Increase in adjusted sales at Kingfisher

The British DIY group Kingfisher posted sales amounting to GBP 5.749 bn between February and July. The figure is 6.8 per cent up on the same period in the previous year, although currency-adjusted sales only increased by 2.7 per cent. Adjusted for currency and retail area, the increase was 3.3 per cent. The figures are revealed in the group's half-year results.
The Screwfix distribution channel continues to lead the growth figures, with total sales up by 24.0 per cent in Great Britain to GBP 612 mio. The main distribution channel, B&Q, only grew sales by 1.9 per cent to GBP 1.997 bn, however. In France (Castorama and Brico Dépôt distribution lines) sales increased by 10.1 per cent to GBP 2.175 bn, but with adjustment for currency fluctuations sales stagnated, resulting in a slight increase of 0.3 per cent, while adjusted for currency and retail area sales declined by 1.6 per cent.
Sales in Poland were up 11.4 per cent - 8.9 per cent on a comparable retail area - to GBP 587 mio. In Russia, sales by the Castorama stores in the group declined by 0.6 per cent to GBP 157 mio (like-for-like sales up 1.2 per cent) compared with the period in the previous year. The Spanish Brico Dépôt stores increased their sales by 3.2 per cent (like-for-like 0.8 per cent) to GBP 163 mio.