George Weston Limited is Canada’s largest food and drug retail business. The company controls over 2,300 stores through its Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart chains.
Founded in 1882 by bread salesman George Weston, his company grew to be Canada’s largest bakery by the 1900s. George Weston’s son, Garfield Weston, became president of the company in 1924. Garfield transitioned the business to include commercial foods and expanded internationally. In the 1970s, W. Galen Weston became CEO of Loblaw, the third generation to take a leadership role in the company. Galen consolidated Loblaw operations and is credited with reinventing the then struggling business. The chain introduced its “no name” private label brands in 1978. From the original 16 no name products, the popular label expanded to 500 items in its first four years. The company offered its high-quality President’s Choice product line in 1984.
In 2006, Galen’s son, Galen Weston Jr., was appointed Executive Chairman of Loblaw. Weston is Canada’s largest private sector employer.
- Family name: Weston family
- Sector: Consumer Products & Retail
- Founded: 1882
- Founder: bread salesman George Weston
- Country: Canada
- Company headquarters: Toronto, Canada
- Managers: Galen Weston, Alannah Weston
- Revenue: US$33.8 billion
- Rankings: 308 [Fortune 500]
- Family ownership: 63%
- Employees: 196,000
- Website: http://www.weston.ca
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