Avantis Cooperative acquires four new stores  

Sainte-Marie, May 16, 2025 — Avantis Cooperative, in collaboration with BMR, announces the acquisition of the assets and goodwill of the four Home Hardware L’Outilleur stores located in Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Saint-Henri, Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, and Sainte-Claire. These establishments, previously owned by Groupe Brochu, are recognized in the region as key providers of hardware, materials, and agricultural products. As of June 2nd, these stores will operate under the BMR banner, and all 120 employees will officially join Avantis Cooperative’s 1,200-strong team.

These four locations are situated in the heart of a territory where the cooperative had limited representation. For Avantis, this represents a natural regional alignment that complements and strengthens its position as a leader in home renovation centers in the region. The former owners, in entrusting their businesses to Avantis, have placed their trust in a well-established group capable of ensuring the continuity and sustainability of these businesses in the region. 

“This acquisition realizes our ambition to bring our services closer to the communities we serve and to create lasting value for our members. We are proud to continue the tradition of excellence built in the region by the Brochu family over the years, and we warmly thank them for their trust,” says Frédéric Martineau, President of Avantis Cooperative.

For BMR, the integration of these four branches consolidates its leading position in the home renovation and construction center market and perfectly meets customer needs.

“We are very pleased to welcome these new locations into our network and to further strengthen our presence in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. This expansion reflects the mutual commitment we share with our trusted partner, Avantis Cooperative, to offer our consumers quality products, personalized services, and exceptional customer service. Their local expertise, combined with a deep understanding of the communities they serve, makes Avantis a partner of choice to carry the values of excellence of the BMR banner even further,” emphasizes Alexandre Lefebvre, CEO of Groupe BMR.

Growth and Optimization

This transaction perfectly embodies the vision supported by Avantis in its strategic planning and the objectives aimed at accelerating the growth of its divisions.

“By combining the purchasing power and logistics network of Avantis and BMR with the talent of the teams on the ground, we are able to offer more comprehensive product lines, offered by local people, for local people. We are once again confirming our leadership in this strategic sector for Avantis’ development,” states Michel Delisle, CEO of Avantis Cooperative.

Over the coming weeks, the teams will work on the integration plan to ensure a smooth transition for employees and customers. In addition to coordinating the operational optimization of this transaction, the management team intends to identify and combine the best practices in place, both from the former L’Outilleur stores and those developed by BMR and Avantis. This acquisition will also eventually enhance the offering for contractors thanks to an expanded sales team and a new portfolio of services.

All financial details of the transaction remain confidential.