Richardson International Ltd., Winnipeg, Man., announced that it will expand its Richardson Pioneer retail crop inputs network in Western Canada with the addition of a new, full-service facility in Delisle, Sask. Construction at the site, which is southwest of Saskatoon, began in late August, with plans to have the facility operational for the 2019 season.
“The Delisle marketplace is a highly productive area and is located where we currently do not have a strong presence,” said Tom Hamilton, vice president, Agribusiness Operations. “Producers will also have access to grain handling and merchandising support through our Richardson Pioneer facility at Carlton Crossing, north of Saskatoon.”
Richardson said the new crop inputs site will feature a modern office space, 6,000-square-foot AWSA-certified warehouse, and high-speed VIS blenders, which will allow for greater flexibility in fertilizer blending and an increased product storage capacity. The site will also offer a full range of seed and crop protection products, as well as crop planning and agronomic support.
“Richardson Pioneer anticipates establishing a positive presence in the community, providing customers in the Delisle market area with innovative products and technology in a state-of-the-art facility,” Hamilton said. “We continue to invest in our crop inputs business, expanding our network and pursuing opportunities which will ultimately provide our customers with best-in-class service.”
Richardson has been expanding its crop inputs network through both acquisitions and new builds. The company recently opened new crop inputs centers in Wakaw, Pasqua, and Elrose, Sask., and reported in April that it had acquired Eagle Agro Services Ltd., a family-owned, full-service retail crop inputs business in Veteran, Alta.
In December 2017 (GM Dec. 15, 2017), Richardson announced that it had acquired Bestland Air Ltd., an independent crop inputs retailer located near Starbuck, Man. That transaction followed the company’s decision to acquire 10 retail crop inputs locations from CHS Canada in October 2017 (GM Nov. 3, 2017), as well as the purchase of two independent, full-service retail facilities in Vermilion and Forestburg, Alta., earlier in 2017 (GM Sept. 1, 2017), and the acquisition of Crop First Agro in Grenfell, Sask. (GM Feb. 3, 2017).
Richardson is Canada’s largest agribusiness, with more than 2,600 employees across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. The company is a global handler and merchandiser of all major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds and is a vertically-integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products. Richardson Pioneer is the company’s agronomy division, with 77 Ag Business Centers across Canada. The company also operates port terminals at Vancouver, B.C., Hamilton and Thunder-Bay, Ont., and Sorel, Quebec.