History of LAVO

LAVO has been established in Quebec for nearly a century, and proud of it. The history of LAVO is marked by a number of milestones, making it a company that has been producing products so beloved by Quebecers and Canadians for so many years.

LAVO history 2

1898

1928

1948

1959

1969

1977

1980

1999

2000

2001

2003

2006

2009

2010

2016

2017

2020

2023

1898

The Spanish FYON family arrived in Quebec in 1898 with the brand La Parisienne and its bleach product based on the Parisian system of bleaching and staining linen and cotton linen without boiling it.

1928

Creation of the LAVO company, which comes from the Spanish word for "I wash".
source: Redefining hygiene

1948

The Bouthillier family acquires LAVO and installs its 1st automated plant in Montreal East in 1951.

Headed by Ernest Bouthillier, this was the beginning of LAVO as we know it today.

Since then, LAVO has refined its manufacturing and marketing methods.

1959

LAVO focuses on research and technological development, replacing glass bottles with the first plastic containers. It manufactures its own polyethylene-based containers, thus initiating its vertical integration process.

1969

The major grocery chains decide to sell bleach and fabric softener under their own brand names. LAVO wins most of the contracts, thanks to its new facilities, which enable it to respond adequately to retailers' needs.

1977

Ernest Bouthillier's two sons take over management of the company: Guy becomes president and Paul executive vice-president.

1980-bleed

The new team acquires a plant in Ontario and the Old Dutch trademark. Following the production model of the Montreal plant, Dutch Products Inc. quickly takes a major share of the Ontario market.

1999

LAVO acquires the highly reputed Hertel brand, making the company the leader in the cleaning products category in Quebec.

2000

In order to remain competitive and increase production capacity, LAVO's three plants are grouped together in a single location on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Boulevard in Montreal's east end.

2001

LAVO inaugurates a brand-new 130,000 sq. ft. high-performance plant, one of the most modern and efficient in North America.

Image2

In response to consumer demand, LAVO is going green, making Hertel products biodegradable to OECD 301D standard.

2006

LAVO takes sustainable development a step further by making all La Parisienne detergents biodegradable and phosphate-free.

The Parisian family

Now it's the turn of fabric softeners to become biodegradable. Always with the environment in mind, this is also the year of more concentrated formulas for fabric softeners, detergents and La Parisienne bleach, reducing the amount of water used. This means more loads, less cardboard, less plastic and less transport.

2010

With a view to eco-responsible consumption, La Parisienne has extended its range to include ultra-efficient biodegradable dishwasher cleaning tablets that contain no chlorine or phosphates.

2016

LAVO acquires the Arctic Power and ABC detergent brands, expanding its laundry products portfolio.

2017 (1)

LAVO is acquired by KIK, a company specializing in the manufacture of private-label detergents and cleaning products.

2020

As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the complexities, LAVO has continued to supply products in high demand to help the people who depend on our products to disinfect and keep their clothes and homes clean. LAVO continues to work closely with its suppliers to ensure the availability of its products, considering the inflationary context that affects us all and the growing needs of the population.

 

75 blue

LAVO celebrates its 75th anniversary!

Our Purpose

We pride ourselves on playing a vital role in your daily life by providing quality products that help you keep your home clean and fresh.