Montreal, Quebec, Oct. 1, 2003 — Responding to growing competition from Big Box outlets, Quebec’s independent hardware retailers are teaming up with a formidable ally with the arrival in the province of the ACE banner.

Owned by Montreal-based Sodisco-Howden Group, the ACE banner is already prominent across Canada, and its entry into the Quebec market, in which more than 40 Ferplus and Bâtitout outlets are to be converted into ACE Quincaillerie and ACE Matériaux stores, is part of an expansion process that should see more than 200 stores operating across the country by the end of 2004.

With the slogan ”The Helpful Place”, ACE practices a business approach that is predicated on being attentive to the needs of its customers – consumers and entrepreneurs alike – a philosophy that has been successful for Sodisco-Howden with independent retailers.

“We want to uphold the tradition of the local hardware store, where the customers have a special relationship with the merchant-owner,” said Lucie Désilets, Business Development Manager for Sodisco-Howden. “The renovation market is growing tremendously in Quebec, but consumers haven’t found the proliferation of the Big Box stores to be the solution to all of their needs. Our goal is to bring everything back to a more human scale, where consumers will find retailers who are interested in their projects and who take the time to offer advice.”

With more than 5,000 stores in 62 countries, the ACE banner has a vast network of resources, and its customized marketing services enable independent hardware retailers to be masters of their destiny while benefiting from the purchasing power of Sodisco-Howden Group.

“It’s reassuring to see a banner the size of ACE getting back to the basics, which is offering personalized service in a warm, friendly environment, “ remarked Mario Lachance, owner of Quincaillerie Métabetchouan, a hardware store in the Saguenay region. “The latest trends led me to fear the worst in terms of the survival of the independent hardware stores, but the arrival of ACE is a sound strategic move that provides us with the tools to approach the future with optimism. The ACE banner holds itself to very high standards, and I’m confident that local consumers are going to embrace the principles that have made it a success story worldwide.”

In the United States, the ACE hardware chain – which originated from a group of retailers in the Chicago area in 1924 – has $13 billion in annual sales and boasts more than 8,500 private brand products, including a full line of paints.

Sodisco-Howden Inc. is a leading hardware products distributor to the home improvement industry, serving hardware retailers and home renovation centres across Canada. With distribution centres across Canada, Sodisco-Howden sells to approximately 1,800 retailers.

Information: Lucie Désilets Business Development Manager Sodisco-Howden Group Tel.: (514) 286-8986 -- ext. 2084

Paule Genest / Louis Payette Media relations Torchia Communications Tel.: (514) 288-8290