Trading Statement

Kingfisher PLC
18 February 2003



EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS

Tuesday 18 February 2003



KINGFISHER REPORTS STRONG FOURTH QUARTER SALES GROWTH OF 12.9%


Fourth quarter to 1 February 2003
                                                                      2002/03          2001/02       Change
                                                                           £m               £m            %
Retail sales                                                          2,913.0          2,579.5         12.9
Like-for-like sales growth                                               3.6%             2.1%          n/a

Twelve months to 1 February 2003
                                                                      2002/03          2001/02       Change
                                                                           £m               £m            %
Retail sales                                                         10,654.0          9,618.7         10.8
Like-for-like sales growth                                               2.1%             4.1%          n/a



Kingfisher plc has today announced that total sales grew 12.9% to £2.9 billion
during the fourth quarter ended 1 February 2003. On a like-for-like basis sales
increased by 3.6%, the highest quarterly like-for-like growth of the financial
year just ended.

For the full year total sales increased by 10.8% to £10.7 billion, with a
like-for-like increase of 2.1%.

Group Finance Director Helen Weir said: 'This has been another successful
trading period for Kingfisher. Much has been made recently of the deterioration
in consumer confidence across Europe and in that respect it's encouraging to see
growth coming from all of our key businesses, reflecting the strength of our
brands and their market leading positions.  In light of this performance and our
continued focus on cashflow management, we expect to announce on 19 March that
full year pre-exceptional profit - before tax and goodwill amortisation - will
be slightly above the upper end of market expectations. We remain cautiously
optimistic for the year ahead despite continuing uncertain market conditions.'

Francis Mackay, Kingfisher's Chairman, said: 'This is another good trading
performance from our businesses and we're progressing well with our Home
Improvement integration programme. The last step in our transformation plan, the
Electrical & Furniture separation, remains on track for delivery in line with
our original timetable. A demerger onto the London Stock Exchange is the most
likely separation route.

'I'm delighted that our new Chief Executive, Gerry Murphy, has now taken the
helm. Gerry joins us at an exciting time and I'm convinced that he and the
Kingfisher team will continue to deliver our challenging growth agenda.'




HOME IMPROVEMENT

For 13 weeks ended 1 February 2003


                                            2002/03            2001/02     % total       % like-for-like change
Retail sales (£m)                                                           change
UK                                            874.4              742.1       17.8                 8.8
France                                        480.5              418.3       14.9                 3.6
International                                 249.4              198.1       25.9                 2.7
TOTAL                                       1,604.3            1,358.5       18.1                 6.3

For 52 weeks ended 1 February 2003

                                            2002/03            2001/02     % total       % like-for-like change
Retail sales (£m)                                                           change
UK                                          3,748.1            3,214.6       16.6                 5.1
France                                      2,045.2            1,833.5       11.5                 2.4
International                                 963.9              785.8       22.7                 5.3
TOTAL                                       6,757.2            5,833.9       15.8                 4.3



Home Improvement

B&Q continued to set the pace for the whole sector with new kitchen and power
tool ranges performing particularly strongly over the quarter. With strong
like-for-like sales growth and a further three new Warehouses, B&Q continued to
build market share throughout the period.   Screwfix also grew strongly during
the quarter with total sales up 25%.



In France, the integration of the Castorama businesses progressed well.  The
Cost Price Reduction Programme (CPR) was introduced into Castorama and a number
of initiatives to stimulate sales. Castorama achieved growth in like-for-like
sales of 1.5% during the quarter and Brico Depot, which accounts for around 30%
of the sector's French sales, continued to grow strongly with total sales ahead
32.9%, up 11.2% on a like-for-like basis. During the quarter the integration of
the London and Lille corporate head offices was completed.



The international businesses continued to grow rapidly reflecting space
expansion as well as strong like-for-like growth in Poland and Italy. In Canada,
like-for-like sales declined in the face of tough prior year growth
comparatives.





ELECTRICAL & FURNITURE

For 13 weeks ended 1 February 2003


Retail Sales (£m)                           2002/03            2001/02        % total          % like-for-like
                                                                              change                change
France                                        582.0              548.5                   6.1               (3.2)
UK                                            457.2              426.7                   7.1                 3.5
International                                  89.8               69.7                  28.8                 9.5
SUB TOTAL                                   1,129.0            1,044.9                   8.0                 0.4
Germany (2)                                   179.7              176.1                   2.0                 1.9
TOTAL                                       1,308.7            1,221.0                   7.2                 0.6

For 52 weeks ended 1 February 2003

Retail sales (£m)                           2002/03            2001/02        % total         % like-for-like
                                                                               change              change
France                                      1,788.4            1,700.0                   5.2              (2.7)
UK                                          1,319.3            1,253.2                   5.3                1.6
International                                 254.4              206.9                  23.0                4.1
SUB TOTAL                                   3,362.1            3,160.1                   6.4              (0.6)
Germany (1) (2)                               534.7              624.7                (14.4)              (4.8)
TOTAL                                       3,896.8            3,784.8                   3.0              (1.2)




(1)   Electrical & Furniture Germany includes ProMarkt for the twelve months to 
      January 2003 and the thirteen months to January 2002 respectively.  The 
      prior year results include sales of £52.0 million relating to the 
      additional month of January 2001.
(2)   The disposal of the German Electrical business, ProMarkt, was completed on 
      1 February 2003.



Electrical & Furniture

In the UK, Comet had a successful Christmas and January trading period boosted
by sales of large televisions, digital products and games.

In France, where market conditions remain tougher in the face of poor consumer
confidence, overall growth was achieved but like-for-like sales again declined,
albeit more slowly than in the third quarter. Darty, with like-for-like sales
down 3.0% continued to be affected by a slow white goods market but capitalised
on sales of high-tech products such as laptops and digital products. BUT saw a
3.8% decline in like-for-like sales reflecting a tough furniture market.

Elsewhere, Vanden Borre in Belgium experienced strong growth, with like-for-like
sales up 25.1% reflecting the successful integration of the Hugo Van Praag
business.


                                     -end-



This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Kingfisher's management.  Various known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to substantial
differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development
or performance of the Group and the estimates given here.  The Group accepts no
obligation to continue to report or update these forward-looking statements or
adjust them to future events or developments.


1. Kingfisher is Europe's leading home improvement retailer and is ranked number
three in the world. The Company operates more than 600 home improvement stores
in 12 countries and enjoys market-leading positions in the UK, France, Poland
and Taiwan. Sales for the Home Improvement sector for the year to 2 February
2002 were more than £5.8 billion, with retail profit in excess of £430 million.
Kingfisher also has a strategic alliance with Hornbach, Germany's leading big
box home improvement retailer, which operates 100 stores across Europe.


2. Kingfisher's Electrical & Furniture business operates around 650 stores in
seven countries. It is Europe's third largest electricals retailing business by
sales and number two by retail profit. As well as holding the leading position
in France with Darty and BUT and the number two position in the UK with Comet,
Kingfisher also enjoys leading positions in Belgium and in the Czech and Slovak
Republics. Sales for the year to 2 February 2002 were more than £3.7 billion,
with retail profit of £184 million. On 1 February 2003, Kingfisher completed the
sale of its German electricals business.



Enquiries
Kingfisher plc
Ian Harding, Director of Financial Communications           [phone]
Frederique Lepelletier, Head of IR, Continental Europe      [phone]
Jonathan Miller, Head of Corporate Comms, UK                [phone]
Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Comms, France           [phone]

The Maitland Consultancy
Duncan Campbell-Smith,                                      [phone]

Kingfisher plc                                              [phone]
Kingfisher website                                            www.kingfisher.com




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