RONA inc., one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers operating or servicing some 425 corporate and affiliated stores under different banners, is starting its transition plan to make RONA the leader of the Canadian home improvement sector.

RONA announces the beginning of the Lowe’s stores’ conversion to the RONA banner, an iconic brand that has served communities across the country since its founding in Québec in 1939. The conversions will start at the end of July 2023 and will take place over several months. The first ten Lowe’s stores to be converted, all located in Ontario, are the following:

• Lowe’s Ancaster

• Lowe’s Brantford
• Lowe’s Cambridge
• Lowe’s Hamilton
• Lowe’s Kitchener
• Lowe’s Niagara Falls
• Lowe’s Sarnia
• Lowe’s Waterloo
• Lowe’s Windsor
• Lowe’s Windsor East

All Lowe’s stores that will be converted, will bear the brand-new RONA+ banner. “This is an important step in our vision for the future of RONA,” explained Catherine Laporte, Vice-President, Marketing at RONA inc. “With these conversions, we are making a significant investment and renewing our commitment to the RONA brand. The new RONA+ banner is the first step in a wider plan aimed at redefining how Canadians shop for home improvement, creating new opportunities to improve how we serve them.

RONA’s priority during this transition is to provide the best possible experience for their home improvement DIY and contractor customers. Employees will continue to serve them with the same passion and expertise. All converted stores will remain open during the conversions, guarantees offered by Lowe’s will be honoured, gift cards will still be accepted and private brands will remain in the stores’ offering. RONA will also continue to maintain its commitment to Canadian vendors and its affiliated dealer network, who are a key component of the company’s vision.

“This news is positive for all our stakeholders, including RONA’s employees, affiliated dealers, vendors, customers and the communities in which RONA’s operates,” added Laporte. “For close to 85 years now, RONA has been a household name standing for great service, exciting product and brand assortments, good value, and a strong sense of community. We want to build on that and create momentum for this beloved Canadian-operated brand. We recently redefined the mission of the RONA Foundation, which plays an essential role in the vision we have for the future of RONA, a leader that not only challenges and improves how the industry serves Canadians, but who also shows up in meaningful ways to support communities across the country.”