Christmas Trading Statement

Kingfisher PLC
16 January 2001


EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS

16 JANUARY 2001


             Trading statement for 9 weeks ended 30 December 2000


                     KINGFISHER CHRISTMAS TRADING UPDATE


Kingfisher plc, the European retail group, today reports that total sales grew
by 9.9% to a record £2.82 billion over the nine weeks ended 30 December 2000.
In local currency terms, the Group's total sales were ahead by 11.6%.


Like-for-like sales grew by 4.5%, with all three sectors showing growth. For
the year to date, total sales were up 10.6% (13.8% in local currency) and
like- for-like sales were ahead by 5.4%.

The DIY sector delivered the strongest like-for-like growth at 6.7% (total
sales 13.4% in local currency), driven by B&Q in the UK and Brico Depot in
France. Both the Warehouse and Supercentre chains in the UK performed strongly
along with Screwfix, the specialist direct mail and internet DIY business. The
acquisition of 28 development sites accelerates the expansion programme for
the highly successful Warehouse format.

In France, DIY total sales growth of 7.1% was achieved in local currency.
Brico Depot continued to deliver strong like-for-like sales growth and the new
Casto L'Entrepot trial Warehouse store made a strong start.

Electricals achieved like-for-like sales growth of 4.0% (total sales 12.0% in
local currency) boosted by strong performances from the French chains Darty
and BUT. Electricals benefited from strong growth in new technology product
areas. Darty achieved total sales growth of 10.1% in local currency with
strong performances across all product categories. BUT saw very strong
like-for-like sales growth of 23.0% benefiting from sharp growth in wholesale
sales to franchisees. Comet's total sales were ahead by 9.1% with 23 of the
new format interactive stores open for Christmas.

General Merchandise like-for-like sales grew by 3.0% (total sales 10.0%).
Like-for-like sales at Superdrug were up 5.6% (total sales 8.4%) with the
increased emphasis on beauty-related gifts proving successful.

Woolworths improved over the Christmas period and achieved a like-for-like
sales increase of 1.8%, having been slightly down in the third quarter.
Particular success was achieved in mobile communications and entertainment
along with character-themed products in the toys and clothing areas. Building
on this, Woolworths has bought the rights to the Ladybird clothing brand, as
announced today by Coats Viyella. The new formats Big W and Woolworths General
Store both enjoyed strong trading during the period with further innovations
continuing to be introduced.

Kingfisher's e-commerce operations continued to develop strongly. Overall,
according to MMXI, the Group's UK internet sites had the second largest number
of on line shopping visits in the UK. In line with our strategy of focusing on
integrated clicks and mortar retailing, the sale of our non core investment in
LibertySurf was agreed during the period.

Commenting on the figures, Kingfisher's Chief Executive Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy
said:

'It's good that our three sectors, each operating in an increasingly
competitive market, continued the pattern and increased Christmas sales. Key
to this is our focus on offering our customers the best value, choice and
service.

He added: 'It's also encouraging that our new formats, most of which do not
yet appear in the like-for-like sales comparisons, including Big W, Woolworths
General Store, Casto L'Entrepot and Comet Interactive stores continued to
perform well. This strengthens our belief that they hold great promise for the
future.'


KINGFISHER DEMERGER

Kingfisher continues to make progress with the preparation necessary for the
demerger (announced in September 2000) and which it intends to implement in
the second quarter of 2001. As part of this process Kingfisher will keep under
review other approaches to separating the General Merchandise business from
the DIY and Electricals Sectors.

Sir Geoffrey commented: 'We remain focussed on delivering the demerger and our
clear aim is to maximise shareholder value.'





For further information:
Media Enquiries
John Eyre                                            [phone]
Jonathan Miller                                      [phone]
Gail Lavielle      (France)                          [phone]

Broker and Institutional Enquiries
Andrew Mills                                         [phone]
Ian Harding                                          [phone]
Graham Fairbank (France)                             [phone]

Kingfisher plc                                       [phone]

Kingfisher Website                                   www.kingfisher.co.uk


                                   - ends -


                         CHRISTMAS TRADING STATEMENT

                 Sales for the 9 weeks ended 30 December 2000




                 2000 / 01           1999 / 00         % increase/(decrease)
                                                     All stores   Like-for-like
                       £m Euro m          £m Euro m           %               %
UK (1)                   442.8     728.9     382.1    581.9  15.9%         9.4%
France (2,8)             274.9     452.6     261.3    397.9   5.2%         4.6%
International (3,8)      113.2     186.3      97.3    148.1  16.3%         2.2%
DIY Sector               830.9   1,367.8     740.7  1,127.9  12.2%         6.7%
Darty (8)                288.6     475.1     276.9    421.7   4.2%         8.4%
Comet                    289.9     477.3     265.8    404.8   9.1%         1.5%
ProMarkt (4,8)           195.6     322.0     200.2    304.9 (2.3%)       (5.0%)
BUT (5,8)                 74.5     122.6      57.5     87.5  29.6%        23.0%
Other (6)                 50.6      83.3      34.5     52.5  46.7%         7.0%
Electrical sector        899.2   1,480.3     834.9  1,271.4   7.7%         4.0%
Woolworths               682.5   1,123.6     657.5  1,001.2   3.8%         1.8%
Superdrug                205.5     338.3     189.6    288.7   8.4%         5.6%
Other (7)                205.4     338.1     146.9    223.7  39.8%         8.9%
General Merchandise    1,093.4   1,800.0     994.0  1,513.6  10.0%         3.0%
sector
Total Group            2,823.5   4,648.1   2,569.6  3,912.9   9.9%         4.5%
Local Currency
DIY France (FFRm)      2,928.8             2,734.9            7.1%
Darty (FFRm)           3,129.7             2,843.7           10.1%
Promarkt (DEMm)          641.1               603.2            6.3%
BUT (FFRm)               807.5               576.7           40.0%

The like-for-like increases are shown at constant exchange rates

Euro comparisons are £1 = Euro 1.6462 (1999 £1 = Euro 1.5228)

Notes
(1) UK includes B&Q Warehouse, Supercentre and Screwfix.
(2) France relates to domestic French operations only (Castorama France, Brico
    Depot France, Dubois Materiaux and Amiland).
(3) Includes all DIY activities outside France and the UK. B&Q China is
    included for 3 months to 31 December 2000.
(4) Both years include 3 months to 31 December.
(5) 2000 includes 2 months to 31 December 2000 and 1999 includes 2 months to 31
    December 1999 (previously reported as 3 months to 31 December 1999).
(6) Other Electricals comprises BCC, New Vanden Borre, Electric City; and
    Datart for the nine weeks to 30 December 2000.
(7) Includes Big W, Woolworths General Store, Entertainment UK, MVC, VCI; and
    StreetsOnline for the two weeks to 30 December 2000 (Entertainment UK and
    VCI not included in the like-for-like sales increase).
(8) Castorama, Darty, ProMarkt and BUT sales are reported on a calendar month
    basis.



                         CHRISTMAS TRADING STATEMENT

             Sales for the 48 week period ended 30 December 2000

                    2000 / 01             1999 / 00    % increase/(decrease)
                                                      All       Like-for-like
                                                       stores
                            £m  Euro m      £m  Euro m         %            %
 UK (1)                2,524.0 4,155.0 2,130.2 3,243.9     18.5%         7.7%
 France (2,8)          1,594.8 2,625.4 1,609.8 2,451.3    (0.9%)         4.2%
 International (3,8)     582.3   958.6   468.5   713.5     24.3%         4.3%
 DIY sector            4,701.1 7,739.0 4,208.5 6,408.7     11.7%         6.0%
 Darty (8)             1,121.1 1,845.6 1,062.4 1,617.8      5.5%        11.9%
 Comet                 1,011.3 1,664.8   886.0 1,349.2     14.1%         7.7%
 ProMarkt (4.8)          603.0   992.6   547.6   833.9     10.1%       (3.2%)
 BUT (5,8)               306.1   503.9   251.5   383.0     21.7%         7.6%
 Other (6)               197.3   324.8   161.8   246.4     21.9%         9.1%
 Electrical sector     3,238.8 5,331.7 2,909.3 4,430.3     11.3%         7.5%
 Woolworths            1,803.6 2,969.1 1,738.1 2,646.8      3.8%         1.7%
 Superdrug               826.2 1,360.1   784.9 1,195.2      5.3%         2.9%
 Other (7)               492.4   810.6   361.1   549.9     36.4%         7.8%
 General Merchandise   3,122.2 5,139.8 2,884.1 4,391.9      8.3%         2.3%
 sector




Total Group           11,062.1 18,210.5 10,001.9 15,230.9     10.6%         5.4%
 Local Currency
DIY France (FFRm)     17,085.6         16,148.0              5.8%
Darty (FFRm)          12,100.8         10,656.9             13.5%
 Promarkt (DEMm)       1,952.0         1,623.4             20.2%
 BUT (FFRm)            3,303.6         2,523.1             30.9%

The like-for-like increases are shown at constant exchange rates



Euro comparisons are £1 = Euro 1.6462 (1999 £1 = Euro 1.5228)

Notes
(1) UK includes B&Q Warehouse, Supercentre and Screwfix.
(2) France relates to domestic French operations only (Castorama France, Brico
    Depot France, Dubois Materiaux and Amiland).
(3) Includes all DIY activities outside France and the UK. B&Q China is
    included for 12 months to 31 December 2000.
(4) Both years include 12 months to 31 December.
(5) 2000 includes 11 months to 31 December 2000 and 1999 includes 11 months to
    31 December 1999 (previously reported as 12 months to 31 December 1999).
(6) Other Electricals comprises BCC, New Vanden Borre, Electric City; and
    Datart for the nine weeks to 30 December 2000.
(7) Includes Big W, Woolworths General Store, Entertainment UK, MVC, VCI; and
    StreetsOnline for the two weeks to 30 December 2000 (Entertainment UK and
    VCI not included in the like-for-like sales increase).
(8) Castorama, Darty, ProMarkt and BUT sales are reported on a calendar month
    basis.