Reading Time: 2 minutes

Last Updated on August 19, 2025

HM Royal marks its 100th anniversary as a leading chemical supplier. Founded in 1925 the company has served the industries that keep our world moving for over a century. From humble beginnings on Pennington Avenue in Trenton, NJ, to becoming a trusted, nationwide distributor of specialty chemicals and raw materials, HM Royal’s story is a testament to the power of family values, entrepreneurial spirit and relationships that stand the test of time.

Over the past century, HM Royal has grown from a one-truck operation delivering rubber materials to a coast-to-coast specialty chemical supplier.

From One Truckload to a Coast-to-Coast Partner

In 1925, Horace “Kid” Royal, Jr. saw opportunity where others saw risk. He borrowed warehouse space, bundled up rubber materials, and delivered them personally to local rubber companies. That first truckload — financed with the help of family and paid off by sheer hustle — laid the foundation for what would become a thriving, multi-generational chemical supplier business.

As America expanded west, so did HM Royal. Ed Royal, Kid’s brother, packed up and opened the company’s California branch in 1929. Through the decades, the Royals invested in their own trucking fleet — RoBoTo, named for Royal’s three sons — to deliver with care and reliability. From the post-war boom to the rise of the automotive industry, HM Royal adapted, innovated, and grew alongside its customers.

Built on Relationships — and a Little Grit

Ask anyone who’s worked with HM Royal and they’ll tell you: this company is about people. From fishing adventures off the coast of California in the 1920s to “tailgate meetings,” and “beer summits” to today’s Zoom calls, the Royal family and their team know that business is personal.

It’s a legacy carried on by generations. Stories of handwritten postcards between coasts, Friday customer deliveries in the trunks of Oldsmobiles, and fishing trips that sealed lifelong partnerships all speak to the same theme: at HM Royal, relationships come first — a trait that sets them apart as a chemical supplier committed to long-term partnerships.

Resilience Through Change

Over a century, HM Royal has weathered wars, recessions, the rise and fall of industries, and even a global pandemic. At each turn, the company found ways to reinvent itself. From diversifying into thermoplastics and adhesives when rubber manufacturing shifted, to embracing new technology with the RoyCom computer system, to guiding customers through sustainability and innovation today — HM Royal’s grit and adaptability shine through.

Looking Ahead: The Next 100 Years

What does the future hold? According to the Royal family, it’s about staying true to what got them here:

• Being entrepreneurial: Finding new ways to serve customers and markets.
• Being customer focused: Always putting relationships first.
• Really caring: Supporting employees and partners like family.
• Being great team players: Lifting each other up and delivering on promises.

As the company moves into its second century, sustainability, innovation and people remain at the heart of HM Royal’s mission. Whether it’s reducing environmental impact, embracing new technologies, or investing in the next generation of industry experts, HM Royal is ready to build an even bolder legacy.

Thank You for 100 Years — Here’s to the Next Century

HM Royal’s story is more than the materials they deliver — it’s the trust they’ve earned, the partners they’ve helped succeed, and the family legacy they carry forward with every shipment.

To every customer, employee, and partner who has been part of this extraordinary journey: thank you. The best is yet to come from your trusted chemical supplier.