4th Quarter Sales Update

Kingfisher PLC
17 February 2005

EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS
Thursday 17th February 2005



                                 Kingfisher plc

       Fourth Quarter sales update for the 13 weeks ended 29 January 2005



Group Financial Highlights

Fourth Quarter



•        Sales up 7.1% to £1.76 billion (2004: £1.65 billion), up 6.7% in 
         constant currency

•        Like-for-Like (LFL) sales up 0.6%


Twelve months to 29 January 2005*

•        Sales up 8.7% to £7.65 billion (2004: £7.04 billion), up 9.9% in 
         constant currency

•        Like-for-Like (LFL) sales up 3.9%.

*All figures for the prior year are for continuing home improvement businesses 
 only. They exclude businesses sold or demerged during 2003/04.



NOTE: In the remainder of the document all sales growth figures are in constant 
      currencies unless otherwise stated.



Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive, said:



'Kingfisher delivered good fourth quarter sales growth in France, Italy and
China, offset by weaker performances in a more challenging UK market and in a
Polish market impacted by last year's VAT changes.  For the full year,
Kingfisher delivered a solid overall performance, growing total sales by 9.9%
and like-for-like sales by 3.9%.



'With a continued focus on margins, costs and cashflow, Kingfisher expects to
announce pre-exceptional profit before tax in line with the current consensus of
analysts' estimates on 17 March 2005.'



Company Profile


Kingfisher plc is Europe's leading home improvement retailer and the third
largest in the world, with nearly 600 stores in nine countries in Europe and
Asia.  Its main retail brands are B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot and Screwfix
Direct.  Kingfisher also has a 21% interest in, and strategic alliance with,
Hornbach, Germany's leading DIY Warehouse retailer, with 117 stores across
Europe.



UK & Ireland


Consumer demand weakened further in the quarter with British Retail Consortium
data for the three months to January showing a decline in 'other non-food' like-
for-like sales of 0.4%, following 1.7% growth in the previous quarter.  B& Q's
total sales grew 2.6% to £914.7 million, although LFL sales declined by 1.2%,
reflecting weakening consumer demand and an increasingly competitive trading
environment.



Sales of some categories due for range review in 2005, such as flooring,
lighting and wall decorations, declined. Sales of kitchens and bathrooms grew
slightly against a strong quarter last year and categories which had been
recently refreshed (e.g. paint and radiators), or where prices were lowered
(e.g. building materials), performed strongly.



Ahead of the key spring season, horticultural and garden leisure ranges have
been substantially renewed, and own-brand paint, flooring and showering ranges
improved.  Innovative and price-competitive new products such as Airforce DIY
fixed air conditioning, easy to lay Edge tiling and Speedstone granite worktops
are being introduced.  A major Every Day Low Pricing (EDLP) marketing campaign -
'Price Reverse' - was launched in early February featuring 5,000 price
reductions to consolidate B&Q's price leadership.



In the fourth quarter, B&Q opened two new format Warehouse stores.  These
'stretch' stores are testing new approaches to providing home improvement
inspiration to consumers and a more compelling offer to B&Q's skilled trade
customers. The mini-Warehouse conversion programme continued to deliver strong
sales uplifts. There were 63 mini-Warehouses trading at the end of the quarter.



B&Q's overhead efficiency drive continued in the quarter, but the benefits did
not fully offset the weaker sales and price reductions in the period.



Following the commissioning of its new fulfilment centre, Screwfix Direct's call
centre and internet site were fully operational from mid-December with positive
sales growth recorded since then.


France


According to Banque de France, DIY comparable store sales growth was 2.6% in the
fourth quarter.  Kingfisher's total sales grew 8.9%, 5.0% LFL, with Brico Depot
performing particularly strongly in a discount-driven French consumer market.



Castorama's sales declined 0.7% to £346.6 million, LFL sales down 0.9%, due to
disruption caused by the earlier start of the 2005 revitalisation programme with
seven stores affected during December and January, and preparation across the
chain for a major relaunch of decorative ranges in the current quarter.
Showroom sales were also weak ahead of a major relaunch in 2005. Stores that
have been refurbished in 2004 into the new format performed well, as did new
ranges of gardening equipment, Christmas decorations and indoor heating
equipment.



With its powerful and popular hard discount offer, Brico Depot sales grew
strongly, up 26.6% to £238.2 million, up 16.0% LFL.  All categories performed
well.  The performance was boosted by further promotional mailings, which built
upon the success of Brico Depot's first fully national catalogue in April 2004.


Rest of World



Total Rest of World sales were £213.0 million, up 26.6% with four new stores
opened in the period.  LFL sales declined by 0.7% due entirely to weakness in
Poland.



Castorama Poland sales were £79.8 million, up 2.2%.  LFL sales declined 14.2%
against a very strong comparative (+19.5% LFL) caused by customers purchasing
ahead of higher VAT rates which came into effect with EU accession in May 2004.
 The higher VAT rates, inflation and interest rates have weakened overall
consumer spending and Castorama Poland is performing well in a difficult market.




Castorama Italy sales were £55.9 million, up 23.7% (up 3.9% LFL) with continued
strong performance in all product categories.



B&Q China sales were £69.8 million, up 61.6% (up 16.8% LFL).  Growth was driven
by increasing trade sales and stronger installation services.



In Spain, Brico Depot opened its fourth store.





Enquiries:


Ian Harding                                                 020 7644 1029
Director of Communications

Nigel Cope                                                  020 7644 1030
Head of External Communications

Heather Ward                                                020 7644 1032
Head of Investor Relations



Further copies of this announcement can be downloaded from www.kingfisher.com




For the 13 weeks ended 29 January 2005


Retail sales £m                        2004/5            2003/4  % change (reported)           % change % like-for-like
                                                                                             (constant)          change
B&Q                                     914.7             891.5                 2.6%               2.6%          (1.2)%
Screwfix Direct                          52.0              56.6               (8.1)%             (8.1)%          (8.1)%
Total UK & Ireland                      966.7             948.1                 2.0%               2.0%          (1.7)%
Castorama France                        346.6             347.5               (0.3)%             (0.7)%          (0.9)%
Brico Depot                             238.2             187.8                26.8%              26.6%           16.0%
Total France                            584.8             535.3                 9.2%               8.9%            5.0%
Castorama Poland                         79.8              70.5                13.2%               2.2%         (14.2)%
Castorama Italy                          55.9              45.2                23.7%              23.7%            3.9%
B&Q China                                69.8              46.3                50.8%              61.6%           16.8%
Other Int'l (1)                           7.5               1.9                  n/a                n/a             n/a
Rest of World                           213.0             163.9                30.0%              26.6%          (0.7)%
Total                                 1,764.5           1,647.3                 7.1%               6.7%            0.6%



For the 52 weeks ended 29 January 2005


Retail sales £m                        2004/5            2003/4  % change (reported)           % change % like-for-like
                                                                                             (constant)          change
B&Q                                   4,087.7           3,896.8                 4.9%               4.9%            1.3%
Screwfix Direct                         228.6             220.6                 3.6%               3.6%            3.6%
Total UK & Ireland                    4,316.3           4,117.4                 4.8%               4.8%            1.5%
Castorama France                      1,571.1           1,541.8                 1.9%               4.4%            2.6%
Brico Depot                             975.6             786.0                24.1%              27.1%           17.7%
Total France                          2,546.7           2,327.8                 9.4%              12.0%            7.7%
Castorama Poland                        321.9             285.6                12.7%              16.1%            2.9%
Castorama Italy                         229.5             173.7                32.1%              35.3%            6.1%
B&Q China                               211.7             131.5                61.0%              78.5%           15.5%
Other Int (1)                            23.5               2.2                  n/a                n/a             n/a
Rest Of World                           786.6             593.0                32.6%              38.6%            6.5%
Total                                 7,649.6           7,038.2                 8.7%               9.9%            3.9%



(1) Other international represents Brico Depot in Spain


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange