Johnson & Johnson Expands to Canada, 1919

Image courtesy: Johnson & Johnson Archives

After operating a Canadian sales force for three decades, Johnson & Johnson opened its first factory outside of the United States in 1919. Johnson & Johnson products had previously been shipped to the Montreal-based Gilmour Brothers, who then distributed them throughout Canada. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 swiftly increased demand for sterile surgical supplies. Though the conflict ended in 1918, needs remained high. To expand its manufacturing capacity, Johnson & Johnson opened the Gilmour Plant near Montreal, where it began producing surgical products for international distribution.