HBL Retail News: Kingfisher sets to double store count in Poland

Monday 13 June 2011

Ian Cheshire Chief Executive Officer of Kingfisher (eastern European nation)

Bloomberg reports that Home improvement retailer Kingfisher plans to double the number of Castorama stores in Poland. Kingfisher which also owns the B&Q chain in the U.K, intends to increase store numbers from 60 to around 120 and convert its Brico Dépôt stores to the Castorama banner.

“We will continue to build stores because there’s a lot of unoccupied market space [and] there’s evidence of a more sophisticated, decorative and aspirational customer, so we can see top-line growth in that.” said Ian Cheshire Chief Executive Officer of the eastern European nation, Kingfisher’s third-largest market.

The Castorama chain is the market leader in Poland with more than 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in sales last year. Cheshire, plans to stock stores with more decorative items such as lighting and furnishings in hopes to attract more female customers.

This year, six new stores are planned in Poland and up to ten per year are possible thereafter. Castorama will also roll out a new concept, featuring more decorative products and presenting interior displays with wallpaper and cushions- shifting away from trade items such as bricks and floor tiles. To date, ten stores have been upgraded to the new concept.

To read full article, click below.
Bloomberg: Kingfisher Will Double Number of Polish Stores to Woo Decorative Consumers