Bunnings grows strongly at home, but loses money in the UK

The home improvement division of the Australian Westfarmers group, which operates under the brand name Bunnings, increased its sales in financial year 2016/2017 (ending 30 June) by 17.4 per cent to AUD 13.586 bn. According to the annual report which has now been published, this level of growth is due to the takeover of the Homebase stores in Great Britain, which have contributed with their entire annual sales for the first time.
In Australia and New Zealand, Bunnings made sales of AUD 11.514 bn, which is 8.9 per cent more.  Store-on-store sales grew by 7.3 per cent.
Bunnings stores in Great Britain and Ireland accounted for AUD 1.229 bn on the declaration day: these were 251 Homebase stores and four locations which were refitted to Bunnings. While the division in Australia and New Zealand increased the EBIT by 10.0 percent to AUD 1.334 bn, its commitment in Great Britain and Ireland brought losses of AUD 54 mio.