Peter Barretto
President & CEO

“TORLYS is committed to creating the most beautiful and practical flooring available but, not at the expense of the planet."

Peter Barretto is President and CEO of the TORLYS and shares ownership equally with partners Anibal Claudino and Fernando Luz. Hailing from the small town of Grimsby, Ontario, he joined TORLYS in 1991 heading up the transition of a local building-supplies wholesaler into the international flooring company we are today. TORLYS will celebrate their 20th Anniversary in 2008.

Peter's energy and ability to spark imagination, innovation, and

excitement throughout the organization has been a key component of TORLYS success. Peter’s optimism, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, and “Can Do” spirit leads the TORLYS team through times of change with conviction and determination.

Peter's passion for building and renovation lead him into the construction industry. From his part time job at Cashway Building Centers in 1979 loading lumber, he progressed to Assistant Store Manager and in the mid ‘80’s took a position as Product Manager with lumber giant MacMillan Bloedel refining his knowledge of the hardwood flooring business promoting Bruce Hardwood Floors.

In 1988, Peter made the entrepreneurial plunge and developed the hardwood flooring division for Woodstock Forest Products and quickly thereafter joined Xylotech, a small manufacturer of unfinished hardwood flooring, and in a short period of time, tripled their business. He joined TORLYS in 1991 as Marketing Director and became President & CEO in the year 2000.

In 2002, due to TORLYS success in launching the Quick-Step program in Canada, Peter was asked to start up their USA program and became the President & CEO of Quick-Step USA Inc. while maintaining his TORLYS role and responsibilities. After the initial team and strategy was in place, Peter handed off the role to his Belgian counterparts and concentrated 100% of his energies back on TORLS Inc.

Peter has been actively involved in numerous flooring industry associations: FIO, NWFA, Euparal, and most recently the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) where he serves as Co-Chairperson for the Marketing Committee. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization, and Moderator for his forum group.

TORLYS vision is “To Be A World Leader In Floating Floors,” and Peter focuses all of his energy on leading the charge. 100% of TORLYS floors are Environmentally Engineered to minimize the ecological impact on the planet. TORLYS want to “Change the way the World THINKS about Flooring” and challenges the status quo by encouraging people to RETHINK their flooring choice with TORLYS Reduce-Renew-Reuse product benefits.

Peter and his wife Rochelle live north of Toronto with their two young sons.