BUSINESS MEMO: SPARTECH EARNINGS

Spartech Corp. announced record sales and earnings for the first quarter.

Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and chief executive officer, reported first-quarter sales at $167.8 million through Jan. 31, up 26 percent from the $133.1 million during the same quarter last year.

The company's net earnings of $9.2 million, or 32 cents for fully diluted shares, up from $7 million or 25 cents per diluted share reported in 1997.

Spartech is a manufacturer of engineered thermoplastic materials and polymeric compounds, including extruded sheet and rollstock, specialty plastic alloys, compounds and color concentrates and molded profile products.

Spartech, headquartered in St. Louis, has two operations in Cape Girardeau -- Spartech Plastics at 2500 Spartech Drive and Spartech Compounding on Nash Road.