Kingfisher Profits Up Despite Flagging B&Q Sales

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Kingfisher raised its full-year profit forecast despite a 1.8% decline in like-for-like sales at its B&Q stores, driven by a drop in demand for larger bathroom products. The company’s upbeat outlook is supported by strong growth at its Screwfix brand, which increased sales by 7.1% and helped offset weaker performance in bigger-ticket items.

Kingfisher has raised its full-year profit forecast despite a decline in sales at its B&Q DIY chain during the second quarter. The company reported a 1.8% drop in like-for-like sales at B&Q in the UK and Ireland, with sales of larger items falling by 8.1%. This decrease was primarily attributed to reduced demand for bathroom products.

In contrast, Kingfisher’s Screwfix brand continued to perform strongly, recording a 7.1% increase in like-for-like sales for the same period. The strong performance at Screwfix helped drive overall same-store sales growth of 1.6% across the UK and Ireland in the second quarter, and 0.4% for the first half of the year.

The contrasting trends within Kingfisher’s portfolio suggest that while consumers have been cautious about investing in bigger home improvement purchases, smaller-scale projects and quicker jobs supported by Screwfix remain popular. The company’s revised profit outlook reflects confidence that its diversified operations will sustain performance despite ongoing challenges in some segments.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.