B&Q bounces back following warm spring weather

B&Q owner Kingfisher said the DIY chain has enjoyed a sales bounceback thanks to warm spring weather and a sun-soaked Easter weekend.

The group reported like-for-like sales growth of 2.8 per cent for B&Q in the UK and Ireland for the three months to April 30, which marks a turnaround on recent trading and from a year earlier when the Beast from the East extreme weather pushed sales 9 per cent lower.

Kingfisher said this year’s warmer weather helped boost sales by around 6 per cent, although this was offset by a hit of about 2 per cent as it ended some showroom installation services.

Kingfisher’s outgoing chief executive Veronique Laury said: “The group delivered positive sales growth in the first quarter, with sales of unified and unique ranges continuing to grow ahead of non-unified ranges.”

She added: “At this early stage of the year our expectations for the full year are unchanged, and we remain confident in our ability to deliver significant financial benefits over time.”