Strong UK sales fail to prevent dip at Kingfisher

Sales at B&Q owner Kingfisher dipped in the first quarter after a slowdown at the firm’s French division hit its performance.

Thegroupposteda0.6per cent decline in like-for-like sales in the three months to 30 April, with comparable sales falling 5.5 per cent in France, where the group trades as Castorama and Brico Depot.

However, in the UK likefor-like sales rose 3.5 per cent, helped by surging revenues at Screwfix, where same-store sales rocketed 12.6 per cent.

Total revenues came in at £2.86 billion over the period and Kingfisher chief executive Veronique Laury, who is overseeing a turnaround plan at the retailer, said: “We have set ourselves up well for our transformation, which continues in line with our plans.

“Strong performance in Screwfix and Poland continues, though performance in France remains weak.”

The group has recently completed a B&Q store closureprogramme,which has seen it shut 65 shops and cut around 3,000 jobs.