Screwfix is quietly eating B&Q’s lunch
Key Points
- Screwfix UK sales rose 5.4% in Kingfisher's first quarter (three months to 30 April 2026) while sister chain B&Q's sales fell 3.1%, despite both being owned by FTSE 100 group Kingfisher
- Screwfix gained UK market share, driven by its app-based rewards programme, Screwfix Sprint rapid delivery and Click & Collect
- B&Q was hit by a late start to spring, a soft bathroom market and lower footfall, partly offset by 16% e-commerce growth and strong kitchen ranges
- Kingfisher's group trade sales penetration reached 31% and marketplace gross merchandise value grew 39% to £163 million
- The group reaffirmed full-year guidance of adjusted pre-tax profit of £565 million to £625 million and is running a £300 million share buyback
Screwfix UK sales rose 5.4% in the first quarter while sister chain B&Q’s sales fell 3.1%, despite both being owned by FTSE 100 group Kingfisher.
Screwfix reported like-for-like sales up 4.1% on revenue of £712 million in the three months to 30 April, with Kingfisher attributing the growth to significant market share gains driven by higher volume and more transactions.
The trade-focused chain pointed to continued momentum from its app-based rewards programme, alongside rapid delivery service Screwfix Sprint and Click & Collect. Core categories making up around 85% of total Screwfix sales drove the result.
B&Q posted like-for-like sales down 4.1% on revenue of £1,025 million. A late start to spring hit footfall and seasonal demand, while a soft bathroom market weighed on bigger projects.
New kitchen ranges provided some offset, and B&Q’s e-commerce sales grew 16% with marketplace gross merchandise value up 29%. E-commerce now accounts for 19% of B&Q sales.
TradePoint, B&Q’s trade arm, saw like-for-like sales fall 1.6% against a strong year-earlier comparator and fewer outdoor projects due to the weather.
Kingfisher opened its first standalone TradePoint store in the quarter, targeting trade customers working in dense urban areas. Group trade sales now make up 31% of total revenue, and marketplace gross merchandise value across the group rose 39% to £163 million.
“We delivered a resilient start to the year, executing well and gaining market share against a soft market backdrop,” said Thierry Garnier, Chief Executive at Kingfisher.
The group reaffirmed full-year guidance of adjusted pre-tax profit between £565 million and £625 million, with free cash flow of £450 million to £510 million. A £300 million share buyback is ongoing.
