Benjamin Moore outshines your targets for superior interior and exterior stains and paints. The company makes its individual proprietary Gennex® colourants and resins, ensuring consistent quality control and top quality application properties. In addition to the phenomenal colour selection, these products can help you beautify the inside and outside of your home or office.



Company Origins

In 1883, Benjamin Moore developed a wall coating called “Calsom Finish.” Working in a modest building in Brooklyn, NY, Benjamin worked alongside Robert Moore, his elder brother to develop this product. Their operation took off fast and the brothers reached profits within their first year of development. In New York, 1889, a Corporation was born and the existing New Jersey Corporation was developed shortly after.

In the early stages, Benjamin Moore crafted a personal philosophy that soon became the initial credo of the business. He wanted the business to pursue the following statement, “The application of Intelligence to Industry based upon Integrity.” Gradually, the three essential words, “Intelligence, Integrity and Industry,” transitioned to be the company’s foremost values.

Benjamin Moore’s Internal Vision reflects these values known presently as Leadership, Innovation and Performance. This is the philosophy that serves as the founding principle of the company policy.

Today’s logo, featuring the “M Triangle,” was created in 1925 by L.P. Moore to represent the concept of “Integrity, Intelligence and Industry.” Signifying the “3 I's,” it is still worn proudly on their service pins by Benjamin Moore staff. This stands for how business thrives with its suppliers, customers and employees.

Benjamin Moore refined his Calsom Finish product in 1892 and created MURESCO, a new item. This all-in-one ceiling and wall finish was revolutionary for its time. It became a popular household name and even a listing in Webster’s Standard Dictionary.

The company remained committed to creating innovative paint solutions as the years passed. Another excellent item was SANI-FLAT, which could handle frequent washing and was a decorative product that was lead-free with a flat finish. UTILAC was the next amazing invention. It replaced dangerous lacquers at the time as a fast-drying enamel product that was widely used.

In 1897, thanks to the exponential demand and growth for their paint products, Benjamin Moore and Co. expanded. 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.

Canadian roots were formed on September 7, 1906. During the first shareholders’ meeting on September 11, 1906, Benjamin Moore was elected president. Benjamin’s half-brother Fred Moore became Treasurer in 1911. Fred was the first residing Canadian company president in 1937 after being the managing director of the Canadian branch. His position allowed for the formation of the current Benjamin Moore & Co., Ltd.

The City of Toronto saw the first company established. The plant situated on Lloyd Avenue was purchased on January 14, 1907. This became a thriving operation that encouraged the company to open a Montreal warehouse in 1923. Additional warehousing buildings were set up in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Halifax and Vancouver in the 1920s. Originally, the Toronto to Vancouver shipments travelled over 8500 miles on an all-water route through the Panama Canal!

By 1953, the company built its Montreal-based complete factory. In 1962, Burnaby, BC became home to the company’s third Canadian plant. However, it relocated to Aldergrove in 1991. In the year 2000, the North American company updated their manufacturing.

The Aldergrove location changed to become the Western distribution and office location and production manufacturing stopped. After ninety-four years of running, manufacturing in the Toronto plant was also finished. Conversely, the Montreal location was expanded into an all-latex manufacturing facility. Formerly called the “Technical Coatings Co. Ltd, the plant in Burlington, Ontario became the central solvent-based manufacturer..



Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bought Benjamin Moore & Co. in December 2000. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns subsidiaries as a holding company with interests in numerous business activities. The Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is Warren Buffet.

Over 275 employees are committed to delivering stellar service at Benjamin Moore & Co. They work at a variety of independent retailers all across Canada to deliver their best items to consumers and contractors.

During these changing economic days, the business remains focussed on its strategy and vision of strengthening and supporting the independent retain channel while protecting, leveraging and enhancing 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 company has used the success of these programs to stay progressive and competitive in the paint market. Branding as “The Colour Experts,” this was created by the company’s first spokesperson, Betty Moore in the 1950s. Moor-O-Matic custom colours were born in the 1960s and by 1970, the Moore’s Colour Matching System.

Canada has recognized Benjamin Moore as its most trusted paint brand. This recognition came via public opinion polls from Ipsos-Reid Canada (one of North America’s trusted public opinion and independent research firms), and Readers Digest and independent research.

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 technicians, chemical engineers, support staff and chemists maintaining strict product standards. New products are continuously being developed by these crews. There are 10 team-based laboratories operated by technical staff at the eighty-thousand square-foot Technical & Administrative Centre.

Every lab features state-of-the-art technology. The instruments focus on a certain expertise level. All labs work together to create the Benjamin Moore formulations. 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 relies on state-of-the-art technology and instruments to analyze paint formulations for Benjamin Moore and other products.

The Competitive Evaluations Laboratory has two testing stations dedicated to testing Benjamin Moore’s exterior items and competitive brands. There are over 20,000 painted or stained exposed test panels to test different weather issues for up to 15 years. These panels are subjected to different analyzing techniques to create new formulas and make better products or update existing formulas. Benjamin Moore also tests competitive products in the lab too to see if they match their claims.

The Central Process Lab is responsible for auditing Benjamin Moore’s product quality. These tests are conducted on top of the daily product batch testing that occurs on the Benjamin Moore Plant production line.

The Latex Coatings Lab and the Solvent Coatings Lab are where these new products are made and tested for enhanced performance. These products are tested to ensure they meet or exceed tough company regulations, environmental standards and client expectations.

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

The Polymer Laboratory is the location of the majority of Benjamin Moore’s research. Here is where the binders utilized in the products are created or improved. Many other paint companies buy their polymers from exterior locations instead of creating their own. Benjamin Moore relies on in-house production to offer quality assurance. The binder formulations can be tailored to achieve specific requirements.



Factory standards are created and consistency is checked at The Colour Assurance Laboratory. These high standards are distributed through all of the paint plants. The lab monitors the chip accuracy of the Benjamin Moore colour cards to ensure complete consistency. A handy tool for contractors and homeowners alike.

The Colour Technology Laboratory created the first computerized colour-matching system and became the industry standard. This machine is vital for enhancing Benjamin Moore’s colour-matching abilities. 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 is responsible for examining the colour formulations to check for consistency with the shades it has while creating new formulations for a variety of products.

25,000 paint coating samples are evaluated and studied at the Exterior Testing Facility aka “the Test Farm,” after being exposed to harsh elements for a certain time. The daily research and development incorporates this data. This farm is very accessible and located near where the paint is tested and created in Benjamin Moore labs.

Every staff chemist can utilize the lab as a place for research and development. The chemists’ staff is encouraged to visit the lab frequently throughout the day to view their coatings and see how they are performing. 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.