DIY SOS: B&Q sales ‘shot up a third’ in week before lockdown 2.0

Shoppers rushed to B&Q ahead of England’s second lockdown, lifting the DIY chain’s owner Kingfisher to an “exceptional” 32% jump in weekly sales.

The FTSE-100 group, which also owns Screwfix, has seen a big boost from stay-at-home rules as stranded homeowners turned to DIY.

An update today showed B&Q sales surged 24% in the three months to the end of October, with sales of weather-related categories — including patio heaters — up 45.2%,  

This was followed by “exceptional demand” ahead of the current lockdown as like-for-like sales across its UK and Ireland estate jumped 31.6% in the first week of November.

Sales grew by 17.3% last week, with all Kingfisher’s B&Q and Screwfix stores open due to their essential retail status. The company is creating jobs in order to meet demand and this month repaid the £23 million it received under the Government’s furlough programme.

CEO Thierry Garnier still warned the firm’s near-term outlook was clouded by considerable uncertainty around Covid-19 and a new trading deal with the EU.