'Late Start to Spring Impacted Footfall': B&Q Owner Kingfisher Reports Sales Slowdown
- European home improvement retailer Kingfisher reported a 0.7% fall in first quarter underlying sales, with total sales declining 0.9% to £3.3 billion between February and April compared with the same period last year.
- A delayed onset of spring weather held back consumer spending and bigger purchases remained subdued, while official retail data published last week showed British sales fell by the most in nearly a year in April amid the Iran war and rising energy costs.
- While Screwfix sales jumped 4.1% year-on-year and won market share, B&Q's sales fell 4.1% on the same basis, reflecting higher exposure to seasonal items such as garden furniture and plants and tough year-on-year comparatives.
- Kingfisher maintained its full-year adjusted pretax profit guidance at £565 million to £625 million, with shares rising 4.5% in early trading despite paring three-month losses to 16.3%.
- Kingfisher's pursuit of trade customers, who view materials and tools as "essential to their day job," provides revenue stability, while CEO Thierry Garnier's resignation this month to lead Netherlands-headquartered Ahold Delhaize marks a transition with a 12-month notice period.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Oxford Mail
B&Q owner reports sales troubles as shopper numbers fall
A DIY giant has reported trouble as consumer sales have started to drop for the business.
'Late start to spring impacted footfall': B&Q owner Kingfisher reports sales slowdown
B&Q owner Kingfisher has reported a slowdown in sales in recent months as the DIY giant blamed a late start to spring for fewer visitors and people holding back on buying bigger goods.
Evening Standard
B&Q owner says sales slow as ‘late start’ to spring holds back shoppers
The London-listed business, which also owns Screwfix, said it was ‘mindful of the consumer environment’ but hailed a ‘resilient’ start to the year.
B&Q sales down during first quarter - Big Furniture Group
Home improvement retailer B&Q has reported a decline in Q1 sales as wider group sales rose. According to the latest Kingfisher, parent company of B&Q, first quarter trading update, total group sales rose 1.4% to £3.3bn. Within the group, B&Q sales fell 3% to £1bn, while Screwfix revenues rose 5.5% to £712m. UK and Ireland sales rose 0.3% to £1.7bn. On B&Q, the group said sales were impacted by a strong prior year comparator and a late start to s…
Kingfisher holds its nerve against a tough comparative and a softening market, says GlobalData
Discover what's happening in retail today, Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and much more. Following today’s release of Kingfisher’s figures for the three months ending 30 April 2026; Ashley Adeyemi, retail analyst at GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform, offers her view: “Kingfisher has delivered a resilient start to FY2026/27, with …
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