Richardson Buys Cooking Oil Brand Wesson, Production Site

Canadian agribusiness and food processor Richardson International closed its acquisition of the American cooking oil brand Wesson after completing regulatory approvals and other closing requirements, the company announced Monday. 

“This is a very exciting time for Richardson as we add strategic assets to strengthen and grow our food and ingredients business,” Curt Vossen, president and chief executive officer of Richardson, said in a press release. “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.”

Richardson also took ownership of the 280,000-sq-ft Wesson production plant in Memphis, TN, which employs over 120 workers. The cooking oil brand and the facility are now a part of Richardson’s Food and Ingredients division. 

“We are committed to not just maintaining that brand in the market, but also to bringing innovation, focus, and investment to build the business,” Chuck Cohen, executive vice president, food, Ingredients & Ag Technology, said in the release. 

The company operates a number of processing and manufacturing facilities for canola-based products in Canada. 

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