3rd Quarter Results

Kingfisher PLC
15 December 2004




EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS
Wednesday 15 December 2004


                                                     Kingfisher plc

                                          Third Quarter ending 30 October 2004




Group Financial Highlights*


Third Quarter


•             Sales up 8.2% to £1.94 billion (2003: £1.79 billion), up 9.6% in constant currency


•             Like-for-Like (LFL) sales up 2.6%


•             Retail profit up 6.7% to £190.0 million (2003: £178.1 million), up 8.5% in constant currency


•             Net debt down to £587.3 million (£683.8 million as at 1 November 2003)


Year to date

•             Sales up 9.2% to £5.89 billion (2003: £5.39 billion), up 10.9% in constant currency
•             Like-for-Like (LFL) sales up 4.9%
•             Retail profit up 10.8% to £545.8 million (2003: £492.5 million), up 12.6% in constant currency



*All figures for the prior year are for continuing home improvement businesses
only. They exclude businesses sold or demerged during 2003/04.  Retail profit is
stated before property, other operating costs, exceptional items, and goodwill
amortisation.



Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive, said:



'Kingfisher has delivered sales and profit growth in a tougher quarter in the UK
and France, with slowing growth in consumer spending and more promotional and
price competition in these key markets.



'Kingfisher continued to build for the future with 19 new stores opened during
the quarter, nine of which were in our international markets.'



Company Profile



Kingfisher plc is Europe's leading home improvement retailer and the third
largest in the world, with 588 stores in nine countries in Europe and Asia.  Its
main retail brands are B&Q, Screwfix Direct, Castorama and Brico Depot.
Kingfisher also has a strategic alliance with Hornbach, Germany's leading DIY
Warehouse retailer, with 116 stores across Europe.



UK & IRELAND



For the 13 weeks ended 30 October 2004


                                Retail Sales £m          % Total          % LFL         Retail Profit £m        % Total
                                                          Change         Change                                  Change
                                2004         2003                                       2004         2003
B&Q                          1,000.1        952.7           5.0%           1.3%         97.5         90.1          8.2%
Screwfix Direct                 53.4         56.9         (6.2)%         (6.2)%        (1.1)          5.8      (119.0)%
Total UK                     1,053.5      1,009.6           4.3%           0.8%         96.4         95.9          0.5%



UK consumer spending - Consumer demand weakened in the quarter with British
Retail Consortium data for the three months to October showing total retail
like-for-like sales growth slowing to 1.1% from 2.6% for the previous quarter.



B&Q's total sales grew 5.0% to £1.0 billion (1.3% LFL) and retail profit grew by
8.2% to £97.5 million.



Sales - Kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms delivered strong sales, driven by new
ranges and increased promotional activity.  Seasonal ranges, such as garden
furniture and heating products, continued to suffer weak sales in a soft market
with a high level of promotional activity.



Mini-Warehouse conversions - Six Supercentres were converted to the
mini-Warehouse format bringing the total now trading to 53.  Mini-Warehouse
conversions continue to show double digit sales uplifts.



Store openings - Seven Warehouse stores and three new mini-Warehouses were
opened in the quarter, an increase in selling space of 5.3% on the same quarter
last year.  A further three Warehouse stores and four mini-Warehouses are
expected to open by the end of the year.



Retail margin improved from 9.5% to 9.8%.  The costs of lowering prices for
customers, extending ranges and improving distribution capability were offset by
further progress in sourcing and general efficiency.  With a continuing focus on
cost reduction, B&Q announced 70 redundancies at its Southampton headquarters
shortly after the end of the quarter.



SCREWFIX DIRECT's sales fell by 6.2% to £53.4 million and the business recorded
a retail loss of £1.1 million in the period (2003: £5.8 million retail profit),
following operational disruption during a complete reconfiguration of its
fulfilment and distribution operations.  Three older fulfilment centres were
closed and replaced by a new semi-automated centre near Stoke, which will
increase Screwfix Direct's capacity by 40%.



Order-taking through the call centre and the internet was restricted during the
changeover to ensure that Screwfix Direct met its overnight delivery promise.
The new fulfilment centre and all sales channels are now fully operational.



FRANCE



For the 13 weeks ended 30 October 2004


Retail sales £m                               2004            2003           % Change           % Change          % LFL
                                                                           (Reported)         (Constant)         Change
Castorama                                    397.4           399.5             (0.5)%               2.1%           0.3%
Brico Depot                                  273.9           218.9              25.1%              28.5%          16.9%
Total France                                 671.3           618.4               8.6%              11.5%           6.2%


Retail profit £m                              2004            2003           % Change           % Change
                                                                           (Reported)         (Constant)
Castorama                                     41.1            40.4               1.7%               5.4%
Brico Depot                                   25.7            20.4              26.0%              30.5%
Total France                                  66.8            60.8               9.9%              13.8%



2004 £1 = 1.487 euro; 2003 £1 = 1.4434 euro



All comparative growth figures in the remainder of the text are expressed on a
constant currency basis.



French market - According to Banque de France, DIY comparable store sales growth
in France slowed to 1.9% in the third quarter from 4.0% in the second quarter.
In an increasingly promotional and discount-led market, Group sales in France
were £671.3 million, up 11.5% (6.2% LFL).  Retail profit was £66.8 million, up
13.8%.



CASTORAMA



Sales were £397.4 million, up 2.1% (0.3% LFL).  Retail profit of £41.1 million
was up 5.4%. Castorama achieved strong growth in garden furniture and garden
buildings as well as modest growth in Showroom sales, driven by kitchen ranges
and showers.  There was a slow start to the heating season due to mild weather
during the quarter.  A recent external survey has shown that French consumers'
perception of Castorama's pricing is improving compared to its principal
competition.



Store revitalisations - In October, a relocated store in Poitiers opened and has
been trading ahead of expectations.  This takes the number of Castorama stores
operating in the new format to 13.  The next wave of revitalisations is planned
for the first quarter of next year.



Retail margin increased from 10.1% to 10.3%.  The cost of lowering prices for
customers was offset by sourcing gains and other productivity improvements.



BRICO DEPOT delivered sales of £273.9 million, up 28.5% (16.9% LFL).  Sales were
strong in all categories reflecting the continuing appeal of Brico Depot's hard
discount offer and the launch of its first ever national catalogue in April.
One further store will be opened in the fourth quarter, taking the total to 64.



Retail profit was £25.7 million, up 30.5%, with profit margin improvement
despite additional social and retail taxes.



REST OF WORLD



For the 13 weeks ended 30 October 2004


Retail sales £m                     2004              2003            % Change              % Change           % LFL
                                                                    (Reported)            (Constant)          Change
Castorama Poland                    84.0              81.6                2.9%                  5.0%          (8.5)%
Castorama Italy                     63.4              45.0               40.9%                 44.7%            9.5%
B&Q China                           57.4              35.4               62.1%                 83.4%            9.7%
Other Int'l (1) (2)                  7.6               0.3                 n/a                   n/a             n/a
Total                              212.4             162.3               30.9%                 36.7%            0.3%


Retail profit £m                     2004               2003            % Change              % Change
                                                                      (Reported)            (Constant)
Castorama Poland                     11.3               13.9             (18.7)%               (13.1)%
Castorama Italy                       7.3                3.9               87.2%                 92.1%
B&Q China                             1.8                0.8              125.0%                157.1%
B&Q Taiwan                            1.3                1.5             (13.3)%                (0.0)%
Other Int'l (1)                       5.1                1.3              293.4%                200.8%
Total                                26.8               21.4               25.2%                 30.7%



(1)     Other International includes Hornbach in Germany, Koctas in Turkey, B&Q
        Home in South Korea, Brico Stock in Spain and Castorama in Russia.

(2)     Joint venture sales not consolidated (B&Q Taiwan, Koctas in Turkey)



All comparative growth figures in the remainder of the text are expressed on a
constant currency basis.



Total rest of world - sales were £212.4 million, up 36.7% (0.3% LFL).  Retail
profit was £26.8 million, up 30.7%.



Castorama Poland - Sales were £84.0 million, up 5.0% (down 8.5% LFL), and retail
profit was £11.3 million, down 13.1%, reflecting the effect of higher VAT
charges since May.  Consumer demand in Poland has weakened generally as a result
of higher VAT, rising inflation and higher interest rates.  In the year to date,
Castorama Poland has performed well, with sales of £242.1 million, up 21.6%
(8.9% LFL).  Four new stores were opened in the quarter (2003/4: one store)
taking the total to 25.



Castorama Italy - Sales were £63.4 million, up 44.7% (9.5% LFL) and retail
profit was £7.3 million, up 92.1%.  All categories performed well.  A new 
'medium-box' store opened in July and has performed well.  One store was
relocated in the quarter (2003/4: two new stores) leaving the total at 21.  One
further store will be opened in the fourth quarter.



B&Q China - Sales reached £57.4 million, up 83.4% (9.7% LFL).  Growth was driven
by increasing trade sales and stronger installation services.  Retail profit of
£1.8 million more than doubled in the quarter.  Two stores opened in the period
taking the total to 20.  One store will be opened in the fourth quarter.



B&Q Taiwan, a 50% joint venture, delivered flat retail profit due to continued
investment in its installations business and store revamps in the period.  One
further store will be opened in the fourth quarter taking the total to 18.



Other International includes Hornbach, which contributed £7.8 million of retail
profit in the period (2003/04: £4.4 million).  Hornbach outperformed the German
DIY sector and gained market share.  Hornbach's contribution was offset by
start-up and development costs in Europe and Asia.  Brico Stock, the Spanish
adaptation of Brico Depot, continued to grow with sales of £7.6 million in the
quarter.  One new store will be opened in the fourth quarter, taking the total
to four.  In Turkey, Koctas, a 50% joint venture, performed well with work
continuing on building a new store in Ankara.





Enquiries:




Ian Harding, Director of Communications                          020 7644 1029

Nigel Cope, Head of External Communications                      020 7644 1030


Heather Ward, Head of Investor Relations                         020 7644 1032


Kingfisher plc                                                   020 7372 8008





Further copies of this announcement can be downloaded from www.kingfisher.com or
by application to: The Company Secretary, Kingfisher plc, 3 Sheldon Square,
London, W2 6PX



DATA BY COUNTRY - as at 30 October 2004


Home Improvement                                 Store numbers              Selling space             Employees
                                                                             (000s sq.m.)                 (FTE)
B&Q                                                        330                      2,210                27,344
Screwfix Direct                                              -                          -                 1,299
Total UK & Ireland                                         330                      2,210                28,643

Castorama                                                  104                      1,015                12,757
Brico Depot                                                 63                        312                 4,307
Total France                                               167                      1,327                17,064

Castorama Poland                                            25                        229                 4,835
Castorama Italy                                             21                        137                 2,084
B&Q China                                                   20                        234                 4,980
B&Q Taiwan                                                  17                         83                 1,781
Other International (1)                                      8                         41                   675
Total Rest of World                                         91                        724                14,355
Total                                                      588                      4,261                60,062



(1)     Other international includes Koctas in Turkey, B&Q Home in South Korea
        and Brico Stock in Spain.


Year to Date results - for the nine months to 30 October 2004


                               Retail Sales £m          % Total          % LFL          Retail Profit £m        % Total
                                2004        2003         Change         Change          2004         2003        Change
                                                       (Reported)                                            (Reported)
B&Q                          3,173.0     3,005.3            5.6%           2.1%        305.4        274.2         11.4%
Screwfix Direct                176.6       164.0            7.7%           7.7%          5.0         15.8       (68.4)%
Total UK & Ireland           3,349.6     3,169.3            5.7%           2.4%        310.4        290.0          7.0%

Castorama                    1,224.5     1,194.3            2.5%           3.6%        109.2        103.2          5.8%
Brico Depot                    737.4       598.2           23.3%          18.2%         61.8         53.2         16.2%
Total France                 1,961.9     1,792.5            9.5%           8.5%        171.0        156.4          9.3%

Castorama Poland               242.1       215.1           12.6%           8.9%         36.9         31.2         18.3%
Castorama Italy                173.6       128.5           35.1%           6.8%         15.1          9.9         52.5%
B&Q China                      141.9        85.2           66.5%          14.8%          1.2        (1.9)           N/A
B&Q Taiwan (2)                     -           -               -              -          4.3          3.8         13.2%
Other Int'l (1) (2)             16.0         0.3             n/a            n/a          6.9          3.1        122.6%
Rest of World                  573.6       429.1           33.7%           9.4%         64.4         46.1         39.7%
Total                        5,885.1     5,390.9            9.2%           4.9%        545.8        492.5         10.8%



(1)     Other International includes Hornbach in Germany, Koctas in Turkey, B&Q
        Home in South Korea, Brico Stock in Spain, Castorama in Russia and B&Q
        International costs.

(2) Joint venture sales not consolidated (B&Q Taiwan, Koctas in Turkey)




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