News from BMR GROUP

Second store acquired in Sherbrooke for G. Doyon Renovation Centre
BMR Group is pleased to announce that Gilles Doyon, owner of BMR’s G. Doyon Renovation Centre in East Angus, has just acquired a second store in the area of Sherbrooke. The former Home Hardware, is located at 114 Laval Street in Bromptonville, located 25 kilometres from the first location. This new 6,900 square foot store will provide a similar service offering to the East Angus store. The new location will undergo renovations over the next few weeks to update the storefront with the BMR brand and colours.

Gilles Doyon has been a BMR dealer for 23 years and has been running his East Angus store with his two sons, Jessy and Jérémy Doyon. One day, the three entrepreneurs hope to each own their own BMR store! “I didn’t expect to be buying a second store right now,” said Doyon, “But when my sons told me about this opportunity, and with the whole BMR team ready to support us in this project, we decided to go ahead.” Doyon also said that he did not foresee that the current health crisis would slow his plans for expansion.

“It’s always an honour to see a dealer in our network feeling supported enough by our team to acquire a second store, which is a huge challenge,” said Pierre Nolet, Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development at BMR Group. “The fact that Mr. Doyon and his sons turned to us to take on their project is a testament to the great trust bond that we have with this family, which has been operating under our banner for more than 20 years. We wish them every success with this new store, and our team will be behind them to support them in achieving their business goals.”

News of the acquisition was received enthusiastically by the community, not least by the Bromptonville store staff, who were all able to keep their jobs despite the change in ownership. “We’re creating jobs, not taking them!” proclaimed Doyon, who was equally pleased with the smooth administrative transition and the support he received from BMR Group during the transaction. “It’s thanks to them that we were able to go ahead with the acquisition. We were really well supported, and they did a great job.”

 

BMR Group Continues to Court New Brunswick by Welcoming a New Dealer in Beresford
BMR Group is pleased to announce the arrival in its network of Chaleur Building Supplies, located at 757 Principale Street, in the town of Beresford, New Brunswick. The store, which has been part of the Pal Group since 1976, will now operate under the BMR Pro banner and serve a customer base mainly made up of contractors.

Chaleur Building Supplies is a family business that was started by the Doucet family 55 years ago. One of the family’s sons, Ludger Doucet, took up the reins of the store 30 years ago to ensure the longevity of the business, which employs fifteen people.

Major renovation work is being planned in the coming weeks for this 4,100 square foot store, including redesigning the interior so that it reflects the diversity of BMR’s offering and renovating the façade so that it displays BMR Group’s colours.

“I decided to embark on this adventure with BMR Group because of their solid reputation in the building materials category, but mostly because of the dynamism of the team, which proposed concrete solutions to help me further the development of my business,” explains the hardware store’s owner, Ludger Doucet. “The fact that I had become one of the last representatives of my previous group significantly limited the possibilities for growth,” he adds.

BMR Group team now has 12 stores in the New Brunswick. “To see a growing number of independent dealers from various Canadian provinces aligning themselves with our business model makes us incredibly proud,” says Pierre Nolet, Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development, BMR Group. “BMR is unquestionably the best banner there is for supporting family business owners like Mr. Doucet. It is the duty of our group to respect the history of each of the stores that join the network, while representing a preferred partner for the business development and growth of these businesses,” he says.

 

 

Antonio Di Pasquale appointed Vice President, Supply Chain and Operational Excellence
In mid-November, BMR Group welcomed a brand new member to its leadership team. Antonio Di Pasquale is joining the company as Vice President, Supply Chain and Operational Excellence.

Di Pasquale is an accomplished manager with over 20 years of experience in the field. In his new role, he will lead the development and optimization of BMR Group’s processes and strategies relating to procurement and demand planning. His work is sure to benefit all members of the BMR network and, above all, its customers.

Well known for his leadership skills, discipline and strong strategic vision, Di Pasquale is sure to be a major asset to BMR Group as it strives to accelerate its growth in Quebec and across Canada in the next five years. The company anticipates that he will not only meet its high standards of excellence and operational efficiency but raise them as well.

About BMR Group
BMR Group is a subsidiary of Sollio Cooperative Group, which brings together more than 300 home renovation centres and hardware stores in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritime provinces. BMR Group and its members make an estimated $1.3 billion in retail sales annually and employ some 8,000 people in BMR banner stores. We lead Quebec’s renovation industry, operating under the banners of BMR, La Shop BMR, Agrizone, and Potvin & Bouchard.