Kingfisher Group which operates in the UK as B&Q and Screwfix has pledged to return £23 million of furlough pay to the government following exceptional sales during the pandemic, unless there are material changes in the trading environment. It has also said that it will be not be claiming the staff member bonus being offered to businesses bringing staff back from furlough.
Sales at B&Q were boosted by a surge in demand for materials for DIY and gardening projects with online sales up by 164 per cent.
“We delivered a resilient financial performance in the first half of the year, with the adverse impact of Covid-19 in Q1 offset by a strong recovery in Q2, said Thierry Garnier, CEO, Kingfisher. “We have accelerated our plans around eCommerce, with a focus on fulfilment from stores.”
Share