Content about Boucherville, Quebec

Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA, the Canadian hardware retailer and distributor, saw a distribution sales increase of 8.7% in its second fiscal quarter of 2012, while retail and commercial sales rose 1.8%.

Beginning with the quarter, RONA changed the way it measures comparable-store sales. For the first time, the company is including distribution sales to affiliate dealers, and on that basis, same-store sales rose 1% in the second quarter.

Canadian retailer and distributor RONA has launched a “microsite” to combat what it considers  a hostile takeover attempt by U.S.-based Lowe’s, which currently operates 31 stores in Canada. On the microsite page, Rona gives the background of the $1.85 billion unsolicited bid from Lowe’s on July 8, and the reasons its board has decided against the proposal.

Canadian retailer and distributor RONA has invited Canadians to Plant Your Feet across the country, in celebration of the Summer Olympics, which kick off in London July 27.

A Canadian team sponsor, RONA is hosting an open ended 5,515 kilometer collective relay, and will plant a tree for every kilometer run.

Canadian retailer Rona will close 10 of its warehouse-sized stores by the end of the year, shifting its focus to the opening of 25 smaller-format units, the company announced on Feb. 24.

The new focus comes on the heels of a C$151 million loss posted for the company’s fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 25, 2011. This compares with a profit of C$20 million in the same period a year ago.

Net sales for the fourth quarter increased 2.6% to C$1.17 billion. Same-store sales were down 2.3% in the quarter.

Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA, the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, announced the appointment of Michelle Laberge as senior director of communications and public affairs. 

She will report to Claude Bernier executive VP marketing and customer innovations.

Laberge joins RONA from MSL Canada, a public relations agency where she was VP for its consumer division, representing clients such as Procter & Gamble, Indigo Chapters and Fujifilm

RONA, the largest Canadian retailer of hardware, renovation, and gardening products, has expanded their in-store paint recovery and recycling program to British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. RONA says it's now the first retailer to collect and recycle old and unused household paints from consumers in Western Canada.

Canadian home-improvement retailer RONA is still looking for commercial and pro-oriented acquisitions in the United States -- and it has as much as C$300 million (US$316 million) to spend, according to a Reuters article. 

RONA CEO Robert Dutton told Reuters in an interview last week that his Quebec-based company is focusing on U.S. distributors or commercial and professional-orientated units, rather than customer-facing retail stores. 

Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA opened a new Reno-Depot store in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The 102,000-sq.-ft. store is part of the company's "new generation" of stores.

The store is the 17th to carry the Reno-Depot banner. At the center of the store is the Project Space, a consultation area where customers can meet with experienced advisers -- called Project Guides -- to discuss their renovation projects.

Hardlines, the Toronto-based information service for the retail home improvement industry, presented its 2010 Newsmaker Award, and Hardware Merchandising magazine handed out seven Outstanding Retailer awards to Canadian hardware/home improvement retailers during the annual Hardlines Conference in Toronto.