NEWS


Henry Bell celebrates landmark anniversary


There are celebrations in the air as Henry Bell & Co marks its 200th anniversary. Established in Grantham, Lincolnshire, back in 1825, first as a grain mill, then a supplier of seeds and fertilisers, and a trader of cereals and pulses for local farmers, it has grown to become a market leader in the animal, wildlife and pet food industry.


With an enviable reputation for its manufacturing expertise and powerful portfolio of brands, Henry Bell has had the same family at the helm for four generations. Today’s managing director, Thomas Lee, is the great-grandson of Rothwell Lee, who bought the business in 1927.


“Sometimes, it’s good to sit back and look how far you’ve come,” said Lee. “In our case,


Gardening is a growing UK hobby according to latest YouGov survey


it’s been two whole centuries of evolution! Growing and thriving in this sector is a remarkable achievement and something we are immensely proud of. We are backed by a knowledgeable, experienced and enthusiastic team, and have embraced emerging technology and continued to nurture and refine our skills.


“Quality underpins every part of our business. It is the


cornerstone of our success and the foundation on which all our products are made. We have hit this major milestone running


and we’re as passionate and committed as ever to making a big difference and delivering the very best to our customers.”


Kingfisher Q1 trading update


Gardening is back in the spotlight. According to a new 2025 YouGov survey commissioned by STIGA, more and more people across the UK are embracing gardening, not as a chore, but as a fulfilling hobby that nurtures both nature and wellbeing. Whether it’s pruning, planting, harvesting, or simply observing biodiversity, Brits are increasingly devoting time and care to their green spaces, big or small. The study explores habits, preferences, and motivations, revealing how gardening has


become a widespread and shared passion. An impressive 88% of


respondents associate garden care with enjoyable activities. Gardening is widely seen not as an obligation, but as a chance to relax, recharge, and reconnect with nature. Even those without gardens recognise its appeal as a way to spend quality time outdoors. Interestingly, every UK respondent who considers themselves a gardening enthusiast said they prefer to maintain their garden themselves rather than rely on professionals.


Travis Perkins named one of World’s Greenest Companies


Travis Perkins has been recognised as one of the world’s most environmentally responsible businesses, achieving a prestigious five-star rating in Newsweek’s 2025 World’s Greenest Companies list.


The list, which ranked 750 of the world’s most sustainable publicly listed companies across 26 countries, highlighted top environmental performers and recognised those that achieved the highest five-star rating following a rigorous review of more than 8,000 businesses worldwide. Eligibility for inclusion required companies to meet sustainability benchmarks aligned with European Union standards, recognised globally as the most rigorous, and to demonstrate transparency through publicly available sustainability data. Companies must also employ over 1,000 people. Megan Adlen, group sustainability director at Travis Perkins, said: “We


are delighted that our continued commitment to sustainability has been acknowledged on the global stage.”


4 DIY WEEK JUNE 2025


Kingfisher, owner of the B&Q and Screwfix DIY brands, has released its 2025 Q1 trading update, indicating a good start to the year and reiterating its full year guidance. Q1 sales for the group amounted to £3.3bn with total sales up 2.2%, including a drop of 0.9% calendar impact. Underlying total sales growth of +3.1%. There was like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of +1.8% with underlying growth of +2.7%. The group had continued market share gains in the UK & Ireland, France and Poland.


While e-commerce sales grew by 9.3%, with e-commerce sales penetration reaching 20%. Kingfisher is reiterating its full year guidance and expects FY 25/26 adjusted pre-tax profits of £480m to £540m, and free cash flow of £420m to £480m. Thierry Garnier, Chief Executive


Officer, said: “We have made a good start to the year with underlying sales growth of 3.1%, market share gains in all key


regions and further progress in our strategic priorities. Our UK banners performed particularly well, driven by strong seasonal sales and growth in trade and e-commerce. We have successfully completed the conversion of eight former Homebase stores, all of which will be operating under the B&Q banner by the end of May. We are focused on executing our strategic growth priorities, maintaining discipline on margin and costs, and driving shareholder returns. We are confident in delivering our full year guidance.”


Home & Garden DIY Report reveals Britain to be home to ‘DIY dodgers’


compiled by indoor/outdoor paint brand Ronseal, reveals the habits, failings, financial losses, and what DIY jobs Brits would rather outsource instead of tackle themselves. The 2025 Home and Garden DIY Report includes insights from 1,500 UK homeowners, tradespeople demand sourced from search insights, Ronseal sales volumes, and Reddit data.


The national survey found that Brits delay DIY projects by 260 days on average or eight and a half months. For women, this average is 289 days, while for men the average drops to 230 days.


Despite the UK having a stretch of dry, bright, and warm weather, perfect for doing home improvement tasks around the home and garden, a new report has


revealed that as a nation, Brits are procrastinating for approximately 8.5 months before tackling much- needed DIY jobs. The newly released report,


Outdoor DIY is the most neglected task, with cleaning decking and paving being the most avoided job, avoided by 35% of UK homeowners who choose to repeatedly put it off. To explore the rest of the findings from the report, visit www.ronseal.com/diy-report.


www.diyweek.net


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