On the list of best-known paint brands out there for exceeding your expectations is Benjamin Moore. The corporation has formulated their own line of Gennex® resins and colourants to supply precise quality and first-class application. They develop every product you're looking for to create a dazzling home or office update on all of your internal and exterior locations.



The History of Benjamin Moore

It all started in 1883 when Benjamin Moore crafted the “Calsom Finish,” wall coating. Working in a modest building in Brooklyn, NY, Benjamin worked alongside Robert Moore, his elder brother to create this product. In the initial year of development, the brothers recognized profits and demand, allowing their business to prosper quickly. In New York, 1889, a Corporation came to be and the existing New Jersey Corporation appeared shortly after.

During the company’s early years, Benjamin Moore crafted a personal philosophy that transitioned into the business’ first credo. He passionately professed that “The application of Intelligence to Industry based upon Integrity,” should be their foundation. With time, the three essential words, “Intelligence, Integrity and Industry,” moved forward to be the company’s core values.

The businesses’ current Internal Vision dictates these values further as “Leadership, Innovation and Performance.” This philosophy generates the principle foundation for the business policy.

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.” Signifying the “3 I's,” it is still worn proudly on their service pins by Benjamin Moore staff. This principle flows into how the business deals with its customers, suppliers and employees.

In 1892, Benjamin Moore tweaked his Calsom Finish formula and developed a new product called MURESCO. MURESCO was an all-in-one wall and ceiling finish that revolutionized the painting industry. It became a popular household name and even a listing in Webster’s Standard Dictionary.

Benjamin Moore continued to develop innovative products over the years. SANI-FLAT was a lead-free, flat-finish, decorative product that could handle frequent cleanings. 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. Optimal service was delivered to expanding clients through a specific expansion program. A subsidiary was formed in Chicago over the next decade and a new plant was built in New Jersey along with the purchase of a Cleveland factory.

Canadian roots were formed on September 7, 1906. On September 11, 1906, Benjamin Moore became the elected president during the company’s first shareholders’ meeting. Benjamin’s half-brother Fred Moore became Treasurer in 1911. Fred became the Canadian branch’s managing director and then the first residing Canadian president in 1937. This occupancy established the foundation for what is currently Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited.

Toronto was where the business first put down its roots. On January 14, 1907, the plant located on Lloyd Avenue was bought. This successful location allowed the business to establish the Montreal warehouse by 1923. The company established various warehouses across Canada in the 1920s, including Saskatoon, Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina and Vancouver. 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. This plant relocated in 1991 to Aldergrove. The North American Company revamped manufacturing in 2000.

The Aldergrove plant stopped being a manufacturing facility and became the main office and distribution centre for the West. After operating for 94 years, the Toronto plant was closed. However, the Montreal facility grew and became an all-latex manufacturer.. The Technical Coatings Co. Ltd. plant in Burlington, Ont. grew to become the location for central solvent-based production..



The Benjamin Moore & Co. business was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in December 2000. The company acts as a holding company and owns subsidiaries with a variety of interests in many business dealings. Warren Buffet is the Chairman of Berkshire’s Board of Directors.

There are more than 275 committed employees at Benjamin Moore & Co. delivering their best services and items to contractors, consumers and independent retailers all over Canada.

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.

Benjamin Moore has grown to be the most recognized Canadian paint company. 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

Continuous scientific testing and ongoing product testing allows Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited to deliver the consistent paint products customers have grown to admire.

There are over 100 chemists, technicians, chemical engineers and support staff working hard to maintain stringent product standards. New products are continuously being developed by these crews. Technical staff is responsible for ten team-based laboratories located at the 80,000 square-foot Technical & Administrative Centre.

Every lab features state-of-the-art technology. These instruments focus on a particular area of expertise. Every lab works together to develop the formulations for Benjamin Moore products. 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.

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 undergo analyzing tests to develop new formulations or maintain existing ones. The company regularly tests their competitor’s stock in the lab as well to check if their products match their claims.

The regulator for auditing Benjamin Moore’s quality is the Central Process Lab. These testing procedures occur over and above the daily product testing on the production line.

The Solvent Coatings and the Latex Coatings Laboratory is the place where new latex and solvent-based items are created and developed to enhance their performance. These items are repeatedly tested to ensure that they pass the stringent company expectations for clients, environmental stands and company regulations.

The Industrial Maintenance Finishes Lab is home to developing high-performance, anti-corrosion products for military tanks or industrial locations including factories.

The Polymer Laboratory is the place where most of Benjamin Moore’s research is conducted. Here is where the binders utilized in the products are created or improved. Many paint businesses purchase their polymers from exterior sources. Benjamin Moore relies on in-house production to offer quality assurance. Binder formulas can be tailored to meet certain requirements.



The Colour Assurance Laboratory creates the factory standards that maintain the consistency of ready-mixed Benjamin Moore colours. Their exceptional standards are distributed in each one of Benjamin Moore’s 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 invented the first colour-matching computerized system and this has become the industry standard across the board. This specialized machine is essential for creating Benjamin Moore’s colour-matching capabilities. Scientists at this lab evaluate and review new technologies and colour matching machines.

The Colour Development Lab is where the prescriptions for each paint colour are stored. It ensures that formulas are consistent for current shades while developing new colour formulations.

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. The daily research and development incorporates this data. 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. The chemists’ staff is encouraged to visit the lab frequently throughout the day to view their coatings and see how they are performing. Sales and marketing staff additionally rely on the farm to gain valuable information on many 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.