Labatt has deep roots in Canada stemming from its founder John Kinder. In 1847, a little more than a decade after arriving in London, Ontario from Ireland, John Kinder Labatt purchased London's Simcoe Street brewery in partnership with Samuel Eccles and by 1855 had become the brewery's sole proprietor. The brewery was later renamed John Labatt's Brewery, marking the beginning of one of Canada's largest and most successful companies.

In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew. Labatt is now part of the new company, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev).