Throwback Thursday: 22 years ago, Ace Canada signed UFA ...

Throwback Thursday is a regular feature in which we dip into the archives of the Hardlines Weekly Report.

More than two decades ago this week, Ace Hardware Canada made news in the pages of Hardlines for finalizing a deal with United Farmers of Alberta to supply it with hardware. The deal, which closed in March 2002, aimed at expanding UFA’s focus beyond strictly farm products. It was the result of trials in two stores that began in mid-2001 after Ace beat out other suppliers for the program.

“We refurbished and tested in two stores, and based on the test results, UFA wanted to move forward and expand their hardlines assortment,” said Dunc Wilson, at the time vice-president of merchandising and marketing for Ace Hardware Canada (shown here post-Ace).

The program was to involve all 34 of UFA’s farm supply stores throughout Alberta.