B&Q firm increases profits by 3.4%

Home improvement retailer B&Q Ireland returned to break even in the second half of its latest financial year — less than 12 months after emerging from examinership — its parent company revealed yesterday.

In its annual 2013/14 accounts — covering the 12 months to the beginning of February — British DIY group, Kingfisher said its UK and Ireland operations, which include B&Q and the Screwfix builders’ merchants business in Britain, grew retail profit by 3.4% to £238m (€285m).

Total sales for the division — the group is also active in Europe and Asia — rose by 2.7% to just under £4.4bn. Total annual sales, for B&Q UK & Ireland, were up 0.4% to £3.7bn.