Newfoundland Butter Company

The Newfoundland Butter Company was established in 1925 by Sir John C. Crosbie, who had a new factory constructed on LeMarchant Road. In 1930, the company began a dairy operation (City Dairy) that produced pasteurized milk for the first time in St. John’s. The milk operating was run by John C. Crosbie who had graduated from the Ontario Agriculture College. In 1937, the company was purchased by Unilever. In 1949, when Newfoundland joined Canada, the company’s name was changed to the Newfoundland Margarine Company. In March 2004, Unilever closed the company and moved its operation to Ontario.

Photo 1: Milk bottle embossed “CITY DAIRY COMPANY LIMITED.” Bottle available in three sizes, all are hard to find. 1930-1940.

Photo 2: Applied green label milk bottle marked “THE N. B. C. LTD. / PASTEURIZED MILK / QUALITY PRODUCT / St. John’s nfld.” The reverse on some of these bottles has a picture of a baby drinking a bottle of milk and the words “GOOD MORNING / PLEASE RETURN.” Available in three different sizes and also without the reverse label.

Photo 3: Pin card handed out to customers.