Our markets

Kingfisher has exposure to fast-growing, developing economies in Europe and Asia, including Poland, Russia and China, as well as having well-established businesses in developed markets like the UK and France. In total, the home improvement markets in which Kingfisher operates are worth over £120 billion.

 

We are the market leader in the UK and France, two of the largest retail markets in Europe. Each has large, relatively wealthy populations and levels of home ownership are high. Compared with the whole European Union (EU), a relatively higher proportion of consumer retail expenditure is on home improvement products and services. The home improvement markets in these countries are well-developed, large and have benefited from increasing consumer wealth and growth in the number of homes. Consumers are served by large, well-established national retailers and small local specialists.

One major difference between the UK and France is the level of consumer debt, which is significantly higher in the UK. In 2008 the UK home improvement market declined by around 4% as the economic environment worsened, impacting consumer spending. During the first half of 2009 the market was more resilient, with renewed consumer interest in the home and DIY helping to offset the negative impacts of the recession and weak housing market. The French market has been more stable relatively, with consumers less impacted by rising interest rates.

UK & Ireland

Country Households
million
Market size
(£bn)
Market position % Market share GDP growth (%) estimated1 Market brands Store numbers2 Selling space
(000s sq m)
Employees
fulltime*
UK 25.7 31.4 1 14 1.5 B&Q logo 3303 2,4773 22,9273
            Screwfix logo 149 13 2,808
Ireland 1.5 2 5 -1.3 B&Q logo

Contribution to Group sales

Pie chart showing contribution to group sales

42%
£4.4bn

Retail profit

Pie chart showing retail profit

33%
£217m

See our brands

  • * Includes Corporate Centre capital allocation.
  • 1 Source: Credit Suisse estimates.
  • 2 Store numbers correct as at 01 May 2010.
  • 3 UK & Ireland.

France

Country Households
million
Market size
(£bn)
Market position % Market share GDP growth (%) estimated1 Market brands Store numbers2 Selling space
(000s sq m)
Employees
fulltime*
France 27 20 1 21 2.0 Castorama logo 102 1,030 12,438
            Brico Dépôt logo 100 549 5,880

Contribution to Group sales

Pie chart showing contribution to Group sales

41%
£4.3bn

Retail profit

Pie chart showing retail profit

48%
£322m

See our brands

  • * Includes Corporate Centre capital allocation.
  • 1 Source: Credit Suisse estimates.
  • 2 Store numbers correct as at 01 May 2010.

Where we operate

Worldmap showing where Kingfisher operates

Our Markets

  • UK
  • France
  • Other international
  • Hornbach*
 

Hornbach logo

* Strategic alliance. Kingfisher has a 21% interest in Hornbach, Germany's leading large format DIY retailer, with over 120 stores in nine European countries

Keep up to date

News
feeds

Subscribe to our RSS feeds and get the latest information as soon as it’s released

Sign up to our email alert service and get the latest updates delivered to your inbox

New in store
update

Subscribe to our New in store email update to find out about our latest innovations

Mobile site

Live share price and news on your mobile