Richardson International replacing Tennessee refinery with state-of-art plant

Richardson International is replacing its existing Wesson Oil refinery in Tennessee with a new state-of-the-art plant.

The $220 million, multiphase project will result in a modernized facility that will increase capacity while reducing water, energy and wastewater volumes.

“The Wesson Oil facility in Memphis provides Richardson a strong retail brand and a great location supported by a very dedicated team of employees,” Tobias Dewey, Richardson International vice president of oilseed operations, said in a news release. “Collectively, these elements provided the confidence to support meaningful investment and innovation in the Memphis plant’s operations, including significantly expanding our industrial and food service offerings. We are excited that this plan will soon become fully realized.”

The Memphis modernization follows previous initiatives in Richardson’s oilseed processing division, including a three-year expansion project at its Yorkton, Saskatchewan facility that more than doubled crushing and refining capacity, as well as an expansion at its Lethbridge, Alberta plant.

“This latest announcement underscores our commitment to business sustainability, to best-in-class facilities, and to our team at Memphis,” Jason Medawar, senior director of operations in Memphis, said. “This latest announcement underscores our commitment to business sustainability, to best-in-class facilities, and to our team at Memphis. It also underscores a broader commitment to Shelby County, the city of Memphis, and the state of Tennessee.”

Richardson International Ltd. is a privately held Canadian agricultural and food industry company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba.