Fred Herdman, president and founder of Commonwealth Oil, said the agreement will expand the market reach for its products, especially in Eastern Canada. We do a lot of business everywhere, but thats an area weve had a real struggle with, so its something were looking forward to, Herdman told Lube Report.

He noted that many food processors are located in Atlantic Canada – which includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland/Labrador – while Quebec features a huge manufacturing base.

Herdman said thatprivately owned Irving Oil has the largest fuel refinery in Canada, a 300,000 barrels per day operation in Saint John, New Brunswick. The big advantage is when we go to Eastern Canada, the Irving name overwhelms anyone, as far as oil majors go, Herdman said. Irving is bigger than all those guys put together out there and also big in New England too. By co-branding, when you deal in eastern Canada with Irving, their name has so much ability for you in customer draw and good will, that you want your name attached to their name. Id much rather be their partner than their competitor.

Founded in 1978, Commonwealth Oil is privately owned by the Herdman family and headquartered in Harrow, south of Windsor, Ontario. Commonwealth manufactures and markets metalworking and specialty fluids, and food grade lubricants and cleaners to a range of industrial sectors throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the United Kingdom.

The addition of Commonwealths portfolio of products will help us meet the changing needs for our existing customers and [provide] opportunities to penetrate new market segments, said Kevin Boyle, Coastals general manager.

Coastal specializes in blending and packaging lubricants, solvents and other liquid chemicals, marketed under the Irving and Cobra brand names as well as a variety of private label customers. The company is based in Canada in Saint John, New Brunswick, where it has a 157,000 square foot facility.