RONA Bradford celebrates 100 years in business

With a solid reputation and remarkable resilience, the local hardware store marks a major milestone in its history this year

Boucherville, QC – May 13, 2019 – Lowe’s Canada, one of Canada’s leading home improvement companies, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of RONA Bradford, a business that built a solid reputation for quality products, competitive prices, a friendly atmosphere and customer service-oriented employees. Originally under the name Spence Lumber and founded by James Spence in 1919, the business operated as a lumber yard until the trend of home renovation and DIY repairs inspired a move and expansion several decades later. In 1990, the business moved to its current site where it occupies 6,000 square feet of retail space and over four acres of lumber yard. Soon after, it became a building supply centre in order to better cater to the changing needs of the marketplace.

In 2008, Dennis Doidge and his business partner Ted Minty bought the Bradford business. They eventually went on to create Doidge Building Centres in 2017 by bringing together other home improvement businesses they acquired in Ontario over the last two decades. Soon after, Doidge Building Centres became proud RONA affiliate dealers. Today, the Doidge Group remains an independent, family-run business featuring six locations in Ontario, namely Kincardine, Miller Lake, Bracebridge, Fort Erie, Bradford, and Welland. Mr. Doidge is proud of the heritage that RONA Bradford brings to Doidge Building Centres.

“At the time we acquired the store in Bradford, we were very impressed with its reputation and humbled by its incredible history in our community. After navigating the pre- and post-war economy, as well as changes in trends and customer needs over the defining decades of modern times, we knew this store would become a large and important acquisition that would position us for continued growth and success in the long run,” said Dennis Doidge, President, Doidge Building Centres. “We thank our valued customers for their loyalty and for continuing to trust RONA Bradford with their home improvement needs for 100 years.”

“We’re proud to continue building on the store’s rich history in serving our community,” said Brad Bartlett, Branch Manager, RONA Bradford. “This important milestone couldn’t have been reached without our employees and customers over the years. As we look forward to the many more years to come, thank you for your support!”

“It’s a privilege to have RONA Bradford among our affiliated dealer stores,” said Philippe Element, Vice-President, RONA & Ace Sales and Dealer Support. “We are continuously impressed by their dedication to their business and customers. Congratulations for this incredible milestone to the entire RONA Bradford team, past and present, for fostering a successful business over a century.”

About RONA

Created in 1939, RONA is a banner of Lowe’s Canada, one of Canada’s leading home improvement companies headquartered in Boucherville, Quebec. Spanning the entire country, its vast network of more than 400 stores includes both corporate stores and independent affiliated dealers stores. Known for its large in-store and online product selection as well as for its installation services, RONA also provides expert support and advice to its retail and pro customers for their building and renovation projects. For more information, visit rona.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2018 sales of $71.3 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operates or services more than 600 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Ace and Dick’s Lumber. In Canada, the companies have more than 28,000 associates, in addition to approximately 5,000 employees in the stores of independent affiliate dealers operating under the RONA and Ace banners. For more information, visit lowescanada.ca.