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| Kingfisher eyes 200 more Screwfix stores | Kingfisher eyes 200 more Screwfix stores |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| DIY retailer Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, says it could open another 200 Screwfix stores in the UK. | DIY retailer Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, says it could open another 200 Screwfix stores in the UK. |
| Kingfisher currently has 412 Screwfix UK stores, which supply tools, plumbing and electrical equipment. | Kingfisher currently has 412 Screwfix UK stores, which supply tools, plumbing and electrical equipment. |
| The company said it was on track to close about 60 B&Q stores by the end of its 2016-17 financial year. The closures had been announced in March. | The company said it was on track to close about 60 B&Q stores by the end of its 2016-17 financial year. The closures had been announced in March. |
| Statutory pre-tax profits for the DIY group dipped 1.8% to £386m in the half year to 1 August. | Statutory pre-tax profits for the DIY group dipped 1.8% to £386m in the half year to 1 August. |
| Total sales fell by 4.8% to £5.49bn. | |
| "I am pleased that we have delivered a solid first half of the year," said chief executive Veronique Laury. "There remains a lot to be done, however." | "I am pleased that we have delivered a solid first half of the year," said chief executive Veronique Laury. "There remains a lot to be done, however." |
| Screwfix "continues to deliver strong growth" in the UK, Kingfisher said. In the first half like-for-like sales at the chain rose 16.5% to £494m. | |
| Sales were driven by strong growth from trade desks for plumbers and electricians, digital and mobile growth, new and extended ranges, and new outlets, it said. | |
| It added that a trial of Screwfix in Germany "has been well received", with signs of repeat custom in store and online. | |
| Like-for-like sales at B&Q rose 0.7%. The majority of the 30 B&Q closures planned for this year will fall in the second half, the firm said. Over two years, the restructuring is expected to cost it about £350m. | |
| The firm also runs the Castorama and Brico Depot chains in France and other countries. It announced two store closures in France, and one in Russia. |