CEO Robert Dutton said, in a presentation Monday to the Canadian Club of Montreal, that the company is planning on opening about 250 stores over the next four years. There will be a particular bent on increasing its presence in Ontario and Western Canada.
Most of this expansion will come from acquiring smaller, independent stores. And about eight big-box outlets will be added, bringing the Montreal-based retailer's total to 56.
Dutton also said the company is preparing to enter the United States.
Dutton said independent stores are approaching Rona, seeking help because they can't compete with the bigger stores like his company, Home Depot Inc. and Home Hardware Stores Inc. The latter two also have market shares of about 13 per cent each.
He predicted: "In five years, only two giants will survive, and Rona will be one of them."
