RONA Opens Satellite Store in New Westminster

BOUCHERVILLE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Oct. 25, 2012) -

Editors' Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

RONA inc. (TSX:RON)(TSX:RON.PR.A), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, celebrated yesterday the opening of the new RONA Home Center Columbia Square store at 1015 Columbia Street in New Westminster, British Columbia. This is the second of 10 satellite stores whose opening was announced earlier this year.

The RONA satellite store is a convenient neighbourhood store where customers can benefit from expert advice and a basic selection of hardware products.

The New Westminster store is a 7,900 square feet surface that offers a range of some 8,100 products in key categories. In addition, the store's customers benefit from the vast selection of products at the nearest big-box store (24-hour delivery) and the 30,000 products available at www.rona.ca.

"We're proud of this new addition to our already extensive store network in British Columbia," said Bob Imai, Director, Regional Operations, at RONA. "This formula brings us closer to Canadian consumers by taking into account the new socio-economic realities they face," he added.

In total, RONA now has four satellite stores (in Granby, Quebec; Georgetown, Ontario; Calgary, Alberta; and New Westminster, British Columbia).

Photo caption

RONA Home Center Columbia Square store in New Westminster, British Columbia (BC) celebrated its opening on October 24. On the picture, John Gatti, Store Manager, Bob Imai, Director, Regional Operations, Stuart Gibb, Director of Market Development in BC, Colin Keating, Assistant Store Manager, all from RONA, Wayne Wright, Mayor of New Westminster and Bill Harper, City Councillor, New Westminster.

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 material 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 sales outlets and four distribution centres across the country.

In total, RONA supplies nearly 1,500 sales 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 in every region of Canada, the RONA store network generates consolidated sales of $4.8 billion and more than $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.

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