Benjamin Moore exceeds your targets for superior interior and exterior stains and paints. The business has formulated its very own line of Gennex® resins and colourants to provide precise quality and superior application. Not to mention the phenomenal colour selection, these items can help you beautify the inside and outside of your home or workplace.



Company History

The “Calsom Finish,” a distinctive wall coating, was made in 1883 by Benjamin Moore. He focused alongside his older brother, Robert Moore, to produce this product in Brooklyn, NY. The brothers saw profits the initial year on their operations and their business progressed fast. In New York, 1889, a Corporation was born and the present New Jersey Corporation was developed shortly after.

While in the start-up process, Benjamin Moore identified a personal philosophy that expanded into the first credo of the business. He preferred the business to follow the following statement, “The application of Intelligence to Industry based upon Integrity.” Over time, the three essential words, “Intelligence, Integrity and Industry,” moved forward to be the company’s central values.

The businesses’ current Internal Vision dictates these values further as “Leadership, Innovation and Performance.” It is this strong philosophy that creates such a solid founding principle for the company.

Did you know that the current logo of the “Triangle M,” originated in 1925 and designed by L.P. Moore to showcase the “Integrity, Intelligence and Industry,” concept? Representing the “3 I’s,” it is the logo that the Benjamin Moore staff proudly wear on their service pins. This principle flows into how the business deals with its customers, suppliers and employees.

Benjamin Moore refined his Calsom Finish product in 1892 and created MURESCO, a new item. 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. 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.

The company continued to expand in 1897 as Benjamin Moore and Co. saw repeated success with their innovative products. The expansion program was launched to deliver optimal service to expanding clients. The next ten years were busy. A Cleveland factory was born, Chicago became home to a factory and subsidiary and the New Jersey plant was constructed.

On September 7, 1906, the Canadian company was born. During the first shareholders’ meeting on September 11, 1906, Benjamin Moore was elected president. In 1911, his half-brother Fred Moore became the company Treasurer. 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. The plant situated on Lloyd Avenue was purchased on January 14, 1907. 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. Shipments from Toronto to Vancouver were sent via an all-water route at times through the Panama Canal for a route approximately 8,500 miles!

By 1953, the company built its Montreal-based complete factory. 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. Conversely, the Montreal location was expanded into an all-latex manufacturing facility. The Technical Coatings Co. Ltd. plant in Burlington, Ont. grew to become the location for central solvent-based production..



In December 2000, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. purchased Benjamin Moore & Co. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns subsidiaries as a holding company with interests in numerous business activities. The Chairman of Berkshire’s Board of Directors is Warren Buffet.

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.

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

The company has used the success of these programs to stay progressive and competitive in the paint market. Betty Moore created branding as “The Colour Experts,” in the 1950s, becoming the first spokesperson. In the 1960s, the Moor-O-Matic custom colour range was introduced and Moore’s Colour Matching System was born by 1970.

Benjamin Moore has grown to be the most recognized Canadian paint company. This has been determined via Ipsos-Reid polls in Canada, being one of the most trusted North American public opinion and independent research firms, along with independent research and Reader’s Digest.

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 more than 100 chemical engineers, technicians, chemists and support staff working hard to maintain strict product standards. New products are continuously being developed by these crews. There are ten team labs operated at an 80,000 square foot Technical & Administrative Centre by technical staff.

Every lab is outfitted with the latest technology. Each instrument focuses on certain expertise. Each lab works together to build the Benjamin Moore product formulas. The labs work beside the marketing department and manufacturing facilities to handle the various demands from different markets such as professional, commercial, industrial and DIY.

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

The Competitive Evaluations Laboratory offers two testing stations designed to test Benjamin Moore’s exterior product lines along with other competitors. There are over 20,000 painted or stained exposed test panels to test different weather issues for up to 15 years. The panels develop new formulas and undergo analyzing tests to create better products or maintain existing items. 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. These testing procedures occur over and above the daily product testing on the 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. This is the location where the binders for products are improved or made. Most paint businesses create their polymers from exterior places. Benjamin Moore relies on in-house production to offer quality assurance. Binder formulas can be tailored to meet certain 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 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 Colour Development Lab is where the prescriptions for each paint colour are stored. It examines formulas to ensure consistency for existing shades and creates new formulas for different colours.

The “Test Farm,” or Exterior Testing Facility, is where 25,000 coating samples are studied and evaluated after being exposed to extreme elements. This colour data is used by the daily research and development teams. 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. 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.

The Technical & Administrative Centre is home to the company’s Corporate Engineering, Product Information Centre, Management Information Services, Regulatory Affairs Departments and Information Resource Centre.