the absolute most from your ingredient investment.


Based in Carroll, Devansoy has a nation-wide staff. At a recent quarterly meeting key members of the Devansoy team gathered in Carroll. They are (from left) Deb Wycoff, business development manager, Carroll, Elmer Schettle, president,	Mount Carmel, Roger Kilburn, chief operation officer, London, Ky., Jeff Liebrecht, researcher, Columbus, Ohio, and Monte Kilburn, marketing director, Tennessee. Donna Badding-Fleener was not available for the picture