Breath O’ Pine – A FAMILY AFFAIR

Fifty-six years after its incorporation, Brondow – the company that manufactures and distributes Breath O’ Pine – is still chaired by members of the Kelley and Farris Families – direct relatives of product inventor Edward J. Kelley and company co-founder John T. Farris, Sr.

A 1920's INNOVATION
The formula for what is today known as Breath O’ Pine was discovered in the mid-1920s by chemist Edward J. Kelley in the family’s Mt. Vernon, NY home. Made from a combination of high concentration pine oil, soaps and other ingredients, the formula was highly effective in dissolving grease, dirt and other heavy stains.

During the late 1920s, Kelley’s formula, which he named No Grit, was sold in gas stations as a surface cleaner capable of removing heavy automotive stains and grease from a variety of surfaces. As consumers increasingly became aware of the product’s cleaning, disinfectant and deodorizing power as well as its natural insect repellent properties, No Grit quickly became a hit, attracting the attention of local retailers.

BREATH O’ PINE HITS SUPERMARKET SHELVES
Brondow was founded in 1943 (incorporated in 1947) and No Grit was renamed Breath O’ Pine after numerous Bronx area grocery and hardware stores began carrying the company’s product.

In the late 1950s and early 60s, with distribution throughout the northeast and sales approaching $1 million, Breath O’ Pine’s signature glass bottle was changed to a metal can. To keep up with steadily increasing demand, Brondow relocated its manufacturing and distribution facilities to a larger location in Tuckahoe, NY during the late ‘60s.

In 1986, a fire destroyed the company’s manufacturing and distribution facility. Through the dedication of our management team and the encouragement of our customers, Brondow rebuilt its Tuckahoe facility and Breath O’ Pine once again rolled off the production lines.

60 YEARS LATER
Sixty years and 75 million bottles later, the Breath O’ Pine brand has grown significantly. Breath O' Pine has become a tradition in many homes and today still attracts new generations of families who have come to rely on the quality and value of this multi-purpose surface cleaner/disinfectant.

Today, Breath O’ Pine is among the top 10 selling pine cleaners in the New York Market and is available in 15 and 28-oz bottles in stores throughout the northeast and parts of the mid-Atlantic.