Lowe's Canada

Lowe's Canada, Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary (formerly)
Industry	Retail (Home improvement)
Founded	2007
Defunct	2024
Fate	Sold to Sycamore Partners; rebranded as Rona+
Headquarters	Boucherville , Canada
Area served	Canada
Key people	Sylvain Prud'homme (CEO)
Products	Home improvement products, garden centres
Parent	Lowe's (until 2023)

Lowe's Canada, Inc. functioned as the Canadian branch of the American home improvement retailer Lowe's.

The company made its debut in the Canadian market in 2007, initially focusing on growth within Ontario before expanding into additional provinces. In 2016, Lowe's completed a CDN$3.2 billion acquisition of Canadian competitor Rona Inc., integrating its store brands and relocating corporate functions to Rona’s headquarters located in Boucherville, Quebec. Following this acquisition, several Rona outlets were converted to the Lowe's brand.

In November 2022, Lowe's declared its intention to divest its Canadian business to Sycamore Partners for $400 million. Upon closing the transaction in 2023, Sycamore initiated a rebranding strategy that phased out the Lowe's name in Canada, replacing it with the Rona+ brand.

History

The inaugural Lowe's store outside the U.S. was established in Hamilton, Ontario. At its peak, Lowe's operated over 2,355 stores across the United States, Canada, and Mexico; however, its Mexican locations were shuttered in the late 2010s.

The Canadian expansion commenced on December 10, 2007, with openings in Hamilton, Brampton, and Brantford. By early 2008, additional outlets launched in Toronto, East Gwillimbury, a second site in Brampton, and Maple (Vaughan). The company extended westward by opening three stores in Calgary between late 2010 and early 2011. By 2018, Lowe's maintained 62 stores throughout British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, investing an average of $20.5 million (US$20.4 million) per location.

In 2012, Lowe's made an unsuccessful bid to acquire Quebec-based hardware chain Rona, Inc. due to opposition from shareholders and franchisees concerned about possible centralization of supply operations favoring the U.S.

In February 2013, Sylvain Prud'homme—formerly with Walmart Canada and Loblaw Companies—was appointed CEO of Lowe's Canada.

On May 11, 2015, Lowe's Canada purchased leases for 13 former Target Canada stores along with an Ontario distribution center for $151 million.

On February 3, 2016, Lowe's announced plans to acquire Rona for CDN$3.2 billion, subject to regulatory approval. The acquired division retained Prud'homme as CEO and operated from Rona’s Boucherville headquarters. Post-merger, Lowe's preserved Rona’s retail banners, retained key executives, and kept most employees. Additionally, forty Rona Home & Garden stores in major urban areas were rebranded under the Lowe's name.

In November 2022, Lowe's agreed to sell its Canadian business—including both Lowe's and Rona locations—to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $400 million. Subsequently, the Lowe's brand was retired in Canada and replaced by Rona. The transaction was finalized on February 3, 2023. On July 27, 2023, the process began to convert former Lowe’s Canada outlets to the new Rona+ branding.

Associated brands

• Kobalt tools
• EGO
• allen+roth