Benjamin Moore exceeds your targets for superior interior and exterior stains and paints. Creating their proprietary Gennex® resins and hues permits them to deliver consistent application and superior quality control. In addition to the phenomenal colour selection, these materials can help you beautify the interior and outside of your home or place of work.



The History of Benjamin Moore

In 1883, Benjamin Moore developed a wall coating referred to as “Calsom Finish.” Working in a little building in Brooklyn, NY, Benjamin worked alongside Robert Moore, his elder brother to develop this product. The two brothers saw profits the very first year on their operations and their business progressed fast. By 1889, their Corporation appeared in New York. Shortly afterward, the existing New Jersey Corporation was established.

In the start-up process, Benjamin Moore identified a personal philosophy that grew into the first credo of the business. He felt the organization should adhere to “The application of Intelligence to Industry based upon Integrity.” “Intelligence, Integrity and Industry,” has become the hallmarks of Benjamin Moore’s core values.

The organization's Internal Vision describes these values currently as “Leadership, Innovation and Performance.” It is this strong philosophy that creates such a solid founding principle for the company.

In fact, the “Triangle M” logo of today was designed by L.P. Moore in 1925 and founded on the concept of “Integrity, Intelligence and Industry.” Representing the “3 I’s,” it is the logo that the Benjamin Moore staff proudly wear on their service pins. This stands for how business thrives with its suppliers, customers and employees.

The Calsom Finish item was refined in 1892 and next, Benjamin Moore manufactured a new finish called MURESCO. MURESCO was an all-in-one wall and ceiling finish that revolutionized the painting industry. This product was so popular, it earned a spot in Webster’s Standard Dictionary since it was a popular household name.

The business continued developing innovative paint products and finishes. A flat-finish, lead-free, decorative item called SANI-FLAT was sought after since it could sustain frequent washing. UTILAC was the next amazing invention. It replaced dangerous lacquers at the time as a fast-drying enamel product that was widely used.

Benjamin Moore and Co. were able to successfully expand in 1897, thanks to the businesses’ exponential growth. The expansion program was launched to deliver optimal service to expanding clients. Over the following decade, the business created a factory and a subsidiary in Chicago, bought a Cleveland factory and built a New Jersey plant.

Benjamin Moore expanded to Canada in 1906. On September 11, 1906, Benjamin Moore became the elected president during the company’s first shareholders’ meeting. Fred Moore, Benjamin’s half-brother, was elected as Treasurer in 1911. Fred became the Canadian branch’s managing director and then the first residing Canadian president in 1937. His occupancy created the basis for the current Benjamin Moore & Co. Limited.

The City of Toronto saw the first company established. On January 14, 1907, the plant located on Lloyd Avenue was bought. This endeavor was extremely successful and allowed the Montreal warehouse to open in 1923. Throughout the 1920s, other Benjamin Moore warehouses were born in Vancouver, Regina, Saskatoon, Halifax and Winnipeg. Unbelievably, the initial Toronto to Vancouver shipments travelled an all-water route sometimes through the Panama Canal and roughly 8500 miles!

In 1953, a complete factory was constructed in Montreal. In 1962, Burnaby, BC became home to the company’s third Canadian plant. By 1991, this plant was relocated to Aldergrove. By 2000, the company updated its manufacturing processes.

The plant in Aldergrove transitioned to become the main office and Western distribution center and ceased manufacturing abilities. The Toronto plant was also done after running for 94 years. The Montreal plant underwent an expansion and transitioned into an all-latex facility.. The Technical Coatings Co. Ltd. plant in Burlington, Ont. grew to become the location for central solvent-based production..



Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bought Benjamin Moore & Co. in December 2000. This business owns subsidiaries and acts as a holding company with a variety of interests in different businesses. The Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is Warren Buffet.

There are over 275 committed Benjamin Moore & Co. Canadian employees offering their best products and services to consumers, contractors and independent retailers.

Nowadays, the company focuses its vision and strategy on offering support to independent retailers while growing, leveraging and protecting the Benjamin Moore brand. This business had developed numerous programs including the Strategic Training Triad for the Retailer, the Signature Store Program and the Painting & Decorating Services Initiative.

The business continues to be competitive and progressive in the market by relying on the success of these programs. In the 1950s, Betty Moore initiated branding as “The Color Experts,” and was the company’s first spokesperson.

Benjamin Moore has become known as the most trusted paint brand in Canada. The recognition is from independent research, Reader’s Digest and Ipsos-Reid Canada, one of the most trusted independent research firms and public opinion polls in the country.

Research and Development

Ongoing product testing combined with scientific testing enables Benjamin Moore & Co., Ltd. to offer excellent paint products that clients enjoy using.

There are over 100 chemists, technicians, chemical engineers and support staff working hard to maintain stringent product standards. New items are also created by these crews. There are 10 team-based laboratories operated by technical staff at the eighty-thousand square-foot Technical & Administrative Centre.

Each lab offers state-of-the-art technology. The instruments focus on a certain expertise level. Each lab works together to build the Benjamin Moore product formulas. The labs work alongside the manufacturing plants and marketing department to meet the variety of demands from DIY, industrial, commercial and professional markets.

The Analytic Laboratory utilizes the latest technology and equipment to analyze the Benjamin Moore items.

There are two testing locations at the Competitive Evaluations Laboratory dedicated to testing the exterior products and their competitive brands. Tests include having over 20,000 painted or stained test items to note a variety of weather extremes and how the products handle for up to 15 years. These panels undergo analyzing tests to develop new formulations or maintain existing ones. To ensure their competitors’ products hold up to their advertising claims, Benjamin Moore regularly tests them too.

The Central Process Lab is responsible for auditing Benjamin Moore’s product quality. This is on top of the daily batch testing for products on the production line of the Benjamin Moore Plant.

The Latex Coatings Lab and the Solvent Coatings Lab are where these new products are made and tested for enhanced performance. They need to meet or exceed the fierce regulations, client expectations and environmental standards that the company expects.

The Industrial Maintenance Finishes Laboratory designs specific corrosion-fighting coatings for high-performance for industrial use including factories, military tanks and similar applications.

The main location for most of Benjamin Moore’s research is done at the Polymer Laboratory. This is the place where all of the binders used in products are improved or created. Many paint businesses purchase their polymers from exterior sources. The company is dedicated to maintaining quality assurance by developing in-house production. The binder formulations can be tailored to achieve specific requirements.



Ready-mixed Benjamin Moore colours are checked for consistency factory standards at the Colour Assurance Laboratory. Their exceptional standards are distributed in each one of Benjamin Moore’s paint plants. The chip accuracy on each of the Benjamin Moore colour cards is monitored by this lab too. A handy tool for contractors and homeowners alike.

The Colour Technology Laboratory invented the first colour-matching computerized system and this has become the industry standard across the board. Benjamin Moore uses this intricate machine to enhance their colour-matching endeavors. The lab is reviewed and evaluated by scientists for developing colour matching technologies.

The place where all of the paint colour prescriptions live is at the Colour Development Laboratory. It examines formulas to ensure consistency for existing shades and creates new formulas for different colours.

The Exterior Testing Facility also called the Testing Farm is the place that 25,000 coating samples are evaluated and studied after extreme element exposure. This data is incorporated into daily research and development. The highly accessible farm is close to where Benjamin Moore paint is formulated and tested in labs.

Every staff chemist can utilize the lab as a place for research and development. Chemists are encouraged to visit the facility during the day to check on their coatings and monitor performance. Marketing and sales employees also rely on the farm as a vital resource for information on products.

Home to the Information Resource Centre, Management Information Services, Corporate Engineering, Regulatory Affairs Departments and Product Information Centre, the Technical & Administrative Centre is the major hub of the company.