Reno-Depot

Reno-Depot, formally styled Réno-Dépôt, was a Canadian home-improvement retail chain best known for its warehouse format and concentration in Quebec. The business sold renovation supplies, household hardware, building materials and related home products, generally positioning itself around a broad assortment and discount-oriented pricing rather than the smaller-format specialty-store model used by some other Canadian hardware retailers. Its name was often written as Réno-Dépôt in French and as Reno-Depot in English-language references. The chain originated in 1992 when Groupe Val Royal and Aikenhead's, both associated with the Molson Companies, announced plans to create warehouse stores inspired by the large-format home-improvement model developing in the United States. The first store opened in Brossard, Quebec. Additional branches followed in Anjou in Montreal in 1993, then Laval and Pointe-Claire in 1994, and Marché Central in Montreal and Quebec City in 1995. In 1995, the company adopted Réno-Dépôt as its corporate name, and a Saint-Hubert location opened the following year. Ownership changed as the chain developed. In 1997, the Michaud family and Molson Companies sold their majority interests to the French retailer Castorama. Kingfisher became Castorama's majority shareholder in 1998, bringing Réno-Dépôt into the orbit of one of Europe's major home-improvement groups. The chain continued expanding in Quebec and entered Ontario in 2000 through stores operating under the English-language name The Building Box. Rona, Inc. acquired Réno-Dépôt in September 2003. As part of the integration, the Ontario Building Box stores were converted to Rona Home & Garden locations. The acquisition supported Rona's effort to develop more large-format stores alongside its smaller specialty outlets and to compete more directly with The Home Depot. Réno-Dépôt nevertheless remained principally a Quebec banner. In 2013, following company-wide cost reductions, Rona repositioned Réno-Dépôt as a discount and wholesale-focused banner. The relaunch involved a narrower product selection and an emphasis on value-oriented shopping. Rona later attempted to extend the concept beyond Quebec: in 2015 it announced plans to reopen former Rona locations in Calgary, Alberta, and Aurora, Ontario, under the Reno-Depot name. Both experiments were short-lived; the Calgary location was slated for closure in 2018 and the Aurora location in 2019. The banner entered its final phase in 2024, when Rona began replacing Réno-Dépôt stores with Rona+ locations. The transition began with the Hull store in March, followed by the Charlemagne and Sherbrooke stores in April. By October 2024, the remaining Réno-Dépôt locations had been converted, ending the chain as a distinct retail banner. Its history reflects the consolidation of Canadian home-improvement retail, the adaptation of warehouse formats to regional markets, and Rona's repeated efforts to organize its banners around a smaller number of national and large-format brands.

Réno-Dépôt emerged during the early 1990s expansion of large-format home-improvement retail in Canada. In May 1992, Groupe Val Royal and Aikenhead's announced a partnership to develop warehouse stores inspired by the American home-center model. Both organizations were connected to the Molson Companies, which gave the venture access to established corporate and retail interests. The first store opened in Brossard, Quebec. A Montreal-area branch in Anjou followed in August 1993, and stores in Laval and Pointe-Claire opened in 1994. In 1995, the chain added locations at Marché Central in Montreal and in Quebec City; the company also adopted Réno-Dépôt as its corporate name. A Saint-Hubert store opened in 1996. The chain's ownership shifted in April 1997, when the Michaud family and Molson Companies sold their interests to Castorama, the French home-improvement group. In 1998, Kingfisher acquired a substantial shareholding in Castorama and became the majority shareholder, placing Réno-Dépôt within a larger international retail group. The business continued to focus on Quebec while testing growth beyond its home market. In 1999, it added a LaSalle location, and in 2000 it entered Ontario through stores branded The Building Box. Rona, Inc. acquired Réno-Dépôt in September 2003. The transaction formed part of Rona's strategy to strengthen its large-format presence and compete with The Home Depot while retaining smaller specialty stores elsewhere in its network. After the acquisition, the Ontario Building Box stores were converted to Rona Home & Garden locations, effectively ending that separate English-language expansion. Réno-Dépôt remained principally a Quebec banner under Rona ownership. In 2013, amid cost reductions across Rona, Réno-Dépôt was relaunched with a more explicitly discount and wholesale-oriented proposition. The revised concept carried a reduced product selection and emphasized value for renovation shoppers. Rona attempted a further geographic expansion in 2015 by announcing Reno-Depot stores in Calgary, Alberta, and Aurora, Ontario, using former Rona sites. The experiment did not become a sustained national network: the Calgary location was announced for closure in 2018, while the Aurora store was announced for closure in 2019. After those closures, the banner was again concentrated in Quebec. Rona ultimately consolidated the remaining Réno-Dépôt locations into its Rona+ network. The transition began in March 2024 with the Hull store and continued in April with the Charlemagne and Sherbrooke locations. By October 2024, all remaining stores had been converted to Rona+, ending Réno-Dépôt's existence as a separate operating banner. The chain's development therefore passed through several phases: a Quebec warehouse start-up, ownership by Castorama and Kingfisher, acquisition by Rona, a discount-format relaunch, limited out-of-province experiments, and final integration into Rona's newer large-format identity.

1. 2024Banner retired in favor of Rona+

   Rona converted the remaining Réno-Dépôt stores to Rona+ during 2024.

   Source
2. 2013Discount and wholesale relaunch

   Rona repositioned Réno-Dépôt as a discount wholesale-focused banner with a narrower assortment.

   Source
3. 2003Rona acquires the chain

   Rona, Inc. purchased Réno-Dépôt and converted the Ontario Building Box stores to Rona Home & Garden.

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4. 1998Kingfisher becomes majority shareholder of Castorama

   Kingfisher acquired a large block of Castorama shares and became its majority shareholder.

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5. 1997Castorama acquires majority interests

   The Michaud family and Molson Companies sold their interests in the chain to Castorama.

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6. 1995Company adopts Réno-Dépôt name

   The company changed its name to Réno-Dépôt as the Quebec store network expanded.

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7. 1992Warehouse-format venture announced

   Groupe Val Royal and Aikenhead's announced plans for large-format home-improvement stores under the Réno-Dépôt concept.

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8. 1992First Brossard store opens

   The first Réno-Dépôt location opened in Brossard, Quebec.

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A warehouse-style, value-oriented home-improvement retailer serving primarily Quebec, with brief expansion into Ontario and Alberta.

• Renovation suppliesHome improvement1992

  The chain's core assortment consisted of products used in household renovation and repair projects. Its warehouse presentation was designed to support practical, project-based shopping for customers undertaking improvements to homes and other residential spaces.

• Building materialsBuilding supplies1992

  Réno-Dépôt stores carried building and construction-related supplies as part of their large-format home-center model. The category supported the chain's positioning as a destination for renovation projects rather than a narrowly focused hardware shop.

• Household hardwareHardware1992

  Household hardware and related practical home products formed part of the chain's discount-oriented assortment. After the 2013 repositioning, the available selection was described as more limited and focused than in the earlier format.

• 2024Conversion of remaining stores to Rona+Strategy

  Rona was consolidating its large-format retail network around the Rona+ banner.

  What changed. Rona phased out Réno-Dépôt and converted the remaining locations to Rona+ during 2024.

  Aftermath. By October 2024, Réno-Dépôt no longer operated as a distinct retail banner.

  Source
• 2015Attempted expansion beyond QuebecStrategy

  Rona sought to extend the discount warehouse concept into additional Canadian markets.

  What changed. Rona announced Reno-Depot locations in Calgary and Aurora using shuttered Rona sites.

  Aftermath. The Calgary and Aurora locations were later announced for closure, and the chain returned to a primarily Quebec-based footprint.

  Source
• 2013Discount and wholesale-focused repositioningStrategy

  The repositioning followed company-wide cuts and a review of the chain's role within Rona's retail network.

  What changed. Rona relaunched Réno-Dépôt as a discount wholesale-oriented retailer and reduced the product selection.

  Aftermath. The banner continued mainly in Quebec, with later attempts to test the concept in Alberta and Ontario.

  Source
• 2003Rona acquisition and Ontario banner conversionM&A

  Rona sought more large-format stores to complement smaller specialty outlets and compete with The Home Depot.

  What changed. Rona acquired Réno-Dépôt and rebranded the Ontario Building Box stores as Rona Home & Garden.

  Aftermath. Réno-Dépôt remained primarily a Quebec banner within Rona's store portfolio.

  Source
• 1997Sale of majority interests to CastoramaM&A

  The Michaud family and Molson Companies were the majority shareholders of Réno-Dépôt before the transaction.

  What changed. They sold their interests in the company to the French home-improvement group Castorama.

  Aftermath. The transaction placed Réno-Dépôt under Castorama's ownership before Kingfisher became Castorama's majority shareholder the following year.

  Source

• 2024Rona begins replacing Réno-Dépôt stores with Rona+

  Rona started converting Réno-Dépôt stores to the Rona+ banner, beginning with Hull and continuing with Charlemagne and Sherbrooke before completing the remaining conversions later in the year.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2019Reno-Depot Aurora location scheduled to close

  The Aurora, Ontario location was announced for closure, leaving the chain once again concentrated in Quebec.

  Other
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• 2018Reno-Depot Calgary location scheduled to close

  The Calgary expansion location was announced for closure, reducing the banner's presence outside Quebec.

  Other
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• 2015Rona announces expansion of Reno-Depot outside Quebec

  Rona announced plans to reopen former Rona stores in Calgary and Aurora under the Reno-Depot banner.

  Other
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• 2015RONA announces Réno-Dépôt expansion into Alberta and Ontario

  RONA announced plans to reopen former RONA locations in Calgary and Aurora under the Reno-Depot banner, temporarily extending the brand beyond its Quebec base.

  Other
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• 2013Réno-Dépôt is relaunched as a discount-oriented banner

  Rona repositioned the chain around discount and wholesale-style shopping, with a reduced assortment following broader company cost reductions.

  Other
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• 2013Réno-Dépôt is repositioned as a discount wholesale banner

  The chain was relaunched after company-wide cuts with a reduced assortment and a stronger emphasis on discount and wholesale-oriented shopping.

  Pricing
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• 2003Rona acquires Réno-Dépôt

  Rona, Inc. acquired the chain and subsequently converted the Ontario Building Box stores into Rona Home & Garden locations.

  M&A
  Source
• 2000Réno-Dépôt enters Ontario under The Building Box name

  The chain expanded outside Quebec through Ontario stores operating under the English-language banner The Building Box.

  Other
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• 1992Groupe Val Royal and Aikenhead's announce Réno-Dépôt warehouse stores

  The companies announced the creation of a Canadian warehouse home-improvement format modeled on the emerging large-store approach used by major United States retailers.

  Other
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1. Réno-Dépôt
2. RONA宣布Réno-Dépôt扩展到阿尔伯塔省和安大略省