John O. Butler

Who is John O. Butler?

Dr. John O. Butler was a dentist and periodontist in Chicago, Illinois, and founder of the John O. Butler Company, manufacturer of toothbrushes, dental floss, and sundry oral-care products under the Butler and GUM brand names. The company was purchased in 1988 by Sunstar, Inc., a major Japanese manufacturer of personal care products, and in 2006 the John O. Butler Company adopted the name of its parent company, although the brand names Butler and GUM are still in use. John O. Butler Company provided Sunstar with both know-how and access to the U.S. market. Sunstar provided John O. Butler with production methodology and technical assistance.

Sunstar, Inc.. is a Swiss-based multinational group of companies with origin in Japan that manufactures health-care and beauty-care products, non-polluting construction materials, motorcycle parts, and adhesives for the automotive and electronics industries. It is the one of the world’s largest makers of oral hygiene products. The name ‘Sunstar’ refers to morning and evening.