Overview
- On Tuesday, May 26, Kingfisher said group like‑for‑like sales fell 0.9% to £3.3bn for February–April, driven by weaker B&Q trading in the UK and Ireland.
- B&Q sales in the UK and Ireland declined 4.1% after a late start to spring and poor weather reduced store footfall and spending on seasonal and big‑ticket items.
- Screwfix grew 4.1% year on year, with online, click‑and‑collect and trade initiatives helping it gain market share and partly offset the group decline.
- The board kept full‑year adjusted pre‑tax profit guidance at £565m–£625m and said it will stay focused on margins, costs and growth in trade channels.
- Kingfisher is stepping up digital and AI investment, saying 50+ AI services are live and an AI shopping tool drove about £165m of sales last year, while CEO Thierry Garnier will remain on a 12‑month notice as a successor is sought.