RONA Brings Home Improvement Close to Home in the Community of Douglasdale/Glen, Alberta

BOUCHERVILLE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 20, 2012) - RONA inc. (TSX:RON)(TSX:RON.PR.A), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, today opened a new generation satellite store located at 11520, 24th Street SE, Calgary, Alberta (in the community of Douglasdale/Glen). This store is the first of ten satellite stores to come in the next 18 months as announced last February under RONA's New Realities, New Solutions plan. The Douglasdale/Glen location offers 5,400 square feet retail space, 7,500 different products in stock, and access to over 30,000 sku available on www.rona.ca.

"The new generation of satellite stores is based on our ongoing analysis of consumer expectations and behaviours and insight from operating various sizes of stores across our network. Satellite stores are meant to be located much closer to consumers; in this case the area of the DouglasdaleGlen community", said Luc Rodier, Executive Vice President, Retail, at RONA. "In this format we find a higher level of expertise, a great selection of products in key categories, and access to RONA's nationwide product selection for renovation and maintenance projects," Rodier added that this store model was successfully tested in 2011 in Georgetown, Ontario and Granby, Quebec. These stores address opportunities in RONA's existing store network by tailoring even further the offering to customer's local needs. Both stores tested in 2011 delivered strong sales growth and positive contribution to earnings within a year.

"The satellite store is a complete RONA store, in a smaller footprint. It is the path of the future for the brand in bricks & mortar out West and it reflects the reality of our consumers", said General Manager, Rob Hickson. "If we don't have it in store we will order for our customers online or through other stores of our network." He added that his team is ready to provide customers with the valuable advices and the attentive service typically found in a proximity store.

The store has separate departments for paint, hardware, electrical, tools as well as specialized departments for plumbing and flooring. Doors and windows, as well as building materials are available on special order. At home designer services, linked trough McLeod Trail location store are available to customers. Finally, the location offers delivery and provides specialized services such as installation, project design, special orders and financing.

RONA Foundation donation

Because RONA wants to do it right in Calgary, RONA Executive Vice President, Luc Rodier and General Manager Rob Hickson, on behalf of the RONA Foundation, presented a check of $2,500 to Jane Cooper, Manager at the Vermilion Energy / YWCA Skills Training Centrer. The contribution reflects RONA Foundation's efforts to help build better communities. The RONA Foundation was created in 1998 to help young people from the age of 12 to 30, by supporting local organizations and projects that fight school drop-out and illiteracy or offer training to prepare youth for a trade or occupation.

About RONA

RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products. The Corporation operates a network of more than 800 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats under several banners, and a network of 14 hardware and construction-materials distribution centres which are flexible and perfectly adapted to the diverse needs of its clientele. RONA is also a leader in the specialized plumbing and HVAC market, primarily serving commercial and professional customers with a network of close to 60 outlets across the country.

In total, RONA supplies nearly 1,500 outlets, of which more than 830 are under one of its banners, as well as close to 600 clients, independent dealers, in its distribution network. With close to 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every region of Canada, the RONA store network generates consolidated sales of $4.8 billion and over $6 billion taking into account the total impact of the retail sales of franchise dealers, affiliates and other independent dealers who buy their supplies at RONA. For more information, visit www.rona.ca.