The RONA hardware store chain announced a new series of job cuts on Tuesday, affecting 300 workers, including 180 in Quebec.
The company said in an emailed statement to QMI Agency that it wanted to “simplify.” [ses] Improve operations and eliminate inefficiencies that have arisen in recent years.
As a result, the Company will close its distribution center in Terrebonne and a distribution center in Calgary in March 2024 to consolidate its operations in other offices.
“We are moving to a more agile, simpler and collaborative corporate structure that will allow us to better meet the needs of Canadian customers. These adjustments to our structure resulted in the elimination of approximately 300 jobs in our operational and sales network nationwide,” RONA explained.
In Quebec, 115 workers lost their jobs at its Boucherville headquarters, which employed about 1,550 people. In addition to this number, there are approximately 40 employees affected by the consolidation of sales activities and 25 employees in the branches, according to the company.
“Decisions like this are never made lightly, but we are confident that these changes will positively impact RONA Inc. a stronger company for the years to come,” commented the company, which includes the RONA, Réno-Dépôt and Dick’s Lumber banners.
RONA, a former Quebec flagship, was bought eight years ago by American giant Lowe's, which eventually sold its Canadian hardware stores to private equity firm Sycamore Partners a year ago.
Since then, one job cut after another has been announced, with 500 job cuts announced last June. In Boucherville, 25 workers were also temporarily laid off in November due to a surplus of staff, Le Journal de Montréal reported.