Screwfix’s digital capabilities helped steer the retailer to a 16.6% rise in sales (LFL 10.2%) in Q3. Outlet openings and new specialist ranges also helped guide it to growth, cementing its reputation as the star of the Kingfisher Group.
Fellow UK & Ireland chain B&Q saw sales fall 2.9% (LFL -1.9%), due in part to the completion of the store closure programme.
Over in France, Brico Dépôt saw sales drop 4.6% (LFL -5.2%) while Castorama sales fell 2.6% (LFL -3.2%). Kingfisher’s Polish arm saw sales rise 6.1% (LFL 6%).
Overall, Kingfisher Group Q3 sales were down 0.5%.
“Q3 has followed a similar course to the first half,” explained CEO Véronique Laury. “We have seen strong growth at Screwfix and Poland offset by continued weak sales in France, alongside some business disruption from our ONE Kingfisher plan, principally reflecting product availability and clearance. We continue to act on the causes of this disruption, which we are confident will ease.
“We remain on track to deliver our full year strategic milestones, for the second year in a row. With plans in place to support our overall performance, we remain comfortable with full year profit expectations.”
Screwfix has over 1,100 stores across ten countries in Europe, Russia and Turkey – 520 are based in the UK and Ireland. Castorama’s 102 stores can be found in France, Poland and Russia while Brico Dépôt operates in France, Spain, Romania and Portugal.