B&Q owner Kingfisher recorded strong sales in June as DIY activity continued to soar under lockdown.
The group posted a 25.9% surge in sales across the UK and Ireland last month and jumped 33% in France, where it trades as Castorama and Brico Depot.
Kingfisher expects growth in upcoming half-year profits thanks to cost-cutting and better-than-expected recent sales as stores reopened across the UK and France.
Sales have continued to remain strong this month, with B&Q’s UK and Ireland like-for-likes up 19.6% in the three weeks to July 18.
The group said overall total like-for-like sales for the quarter so far to July 18 rose 21.6%, boosted by strong e-commerce and the phased reopening of stores in France and the UK since mid-April.
Kingfisher said: “Based on the strong sales seen to date in the second quarter, combined with cost reductions benefiting the first half… the company anticipates its half-year adjusted pre-tax profit to be ahead of prior year.”
It added: “While we are entering the second half with a favourable trading backdrop, second-half visibility remains low given uncertainty around Covid-19 and the wider economic outlook.
“As such, no specific financial guidance is provided for full-year 20/21.”
