Rona invests C$40M, including previous land purchases, to build two 52,000-sq.-ft., LEED-compliant Totem Building Supply stores in Edmonton in effort to increase market share in Alberta

Michelle Rivera

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec , November 4, 2010 (press release) – RONA inc. (TSX: RON), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, has officially announced the construction of two new 52,000-square-foot TOTEM stores, for a total investment of more than $40 million (including land purchased in previous years). The new stores are located in Edmonton and will be located at 1003 Parsons Road SW (corner of Ellerslie) and 18445 Stoney Plain Road. The locations of both sites were carefully chosen to allow RONA to better serve our growing customers and expand our market share in Alberta market. Together the two new stores in Edmonton will create some 100 new jobs in Alberta.

“We are proud to be expanding our network by opening the 19th and 20th TOTEM Building Supplies stores in Edmonton. Both stores are part of the new generation of TOTEMs, with all the advantages that make the banner so popular – the excellent customer service, the highest quality of lumber stocked in Alberta and a wide variety of products in every product category – all bundled into an efficient new environment that our customers enjoy,” explained RONA vice president of store operations and TOTEM general manager Dave Carr.

These investments reflect RONA’s integrated development strategy, which includes the consolidation of high-potential markets by opening new stores and developing RONA’s network of affiliate dealer- owners, acquisitions and customer growth. The integration of these development activities will lead to faster, more profitable growth of the RONA store network across the country.

The Parsons Road store, where construction work has already begun, will open in spring 2011. The Stoney Plain Road location is expected to open in 2012. Both locations will boast a 2-acre drivethrough lumberyard.

Seeking LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Both TOTEM stores will be built using LEED criteria for new buildings, and both are expected to receive LEED certification. “By reducing the environmental footprint of our new stores, we are keeping TOTEM’s impact on the environment to a minimum. The stores will offer the residents of Edmonton a building materials and hardware outlet that respects the environment as much as they do,” Carr added.

The evaluation criteria include measures to protect air quality, such as using low-emission materials in the construction (paint, adhesives and waterproofing materials), as well as steps to reduce energy consumption, such as an energy-efficient roofing system, additional insulation in the building envelope, T-5 compact fluorescent lighting, a high-end lighting control system (movement detectors), timers to adjust the lighting, air conditioning and heating throughout the day, and low-flow sanitation equipment.

Lumber from certified forests and locally manufactured materials will be used to build the stores. Bike racks, changing rooms and showers will be installed to encourage employees to cycle or walk to work.

About RONA
RONA, which is associated with service and quality, first initiated its presence in Alberta in 2001. Today, the Company boasts a network of 31 RONA stores as well as 18 TOTEM Building Supplies stores across the province. RONA has become a trusted destination for home renovation and construction, a dedicated employer of some 2,500 employees and a caring partner across the Alberta communities where the company is present.

RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products. RONA operates a network of nearly 700 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 16 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.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.