Rona's plans

The Canadian home improvement group Rona has plans to build around 20 new stores both this year and next, adding 40 more to bring the total of corporate and franchised stores to over 200 by the end of 2007. Half of the new outlets are destined to be big boxes. The result will be the addition of more than 185 000 m² of retail space to the group's total. What is more, it is intended to renovate 20 per cent of the store portfolio each year, and to continue to develop the private label programme. The aim here is to expand the line from 13 to 15 per cent of hardware sales by 2007. There will also in future be a special team to serve the company's trade customers, who are becoming increasingly significant. And in 2006 the marketing budget will be increased by 10 per cent to CA € 130 mio in order to enhance the company's visibility and drawing power.