GlaxoSmithKline which is headquartered in Brentford was a originally formed by the merger between Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. In turn, Glaxo Wellcome came into existence through the merging of Burroughs Wellcome & Company and Glaxo Laboratories while SmithKline Beecham came from the merging of Beecham and SmithKline Beckman.

Founded in Bunnythorpe, New Zealand a hundred years back, the Glaxo company was initially a baby food manufacturer that is involved in the production infant food through processing of local milk From 1930s, this baby food was sold using the slogan, “Glaxo builds bonny babies”. You can still find the Glaxo logo at an abandoned dairy factory located on the main street of Bunnythorpe. Back then, there was no clue or indication that shows this company will become a multinational conglomerate in the future.
Glaxo eventually became Glaxo Laboratories in 1935 and even opened some of its offices in London. And in 1843, Thomas Beecham introduced his Beecham’s Pills laxative in England which led to the founding of the Beecham Group. The Beechams opened its first laboratory in Lancanshire for mass production of medicines in 1859. During the 1960’s this company was very much involved with the pharmaceutical business.

On the other hand, John K. Smith was able to put up his first pharmacy in Philadelphia and eventually Smith, Kline and Company formed a merging with the French, Richard and Company. Afterwards, management changed the company’s name into Smith Kline & French Laboratories with its focus on mainly on research.