Ian Cheshire to join the DWP board as non-exec January 31, 2011 IAN Cheshire has been appointed as the lead non-executive member on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) board. The outspoken Kingfisher chief executive is no stranger to politics. He threw his weight behind a high profile campaign by the Tories to reverse a hike in National Insurance, proposed by Labour before their election defeat. [...]
Cheshire joins Whitbread to replace Tesco bound Clarke January 27, 2011 WHITBREAD has appointed Ian Cheshire, pictured left, as a non-executive director to replace Philip Clarke. The pub group said yesterday Clarke, pictured right, will be stepping down from the board when he takes up the chief executive role at Tesco in March, replacing Sir Terry Leahy at the supermarket giant. Cheshire, who will start his [...]
Focus owners seek financial help or a sale October 31, 2010 THE owners of the UK’s fourth-largest DIY chain Focus are looking to investment bankers to advise on the future of the heavily debt laden business, which could lead to a sale. US based private equity firm Cerberus is taking advice from Lazard on the future of Focus, and is in talks with its banks about [...]
Kingfisher in warning over tough times September 16, 2010 KINGFISHER yesterday said that it had beaten its first half profit forecast – but the home improvement giant warned that consumer confidence would not be fully restored until at least 2012. The B&Q owner made a pre-tax profit of £354m in the 26 weeks to 31 July, which it achieved through cost cutting rather than [...]
Kingfisher sees sales dip as UK stores struggle on July 22, 2010 B&Q owner Kingfisher said yesterday it was on track to meet first-half profit expectations, with cost cutting and business improvement measures offsetting a dip in underlying sales. The firm, which runs Castorama and Brico Depot chains in France said sales at stores open at least a year fell 0.8 per cent in the 10 weeks [...]
Kingfisher sales drop offset by cost-cutting July 22, 2010 B&Q owner Kingfisher said it was on track to meet first-half profit expectations, with cost cutting and business improvement measures offsetting a dip in underlying sales. The firm, which also operates the Castorama and Brico Depot chains in France, said sales at stores open at least a year fell 0.8 per cent in the 10 [...]
B&Q looks to World Cup to kick-off sales June 3, 2010 B&Q owner Kingfisher said yesterday it was pinning its hopes on the World Cup to fuel a sales rise after a first quarter blighted by poor weather. The group said it had almost sold out of a garden gnome dressed in the England team kit ahead of the tournament and was also selling wheelbarrows and [...]
Kingfisher profit up after cost savings June 3, 2010 B&Q owner Kingfisher – Europe’s biggest home improvements retailer – posted a 15 per cent rise in first-quarter profit as cost savings and reduced losses in China offset a fall in underlying sales due to poor spring weather. The group, which runs Castorama and Brico Depot in France, made a retail profit of £146m in [...]
Kingfisher sees revenues rise March 25, 2010 B&Q owner Kingfisher beat profit forecasts and raised its dividend yesterday – helped by a rise in sales of eco-friendly products. Pre-tax profit excluding one-off items jumped 49 per cent to £547m for the year to the end of January, above the average forecast of £543m. As well as raising its dividend for the first [...]
Kingfisher raises dividend after profits boost March 25, 2010 B&Q owner Kingfisher beat profit forecasts and raised its dividend – helped by a rise in sales of eco-friendly products. Pre- tax profit excluding and one-off items jumped 49 per cent to £547m in the year ended January, above the average forecast of £543m. As well as raising its dividend for the first time in [...]