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Lowe’s presence in Canada has been evolving over the past four years, with business acquisitions and branding changes included in the company’s growth strategy.
One of its newest changes is the rebranding of 17 home improvement stores Feb. 26 in Quebec, according to Lowe’s Canada.
The 17 stores are currently Marcil building centers, which are becoming RONA stores.
Lowe’s grew its Canadian presence rapidly when it bought home improvement company RONA for $2.3 billion in 2016. In addition, the U.S. company acquired four brands and licensing rights to the Ace Hardware name in Canada as part of the deal.
Lowe’s has been working to bolster both the 434-store RONA chain and Lowe’s in Canada. After Marcil’s rebranding, RONA will have 451 locations.
Lowe’s Canada has converted five RONA stores into Lowe’s stores, but has also opened new stores under the RONA name. As of January, Lowe’s had 62 stores in the country.
Switching Marcil to the more widely used RONA brand makes sense because the two companies similarly focus on lumber and contractor sales, Valerie Gonzalo, a Lowe’s Canada spokeswoman, tells Hardware Retailing.
Lowe’s bought into Marcil in 2005, and became the Canadian company’s sole owner in 2014. When it purchased RONA, Lowe’s also acquired 22 Reno Depot home improvement stores, two Contractor First businesses and three Dick’s Lumber outlets in Canada, according to Gonzalo.
Lowe’s is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and operates more than 2,370 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
