George Weston - World War

World War

With World War I being fought in Europe, supply shortages forced the company to discontinue some lines of biscuits but George Weston Limited struggled through and remained profitable. The company also played a part in the war effort, supplying biscuits to Canadian troops overseas. One photograph, taken in front of the Weston’s Biscuit Factory, showed delivery wagons with banners that read, "For Our Soldier Boys Fighting in France." The war also personally touched George Weston and family, with eldest son Garfield volunteering for overseas duty as a "Sapper" in the Canadian Expeditionary Force from 1917 to 1919. While in uniform Garfield toured the world famous British biscuit factories and came away convinced that a similar, high quality product could be successfully manufactured and marketed in Canada. It was also during this time that George Weston considered selling the company. Distraught over the death of his youngest son in a tragic accident and not sure his eldest son would return from the trenches of France, he received an offer from competitor Christie, Brown and Company to buy George Weston Limited. Not knowing what to do, he wrote to Garfield asking for his advice. Garfield wrote back, asking his father not to sell and telling him to hold on until his return from the war.