B&Q owner takes only a small hit from coronavirus

The crisis has prompted more people to rediscover their homes

People keep their social distance while queueing outside B&Q at Mahon Point in Cork when the store reopened in May. Picture: Dan Linehan

The owner of B&Q has said that it only took a small hit from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic as sales dropped 1.3% in the first six months of the financial year.

Kingfisher, which was helped by soaring online sales, said that pre-tax profit had reached £398 million during the first half, a rise of more than 62%, yet it still suspended its dividend because of the uncertainty.