Kingfisher plc
Encyclopedia
Kingfisher plc is a multinational
retailing company headquartered in London
, United Kingdom
. It is the largest home improvement
retailer in Europe and the third-largest in the world (behind The Home Depot
and Lowe's
). It has nearly 900 stores in eight countries across Asia and Europe and its brands include B&Q
, Castorama
, Brico Dépôt
and Screwfix
.
Kingfisher is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
.
, Superdrug
and Comet. It was led from 1984 (until his retirement in 2002) by Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, who became renowned for his taciturn public persona, lengthy decision-making and love of sailing. Largely through his influence, Kingfisher became the major sponsor of British sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur.
It was renamed Kingfisher plc in 1989.
Further acquisitions of European companies such as Castorama
, BUT S.A. and Wegert
enabled the Company to grow to become the largest general retail business in the UK. In 1999, Kingfisher attempted a takeover of Asda
, one of the UK's largest supermarket chains, only to be beaten by Wal-Mart
. Coupled with an acrimonious battle for control of Castorama
, the resultant share price pressure forced the sale and demerger of several parts of the Company by 2001, including Woolworths (forming the Woolworths Group
), and the demerger of the electricals business to form Kesa Electricals in 2003 – causing the Company to refocus entirely around DIY.
The Company was led by Gerry Murphy from 2002 until 2008. In January 2008 Kingfisher appointed Ian Cheshire as Group Chief Executive. Ian was formerly B&Q
's Chief Executive; this role was taken over in April 2009 by Euan Sutherland, who also has the role of Chief Executive of the UK Division of Kingfisher.
The companies now part of the Kingfisher group are:
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
retailing company headquartered in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is the largest home improvement
Home improvement
Home improvement, home renovation or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home.-Types of home improvement:...
retailer in Europe and the third-largest in the world (behind The Home Depot
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
and Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
). It has nearly 900 stores in eight countries across Asia and Europe and its brands include B&Q
B&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
, Castorama
Castorama
Castorama is a French retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies. It has its head office in Templemars.The company became a subsidiary of Kingfisher plc in 1998, along with Castorama's own subsidiary Brico Dépôt. Some outlets have been converted or relocated under the Brico Dépôt DIY...
, Brico Dépôt
Brico Dépôt
Brico Dépôt is a French chain of DIY and Home Improvement stores, headquartered in Longpont-sur-Orge. The chain was created in 1993 by Castorama Dubois Investment, Castorama Dubois was later purchased by the UK Kingfisher Group. There are over 100 stores open in France...
and Screwfix
Screwfix
Screwfix Direct Limited is a UK direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. Founded in 1979 the company was acquired in 1999 by the Kingfisher plc group, which also owns B&Q and is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
.
Kingfisher is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
.
History
Kingfisher was founded in 1982 by the buyout of the British Woolworths chain by Paternoster Stores Ltd. which later changed its name to Woolworth Holdings plc. The Company expanded through subsequent acquisitions of companies such as B&QB&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
, Superdrug
Superdrug
Superdrug Stores PLC is Britain's second-largest beauty and health retailer behind Boots. Superdrug - part of the AS Watson Group which in turn is part of the Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa - is a UK based company with over 890 stores, which since 2006, includes the Republic of Ireland...
and Comet. It was led from 1984 (until his retirement in 2002) by Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, who became renowned for his taciturn public persona, lengthy decision-making and love of sailing. Largely through his influence, Kingfisher became the major sponsor of British sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur.
It was renamed Kingfisher plc in 1989.
Further acquisitions of European companies such as Castorama
Castorama
Castorama is a French retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies. It has its head office in Templemars.The company became a subsidiary of Kingfisher plc in 1998, along with Castorama's own subsidiary Brico Dépôt. Some outlets have been converted or relocated under the Brico Dépôt DIY...
, BUT S.A. and Wegert
Wegert
Wegert was an electricals company in Germany which specialized in white goods. Latterly, Wegert was a wholly owned subsidiary of KESA Electricals plc, although most of its lifespan was spent in the Kingfisher Group. The stores were closed down in 2003 due to declining sales....
enabled the Company to grow to become the largest general retail business in the UK. In 1999, Kingfisher attempted a takeover of Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
, one of the UK's largest supermarket chains, only to be beaten by Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
. Coupled with an acrimonious battle for control of Castorama
Castorama
Castorama is a French retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies. It has its head office in Templemars.The company became a subsidiary of Kingfisher plc in 1998, along with Castorama's own subsidiary Brico Dépôt. Some outlets have been converted or relocated under the Brico Dépôt DIY...
, the resultant share price pressure forced the sale and demerger of several parts of the Company by 2001, including Woolworths (forming the Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
), and the demerger of the electricals business to form Kesa Electricals in 2003 – causing the Company to refocus entirely around DIY.
The Company was led by Gerry Murphy from 2002 until 2008. In January 2008 Kingfisher appointed Ian Cheshire as Group Chief Executive. Ian was formerly B&Q
B&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
's Chief Executive; this role was taken over in April 2009 by Euan Sutherland, who also has the role of Chief Executive of the UK Division of Kingfisher.
Operations
Kingfisher currently operates nearly 900 stores in eight countries in Asia and Europe. Its main retail brands are B&Q, Castorama, Brico Dépôt, and Screwfix.The companies now part of the Kingfisher group are:
- B&QB&QB&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
; operations in the UK, Ireland and China, - Brico DépôtBrico DépôtBrico Dépôt is a French chain of DIY and Home Improvement stores, headquartered in Longpont-sur-Orge. The chain was created in 1993 by Castorama Dubois Investment, Castorama Dubois was later purchased by the UK Kingfisher Group. There are over 100 stores open in France...
; in France, Spain and Poland. - CastoramaCastoramaCastorama is a French retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies. It has its head office in Templemars.The company became a subsidiary of Kingfisher plc in 1998, along with Castorama's own subsidiary Brico Dépôt. Some outlets have been converted or relocated under the Brico Dépôt DIY...
; in France, Poland and Russia. - Hornbach DIYHornbach DIY.Hornbach is a German DIY-store chain offering home improvement and do-it-yourself goods. It is 21% owned by Kingfisher plc, a UK company who also own the B&Q and Castorama DIY chains.In the full fiscal-year 2007/2008 the net profit slumped 24 % to 48 Mio...
; with over 120 stores across Europe; Kingfisher holds a 21% stake. - Koçtaş; 50% joint venture in TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. - ScrewfixScrewfixScrewfix Direct Limited is a UK direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. Founded in 1979 the company was acquired in 1999 by the Kingfisher plc group, which also owns B&Q and is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
; 174 branches in the UK, plus mail and internet ordering.