B&Q reports strong growth
Kingfisher), Europe’s largest home improvements retailer, reported an increase in sales in both Britain and France in its latest quarter, helped by soft comparative figures in the previous year.
The firm, which runs the B&Q and Screwfix chains in Britain and Castorama and Brico Depot in France, said group like-for-like sales rose 3.5 per cent in the 10 weeks to July 11.
Like-for-like sales rose 5.5 per cent in the UK and Ireland and were up 1.3 per cent in France.
That compares with a first quarter rise of 1.6 per cent in the UK and Ireland and a fall of 1.2 per cent in France.
For the full second quarter, which includes an additional three weeks, analysts are forecasting a rise of 4.1 per cent in the UK and Ireland and growth of 0.3 per cent in France.