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 quarterly sales for the first quarter, which ended Jan. 31, at $133.1 million, up 17 percent from the $113.4 million during the same quarter a year ago.

The company's net earnings of $7 million, or 25 cents for fully diluted shares, were up 25 percent from the $5.5 million or 20 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.