Canadian Breweries Limited
Encyclopedia
Canadian Breweries Limited was an Ontario
based holding company in the brewery industry. Originally named Brewing Corporation of Ontario, E. P. Taylor
created the company in 1930 by merging Bradings Breweries Limited (inherited from his grandfather), and Capital Brewing of Ottawa
and Kuntz Brewery of Waterloo, Ontario
. Soon afterward, Taylor acquired British American Brewing Company, a Windsor, Ontario
brewery founded in 1882 and Carling
Brewing Co., founded in London, Ontario
in 1840. O'Keefe
Brewery was added to Taylor's brewery interests in 1934.
Even when Canadian provinces prohibited alcohol consumption, federal law did not affect production for export. For some breweries, particularly those close to the U.S. border, a period of prosperity existed during Prohibition in the United States
. E.P. Taylor also served as Vice President of Burmuda Export Co., a brewery industry company that aimed to control prices and exports of beer.
Taylor's expansion was aggressive and, during the 1930s and 1940s, his holding company acquired about thirty Canadian brewers. The company changed its name to the Brewing Corporation of Canada and then to Canadian Breweries Limited in 1937. One notable executive was George Montegu Black II
the father of Conrad Black
. Canadian Breweries was headed by president J.G. (Jack) Campbell. The company became part of the Argus Corporation when that company was founded by Taylor and others in 1945. In 1968, the shares of Canadian Breweries Limited, held by the Argus Corporation Limited were sold to Rothmans/Pall Mall for $28.8 million. Canadian Breweries Limited was re-named for its two largest subsidiaries and became Carling O'Keefe
. In 1987 Rothmans decided to sell its 50 percent share in the Carling O'Keefe brewery in Canada, which was not meeting expectations. Later, the company was controlled by Elders IXL, then merged with Molson
to become part of Molson Coors Brewing Company
.
During the mid 20th century, Canadian prosecutors charged Canadian Breweries with being part of an illegal combine by its participation in a series of mergers that were a detriment to the public by lessening price competition. The company's successful defence argued that rules did not apply to liquor sales, a business sector where prices were already regulated through legislation. A Canadian federal commission on corporate concentration also held that while Canadian Breweries had used questionable tactics to reduce competition, the concurrent growth of Molson and Labatt maintained adequate competition in the brewing industry.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
based holding company in the brewery industry. Originally named Brewing Corporation of Ontario, E. P. Taylor
E. P. Taylor
Edward Plunket Taylor was a Canadian business tycoon and famous breeder of thoroughbred race horses. Known to his friends as "Eddie", he is universally recorded as "E. P...
created the company in 1930 by merging Bradings Breweries Limited (inherited from his grandfather), and Capital Brewing of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Kuntz Brewery of Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
. Soon afterward, Taylor acquired British American Brewing Company, a Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
brewery founded in 1882 and Carling
Carling
Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
Brewing Co., founded in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in 1840. O'Keefe
Eugene O'Keefe
Eugene O'Keefe , baptized Owen Keeffe, was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the O'Keefe Brewery Company of Toronto Limited in 1891....
Brewery was added to Taylor's brewery interests in 1934.
Even when Canadian provinces prohibited alcohol consumption, federal law did not affect production for export. For some breweries, particularly those close to the U.S. border, a period of prosperity existed during Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
. E.P. Taylor also served as Vice President of Burmuda Export Co., a brewery industry company that aimed to control prices and exports of beer.
Taylor's expansion was aggressive and, during the 1930s and 1940s, his holding company acquired about thirty Canadian brewers. The company changed its name to the Brewing Corporation of Canada and then to Canadian Breweries Limited in 1937. One notable executive was George Montegu Black II
George Montegu Black II
George Montegu Black II to George Montegu Black Sr and Gertrude Maxwell Black was a Winnipeg business man and President of Canadian Breweries...
the father of Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
. Canadian Breweries was headed by president J.G. (Jack) Campbell. The company became part of the Argus Corporation when that company was founded by Taylor and others in 1945. In 1968, the shares of Canadian Breweries Limited, held by the Argus Corporation Limited were sold to Rothmans/Pall Mall for $28.8 million. Canadian Breweries Limited was re-named for its two largest subsidiaries and became Carling O'Keefe
Carling O'Keefe
Carling O'Keefe originated from Canadian Breweries Limited which was the first brewing conglomerate in Canada and is now owned by Molson Coors Brewing Company.-Carling 1840-1930:...
. In 1987 Rothmans decided to sell its 50 percent share in the Carling O'Keefe brewery in Canada, which was not meeting expectations. Later, the company was controlled by Elders IXL, then merged with Molson
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
to become part of Molson Coors Brewing Company
Molson Coors Brewing Company
Molson Coors Brewing Company is a company that was created by the merger of two of North America's largest breweries: Molson of Canada, and Coors of the United States, on February 9, 2005...
.
During the mid 20th century, Canadian prosecutors charged Canadian Breweries with being part of an illegal combine by its participation in a series of mergers that were a detriment to the public by lessening price competition. The company's successful defence argued that rules did not apply to liquor sales, a business sector where prices were already regulated through legislation. A Canadian federal commission on corporate concentration also held that while Canadian Breweries had used questionable tactics to reduce competition, the concurrent growth of Molson and Labatt maintained adequate competition in the brewing industry.
Also Known As
- Brewing Corporation of Ontario
- Brewing Corporation of Canada
- Canadian Breweries Limited
Successor companies
- Carling O'KeefeCarling O'KeefeCarling O'Keefe originated from Canadian Breweries Limited which was the first brewing conglomerate in Canada and is now owned by Molson Coors Brewing Company.-Carling 1840-1930:...
sold to Rothmans, sold to Elders - merged with MolsonMolsonMolson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
- Molson merged to form Molson Coors
Acquired companies
- Bradings Breweries
- Capital Brewing (Ottawa)
- Kuntz Brewery (Waterloo)
- British American Brewing Company (Windsor)
- CarlingCarlingCarling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
Brewing - O'KeefeEugene O'KeefeEugene O'Keefe , baptized Owen Keeffe, was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the O'Keefe Brewery Company of Toronto Limited in 1891....
(acquired 1934) - Taylor & Bates (closed 1936)
- Dominion Brewery (closed 1936)
- Grant's Spring (closed 1932)
- Regal Brewing (closed 1938)
- Cosgrave Export Brewery
- Welland Brewery
- Riverside Brewery (acquired and closed 1935)
Brands
- Carling Black LabelBlack LabelBlack Label is a Canadian brand of lager well-known throughout the former British Empire. In several countries it is also known as Carling Black Label, and in Sweden it is known as Carling Premier...
- Red Cap Ale - now produced by Brick Brewery
- Old ViennaOld ViennaOld Vienna is a brand of beer bottled by City Brewing, and later, Koch Beverage Company, in the 19th century in Wapakoneta, Ohio. City Brewing was owned by Karl Kolter and his son Charles, who immigrated from Wallhalben, Germany, to Ohio in the mid-19th century. The business was later handed down...
- Cincinnati Cream or Cinci