Home Hardware President and CEO Honoured with Retail Hall of Fame Award

ST JACOBS, ON, June 2 /CNW/ - Paul Straus, President and CEO of Home Hardware Stores Limited, was inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame earlier this week, by the Retail Council of Canada (RCC). The induction, one of the Canadian retailing industry's top honours, took place in Toronto at the RCC's annual Excellence in Retailing Awards dinner.

"This recognition reflects the strength of the entrepreneurial spirit and ambition of Home Hardware's 1,070 independent Dealers across Canada," said Paul Straus, President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "Without their hard work and determination to make independent retailing in Canada not only a possibility, but a profitable career path, I would not be receiving this honour."

Paul Straus has worked for Home Hardware since its founding in 1964. Straus became Vice-President Controller of Home Hardware in 1978, Vice-President Finance and Administration in 1985 and was appointed Executive Vice-President and General Manager on January 1, 1989. On April 19, 1999 he was appointed Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer. At the Company's annual Shareholders meeting in April, 2010 he was appointed President and CEO.

"Mr. Straus is passionate about the future of Canadian retail," said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada. "He has made a considerable commitment to dealer and employee education at Home Hardware and actively promotes the tremendous prospects of retail as a career. His work benefits the entire industry and helps to build the next generation of leaders in retailing."

Inductees to the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame are executives working in retail who have demonstrated leadership in advancing and promoting retail as a career within their company and in the industry, and are strong advocates of retail education and training.

Past winners of the award include: Fred Singer, Henry Singer Fashion Group (2009), Stephen Bebis, Golf Town (2008), Steve Matyas, STAPLES Business Depot (2007), George Heller, Hudson's Bay Company and Harry Rosen, Harry Rosen Inc. (2006), Christine Magee and Steve Gunn, Sleep Country Canada (2005) and Mario Pilozzi, Wal-Mart Canada (2004).

About Home Hardware Stores Limited

Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with 1,070 stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Dealers have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products and the company has annual retail sales of $4.85 billion. The cooperative was founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers.

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For further information: Rob Wallace, Home Hardware Stores Limited, [phone], [email protected]