Kingfisher sales boosted by hot weather
B&Q owner Kingfisher increased its group like-for-like sales by 1.6% in its second quarter as this year’s hot summer helped boost sales.
Like-for-like sales at B&Q in the UK and Ireland rose by 3.6% while sales at Kingfisher’s Screwfix brand climbed by 5.5%.
However, like-for-like sales in France at Kingfisher’s Castorama fascia declined by 3.8% due to weaker footfall, but Kingfisher’s French Brico Dépôt brand achieved an uplift of 2.6%.
Véronique Laury, chief executive of Kingfisher, said: “We started our transformation two and a half years ago and are on track to deliver our strategic milestones for the third year in a row.
“In Q2, I’m pleased that we grew our sales after the exceptionally harsh weather conditions in Q1. In B&Q, Screwfix and Brico Dépôt France we delivered good sales growth.”
Commenting on Castorama’s performance, Laury said the group had taken additional action to support its full year performance in France and that the benefits are likely to come through in the second half.
Meanwhile like-for-like sales in Kingfisher’s Iberian business declined by 0.3% but there were respective uplifts of 1.3%, 4.6% and 2.1% in Poland, Romania and Russia.
