RONA Opens New Store in Repentigny

REPENTIGNY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 23, 2011) -

Editors Note: A photo for this release will be available via Marketwire's website.

RONA inc. (TSX:RON), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, opened a new store in Repentigny today. Located at 118 Industrial Boulevard, the new 35,000-square-foot store is owned by RONA and the Prud'homme family, and will contribute to boost the local economy with an investment of $16 million and the creation of some 70 new jobs.

"We are very proud and enthusiastic to be opening this new store in Repentigny today, and we're excited to be teaming up with the Prud'homme family, who have more than 50 years of retail experience in the Lanaudière region," said Mario St-Louis, RONA's vice president of retail for Quebec. "This store is part of the new generation of RONA proximity stores. It features all the latest innovations in terms of specialized services and offers a wide range of products, all laid out in an enhanced shopping environment – friendlier and more efficient to allow us to better serve the local community by offering the unique shopping experience that has made the RONA banner so popular."

"The new RONA Repentigny combines the vast shelf space of a big box store and the quality service of a neighbourhood store with an unsurpassed selection of products and personalized service and advice," said Jean Prud'homme, co-owner of the store. "It includes departments designed to meet the wide-ranging needs of all our customers, male and female, do-it-yourselfers and professional contractors alike. On one hand, do-it-yourselfers can take advantage of departments dedicated to paint, mouldings, lighting fixtures, plumbing, doors and windows, and flooring. On the other hand, professionals and construction contractors will find all the products and services to meet their specific needs, including a lumberyard, tools and wrought iron. Customers come to us because they know they can count on the store team for the expertise and excellent service we built our reputation on over the years."

It is worth nothing that more than 50 years ago, Jean Prud'homme's parents, Ange-Albert and Jacqueline Prud'homme, opened their first business in Repentigny. Their 1500-square-foot general store grew steadily over the years, especially since 1980 when they established their association with RONA.

One-stop shopping

With a retail sales space of 35,000 square feet, the store includes a 12,000-square-foot outdoor gardening centre, a 10,000-square-foot indoor lumberyard with car service and an outdoor lumberyard covering 55,000 square feet. The store also offers a selection of between 15,000 and 18,000 different products, including building materials and finishing products.

"The entire team is delighted to welcome the people of Repentigny to an innovative store that offers quality products at competitive prices and a layout designed to help find products with ease," said store manager Alain Lajeunesse. "Our qualified personnel are devoted to guiding consumers in their construction and renovation projects by providing a full range of personalized services as well as helping them make eco-responsible choices. Our goal is to offer exceptional service to customers and contractors in the region."

The store also offers the services of highly qualified Project Guides who can provide assistance to help consumers complete their renovation projects step by step. RONA offers renovation and interior decoration suggestions and solutions as well with RONA by Design, decoration and design projects, conceptualized by experts in design and trends, and created to inspire and guide consumers in the completion of their renovation-decoration projects.

The specialized services offered at the new Repentigny store also include installation, delivery, cutting and a contractor desk.

RONA supports the local community

Many people from Repentigny took part in the opening ceremony, along with Mario St-Louis, RONA's vice president of retail for Quebec, members of the Prud'homme family and store employees. Local dignitaries were also on hand, including Repentigny Mayor Chantal Deschamps, Repentigny MP Nicolas Dufour, and Olympic gold medallist Joannie Rochette, who participated in the Growing with our Athletes program. This RONA program supported 100 of Canada's best Olympic hopes at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

At the opening ceremony in Repentigny, the RONA Foundation made a donation of $2500 to Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi L'Assomption, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Carrefour's mission is to help young people in the region with their studies, employment prospects and in developing their entrepreneurial skills.

The RONA Foundation was created in 1998 to help young people 12 to 30 by supporting local organizations and projects that fight school drop-out and illiteracy or offer training to prepare young people for a trade or occupation.

About RONA

RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products. RONA operates a network of more than 950 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats. With close to 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every region of Canada and more than 17 million square feet of retail space, the RONA store network generates over $6 billion in annual retail sales. For more information, please visit www.rona.ca.