Benjamin Moore & Co.
Benjamin Moore & Co., also known as Benjamin Moore, is an American manufacturer of premium and commercial paints, stains and other architectural coatings. The company was founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, N.Y., by Hannah "Bessie" Youngwirth and is currently headquartered in Montvale, N.J. Benjamin Moore has major manufacturing and distribution operations throughout the United States and Canada with global sales in more than 75 other countries. Benjamin Moore products have always been sold through independently owned retailers, including specialized paint-and-decorating centers, hardware stores, and retailers’ cooperatives such as Ace Hardware, Do it Best® and True Value®.
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| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architectural coatings |
| Founded | 1883 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1] |
| Founders | Benjamin Moore Benjamin Moore, William Moore, Robert Moore |
| Headquarters | Montvale, New Jersey, U.S. |
Area served | North America, Global |
Key people | Dan Calkins (CEO) |
| Products | AURA® Regal® ben® Fresh Start® Ultra Spec® SCUFF-X® COMMAND® Corotech® Insl-X® Coronado® Notable® Dry Erase Paint ARBORCOAT® Lenmar® |
| Parent | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Website | benjaminmoore |
Company founder, Benjamin Moore, was born in Ireland in 1855. In 1872, Moore immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. After working in the paint industry, Benjamin and his brother, William, founded Moore Brothers in 1883 with an initial investment of approximately $2,000. The company set up operations in a warehouse on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn and sold "Moore's Prepared Calsom Finish.” Soon after, William left and another brother, Robert Moore, joined. The company was incorporated as Benjamin Moore in 1889. Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited was established in Canada in 1906. In 1917, Benjamin Moore stepped down at 62 and named his nephew, L.P. Moore, as his successor. In 2000, Benjamin Moore was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway.
Innovations
In 1982, Benjamin Moore introduced one of the industry’s first-ever computerized color-matching systems, expanding color choice beyond color chips.
In 1992, Benjamin Moore opened its research and development facility on 90 acres in Flanders, N.J., including a five-acre outdoor test farm housing more than 2,500 test boards of more than 70 different substrate types, systematically coated with both Benjamin Moore and competitor products for long-term, brand-blind observation.2
In 2007, Benjamin Moore introduced Gennex® Color Technology, a combination of proprietary colorant and proprietary resin systems that work together to remove surfactants, thus enhancing color performance and durability, while adding zero volatile organic compounds.3
Awards
- 2020 Awarded Best in Customer Satisfaction among Interior Paints by J.D. Power: #1 in Durability, #1 in Application, #1 in Offerings
Environmental Record
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Allergy Standards Limited's asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program independently tests and identifies consumer products that are more suitable for those living with asthma and allergies. Eco Spec® has earned the Certification Mark by achieving the Program's strict criteria for VOC emissions and performance.
With zero VOCs and zero emissions, Eco Spec® is Benjamin Moore's greenest interior paint.
Owned Properties
Benjamin Moore offers trademarked lines of premium and commercial interior and exterior paints and stains, marketed under the Benjamin Moore brand. Its longest-running sub-brand, Regal®, was introduced in 1957. Benjamin Moore removed lead from Regal formulations in 1968, ten years before the United States banned lead paint for residential and interior use.1
Benjamin Moore currently owns Insl-X®, Coronado® and Lenmar®. In 2008, Benjamin Moore acquired Insl-X, a brand that includes field-marking paint, masonry coatings, specialty primers, swimming pool paint and traffic paint. Insl-X had already acquired Coronado and Lenmar in 2004. Coronado includes value-driven interior and exterior paint and stain, and Lenmar includes wood finishes.6 Benjamin Moore manufactures and markets commercial-use enamels, epoxies and other specialty coatings under its Corotech line.
References
- "History of Benjamin Moore Paint". Shearer Painting. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. 2. NorthJersey.com. “Benjamin Moore's R&D facility benefits from New Jersey's four seasons.” (December, 2018). 3. Azure Magazine. “Benjamin Moore’s Gennex Paints Pair Vivid Hues With Unparalleled Durability.” (July 2020).
