News | Minus 24 per cent
BackCovid-19 hits Kingfisher hard in the first quarter
Sales of the British Kingfisher group in the first quarter (February to April) collapsed by 24 per cent to GBP 2.155 bn compared to the same period last year - as a significant result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company declares. Only the Screwfix sales channel has largely escaped the collapse and has reported not massive increases as was usual until now, but robust sales which lie only 0.1 per cent below the previous year.
Otherwise, the figures from the major countries reflect the coronavirus crisis: -14.7 per cent in Great Britain and Ireland (B&Q: -22.1 per cent), -42.0 per cent (constant currency) in France (Castorama -44.0 per cent, Brico Dépôt -39.8 per cent).
It's a mixed picture among the remaining expansion countries: Poland -6.0 per cent, Romania +11.2 per cent - reports here were from January to March -, Spain and Portugal -47.2 per cent, Russia - also from January to March - -2.9 per cent.
In a statement, CEO Thierry Garnier emphasised that they had concentrated on clear priorities: "to provide support to the communities we serve, to fulfil our obligations to colleagues as a responsible employer, to our customers as a retailer of essential goods, and to protect our business for the long term."
In general, the group has noticed a strong e-commerce growth (up to fourfold growth since mid-March) during the crisis. In the meantime, there was a phased reopening of stores in the UK and France in the second half of April. As a result, Kingfisher talks of improving the relative sales trend, the group like-for-like sales moved from -74.0 per cent in first week of April to +2.7 per cent in first week of May.
- UK sales up, French sales down Kingfisher ends first half-year with a slight drop in sales
- -0.8 per cent Kingfisher only publishes unaudited figures
- Spain and Portugal Brico Dépôt Iberia launches scan and go app
- Previously at Screwfix Sue Harries now e-commerce director at Kingfisher
- The latest issue DIY International and Covid-19
Latest news
German DIY stores and garden centres to stay closed for a further two weeks
In Germany, home improvement stores and garden centres are to stay closed for two weeks longer than initially expected. The federal government and View news...
Sales down at Clas Ohlson, but online business growing
Sales at Swedish retail group Clas Ohlson were down by 14 per cent in December compared with the same month in 2019, and by 10 per cent when adjusted View news...
International Consumer Goods Show and Heimtextil cancelled
Messe Frankfurt has cancelled the International Consumer Goods Show. The event was intended to replace the Ambiente, Christmasworld and Paperworld View news...
DIY stores and garden centres remain open in Switzerland
DIY stores and garden centres in Switzerland remain open despite the tightening of the national lockdown in the country. From today, Monday 18 View news...
DIY International 4/2020

Actual figures
Statistics Home Improvement Europe
![]() |
|
Post a comment
* Please complete the areas marked in red correctly and in full!.