Rona (store)
RONA is Canada's leading distributor and retailer in hardware, home improvement and gardening products, founded in 1939. Rona operates a network of some 540 stores of various sizes and types. More than 16,000 employees in all regions of Canada work under the various banners. The Rona network represents almost 1 million square metres and annual sales approaching $ 3 billion. The company holds an 11% share of its nationwide market. The corporate headquarters is located in Boucherville, Quebec. Administration centres are located in Surrey, British Columbia and Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.
History
In 1982 Ro-Na purchased the assets of Botanix. In 1984, it merged with Ontario-based Home Hardware Stores Ltd. to create Alliance RONA Home Inc. In 1988, it merged with Dismat, another building materials company, to create Ro-Na Dismat Group Inc.In 1990, it formed an alliance with Hardware Wholesalers Inc. of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1997, a France-based group, ITM Entreprises S.A. invested $30 million in the Ro-Na Dismat Group Inc. ITM became a shareholder and formed a purchasing alliance with Ro-Na. In 1998, Ro-Na eliminated the Le Quincailleur and Dismat names and introduced RONA L'express, RONA L'express Matériaux and RONA Le Rénovateur Régional. It also changed its name from Ro-Na Dismat Group Inc. to RONA Inc. In, 1999 RONA opened a new warehouse adjacent to its headquarters, measuring 654,000 square feet, doubling its warehousing capacity and achieving considerable cost savings. In the new millenium (2000) RONA acquired Cashway Building Centres, with 66 stores. It permanently opens its online store on the rona.cawebsite. In 2001 it acquired 51 Revy, Revelstoke and Lansing stores and thus owning many more stores in the Greater Toronto Area. In 2002 RONA closed a public offering consisting of a total offering of $150,1 millions of Common Shares. RONA's Common Shares were then traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "RON". In 2003 RONA acquired Réno-Dépôt Inc. from British Kingfisher plc, including Building Box stores.
RONA Names
RONA Botanix RONA Building Center RONA Cashway RONA Hardware RONA Home & Garden RONA Home Centre RONA L'entrepôt RONA L'express RONA matériaux RONA Lancing RONA Le Quincailler RONA Rénovateur RONA Rénovateur régional