NEWS Kingfisher issues Q3 trading update


Kingfisher plc recently released its third quarter sales update for 2021. Key points include strong sales performance from all banners and categories on a two-year basis, across both retail and trade channels; continued market share gains, driven by ongoing delivery against strategic priorities;


effective


management of product availability, logistics and inflation


pressures; a good


start to the fourth quarter; and expected H2 21/22 LFL sales and full year adjusted pre-tax profit to be towards


the higher end of previously guided ranges.


This performance has been helped by the strategic execution and supportive new industry trends


which are providing opportunity for sustained long- term growth and a £300 million share buyback programme, with c.£67 million completed so far. Thierry Garnier, Chief Executive


Officer, said: “Kingfisher has delivered


another successful


quarter, with two-year LFL sales growth of 15% and strong growth across both retail and trade channels, and across all categories. These are even


stronger sales trends given the backdrop of an increasingly ‘normalised’ consumer spending environment. Demand remains supported by what we believe are enduring new industry trends, including more working from home. “We continue to grow our market share, driven by strong execution of our new strategy. We are pushing forward with investments in key


Be safe, not sorry: scalding and burns data released


Kevin Wellman, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), warns that scalding and central heating system related contact burns continue to pose a grave risk to households, as NHS Digital reveals its latest hospital admissions data.


The NHS Digital Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2020-21 for England shows that between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, there were 812 admissions for burn injuries caused via contact with heating appliances, radiators and pipes. A staggering 737 - nearly 91% - of heating appliance burn finished


consultant episodes


were emergencies. Babies and young children aged 0-4 made up 22% of


finished consultant


episodes, while those over 70 made up 38%. There were 602 admissions from scald injuries from


taps. Alarmingly, 553 finished consultant episodes - nearly 92% - were classed as emergencies.


And sadly yet again, very young children and the elderly are the most at risk, with children in the 0-4 age range accounting for 24% of finished consultant episodes and the over 70’s accounting for 24%. As heating professionals know,


it’s all too easy for radiators, towel warmers and central heating pipes


to reach temperatures


high enough to cause a burn if touched. Likewise, hot bath water is responsible for the highest number of fatal and severe scalding injuries among young children. Burns and scalds often result in life-long challenges for


the individual and their families, making it all the more tragic that the majority of injuries


Dulux Decorator Centre puts sustainability centre stage at the National Painting & Decorating Show


After standing side-by-side with painters and decorators through the upheavals of the past 18 months, the Dulux Decorator Centre team made a long-awaited return to the National Painting & Decorating Show this month. Taking place at Coventry Building


Society Arena, the show saw Dulux Decorator Centre experts share their


stand-out advice to help professionals make the most of its products and services to meet their business goals. Sustainability was at the heart of the Dulux Decorator Centre stand, with the team providing a wealth of information and advice on how professionals can provide a sustainable solution for clients. Visitors were also able to learn about steps they can take to lower their carbon footprint, including through the use of low-VOC and water-based paint products.


4 DIY WEEK NOVEMBER 2021


occur as a result of an accident that could have been prevented. Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE said: “The figures from NHS Digital remain far too high and the most vulnerable in society continue to be at a grave risk from household scalds and burns. The number of very young children being afflicted with injuries is tragic - especially as most incidents will have been avoidable with the use of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs), or having precautions such as low surface temperature radiators in place. Wellman continued: “This isn’t a new problem. The numbers show that over the last eight years, there has been over 51,000


finished consultant


episodes bed days due to scalds and burns combined. Ultimately, poor public knowledge of scalding and contact burn related injuries means we still don’t have the issue under control. Without robust legislation, it’s once again down to the industry to help teach and protect the public.”


areas of the business to drive long-term growth, including further enhancements to our e-commerce proposition and Screwfix’s launch in France. And we are progressing with our clear plans to deliver on our carbon reduction targets, aligned to 1.5°C to 2025, and to become ‘forest positive’ by the same year. “Since the start of this year we have maintained, and in many cases improved, our product availability, which is amongst the best in our industry. This has supported our market share gains and allowed us to upweight promotional initiatives in


the


quarter. We have also continued to manage inflation


pressures


effectively, while retaining highly competitive pricing. “We have entered our final quarter with positive momentum and now expect sales and profits to be towards the higher end of our previously guided ranges. Overall, with strong execution and supportive new long-term trends for our industry, we remain confident


of continued


outperformance of our markets.” This announcement and data tables for Q3 21/22 sales can be downloaded from: www.kingfisher.com/investors


Travis Perkins fully acquires Staircraft to add new capability for customers


Travis Perkins plc has announced that it has fully acquired Staircraft; a market leading company that provides integrated stair, floor and door solutions. This development expands Travis Perkins’ customer proposition by adding digital component design,


timber engineering


and production capability to its portfolio. Travis Perkins first acquired a minority share (15%) in Staircraft in 2015, and announced its intention to fully acquire the remaining share (85%) of the company at an investors update on 29 September. “We have enjoyed a close working relationship with Staircraft for the past six years and believe this partnership has many more opportunities for further growth potential for both parties,” explained Group COO, Frank Elkins. “Staircraft is a very exciting business; technology-led and


well known for innovation


and quality, and for delivering engineering solutions that are developed offsite in factory based conditions. This means that their offering plays right into our future strategy of elevating our customer relationships by providing new areas of value- added products and services,” Elkins continued.


“For us, being part of Travis Perkins plc will give us access to new markets, investment and growth opportunities,” said Managing Director of Staircraft, Andy Hamilton, who will remain in post with his leadership team under the new ownership.


HTA calls on government to harness the power of gardeners in building back greener


Reacting to the Chancellor’s recent Budget announcement on funding for new T-levels, James Clark, Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), highlighted the role UK horticulture plays in ‘greening the economy’ and tackling climate change, but warned that the time taken to get sector-specific T-levels up and running, the ‘mixed bag’ of changes to business taxes and uncertainties of seasonal labour availability for next year, was acting against the ‘green growth’ opportunities the sector provides. “The UK horticulture sector is the ‘original green economy’ – we can grow to being a £42bn-worth industry by 2030. That includes creating new and exciting jobs. The Chancellor’s emphasis on ‘upskilling’ the workforce is welcome, but does not go far enough for our sector, which is struggling to fill vacancies across the board.


“We’re being prevented from unlocking this growth potential by a skills gap and lack of labour. T-levels are one opportunity to address this issue, but they don’t overcome a fundamental lack of college courses in the skills we need as a sector, not to mention that the relevant T-level subjects for our industry don’t come online until 2023. “We also need urgent action from the government on seasonal labour rules for next year – we’re calling for the Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme to continue and a very simple measure of including ornamental horticulture in the existing numbers, supported by an extension of three months to the current visa system.” “Our call to the Government is to harness the


power of the UKs 30m gardeners and millions of green space users, by backing the industry that produces and sells the products consumers want to ‘build back greener’.” Visit the HTA website at https://hta.org.uk for more.


www.diyweek.net


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