Lowe's Expands Internationally, Opens First Canadian StoresHome improvement retailer opens locations in South Brampton, Brantford, Hamilton
TORONTO, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lowe's Companies Canada, ULC
(Lowe's), a subsidiary of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW), today opened its
first three Canadian stores in the Greater Toronto Area, marking the home
improvement retailer's first international expansion. At 7 a.m., stores opened
in South Brampton, Brantford and Hamilton. Three additional stores are slated
to open February 1, and a seventh is planned to open shortly thereafter.
Lowe's has more than 15 additional Canadian sites in the pipeline in various
stages of development.
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"Today is about delivering on the promise we've made to Canadian customers
since we announced our decision to bring Lowe's passion for customer service
to Canada," said Don T. Stallings, president, Lowe's Canada. "Lowe's is ready
to meet the unique home improvement needs of Canadians with our everyday low
prices, products and services. Every customer presents a new opportunity to
deliver on that promise."
Stores in East Gwillimbury, North Brampton and Toronto are slated to open
February 1, followed by one in Maple. Lowe's announced in 2005 its intentions
to open its first stores in the Greater Toronto Area, with as many as 100
stores in Canada over time. Each new store creates up to 175 local jobs and
represents an average investment of more than $18.7 million CDN(1) ($18.5
million USD).
The company opened its Canadian headquarters in Toronto in 2006 and now
has more than 700 Canadian employees in the office and its stores. Lowe's
continues to hire employees for its upcoming stores and offers comprehensive
benefits for regular full-time and part-time positions. For more information,
visit www.lowes.ca/careers.
Lowe's investment in local communities goes beyond its retail locations.
The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation recently announced a $500,000
contribution to the YMCA of Greater Toronto for Camp Pine Crest as well as
local Toronto-area projects. In addition, employees have already volunteered
on home renovation projects with the Home Ownership Affordability Partnership
(HOAP) in Hamilton and participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the
"Lowe's Loop" fitness trail in Brantford'sFordview Park. Work on the trail
will begin in the spring.
"Lowe's has a long and proud history of giving something back to the
communities we serve," added Stallings. "Our focus is on education, safe and
affordable housing and community improvement projects for places that bring
people together. It's a commitment we take seriously, and all of us at Lowe's
Canada look forward to serving the community and truly becoming a part of it."
About Lowe's
With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a
FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 13 million customers a week at
more than 1,475 home improvement stores in 49 states in the U.S. and three
stores in Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is
the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more
information, visit lowes.ca.
(1) *Based on currency conversion rates as of Dec 7, 2007 as per Bank of
Canada
SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
