Richardson is committed to maintaining the Wesson brand in the marketplace and through investment and innovation, will continue to build the business.
February 25, 2019 (Winnipeg, MB) — Richardson International Limited (“Richardson”) is pleased to announce that the acquisition of Wesson, a leading U.S. premium retail brand of cooking oils, previously announced on December 18, 2018, has closed following satisfaction of all regulatory and other closing requirements.
“This is a very exciting time for Richardson as we add strategic assets to strengthen and grow our food and ingredients business. Not only are we effectively increasing our profile in North America, we are also enhancing our ability to meet the needs of a global marketplace with quality products,” says Curt Vossen, Richardson President & CEO.
This is another step in expanding Richardson’s Food and Ingredients division which has grown significantly over the past 20 years. “We are pleased to be taking on an established, well-regarded brand in Wesson, and we are committed to not just maintaining that brand in the market, but also to bringing innovation, focus and investment to build the business,” adds Chuck Cohen, Executive Vice-President, Food, Ingredients and Ag Technology.
As part of the transaction, Richardson acquires the Wesson production facility located in Memphis, Tennessee expanding the company’s presence in the U.S. and building on the success of its oilseed processing operations. This 280,000 square-foot manufacturing plant is supported by a network of over 120 employees and will complement Richardson’s existing Food and Ingredients division.
Vossen concludes, “Richardson is committed to the Memphis plant, the employees, the local community and a continued U.S. presence for marketing, manufacturing, and distribution of Wesson products. We are proud of our long legacy of investing in and supporting the communities in which our customers and employees live and work.”
For more information visit news.richardsonfoodandingredients.com.
ABOUT RICHARDSON INTERNATIONAL
Richardson International is a subsidiary of family-owned James Richardson & Sons, Limited which was established in 1857 from modest beginnings. Headquartered in Winnipeg, today, Richardson is Canada’s largest agribusiness and is recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing. The company is a worldwide handler and merchandiser of grains and oilseeds and is a vertically integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products. Over the past two decades, Richardson has become a significant player in the global food business, producing a wide variety of food products and ingredients for the retail, food service and industrial markets. One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, Richardson continues to grow thanks to the dedication and innovative spirit of over 2,700 employees worldwide.
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For more information, please contact:
Kelcey Vossen
Communications & Public Relations
P: +1 204.934.4118
E: kelcey.vossen@richardson.ca
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