B&Q opens three new stores in Ireland

New stores in Navan, Waterford and Donegal follows the acquisition of former Homebase leasholds

B&Q Ireland acquired the leasehold of three stores, formerly trading as Homebase, for a purchase price of €3.79m.

B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher reported a 1.8% rise in first-quarter same-store sales for Ireland and the UK after good weather boosted sales of garden furniture and barbecues.

The FTSE-100 listed group, which also owns Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, said it was sticking with its full-year forecast for adjusted pre-tax profit of £480m (€572m) to £540m (€643m).