Kingfisher plc

Infobox Company
company_name = Kingfisher plc
company_
company_type = Public (lse|KGF)
company_slogan
foundation = 1982
location = London, England, UK
key_people = Ian Cheshire, CEO & Chairman
industry = Retail (Home Improvement)
num_employees = 80,000 (2007)
products = Home improvement products such as appliances, tools, hardware, and garden supplies & plants.
revenue = £8,676 million GBP (2007)
operating_income=£452 million GBP (2007)
net_income = £338 million GBP (2007)
homepage = [http://www.kingfisher.co.uk/ www.kingfisher.co.uk]

Kingfisher plc (lse|KGF) is a UK-based international retailer, which has owned a wide variety of retail chains in its history but is now focused on the DIY business. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

Kingfisher was founded in 1982 by the buyout of the British Woolworths chain by Paternoster Stores Ltd. [http://www.kingfisher.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=93&year=2001 Kingfisher History] ] Subsequent acquisitions of companies included B&Q, Superdrug and Comet that expanded the group. The group was renamed Kingfisher plc in 1989.

Further acquisitions of European companies such as Castorama, [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0VCW/is_12_25/ai_55013613 French turn eyes to International Arena] ] BUT S.A. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE1D8103CF937A15755C0A96E958260 Kingfisher takes stake in French retailer] ] and Wegert [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980506/ai_n14155167 Kingfisher builds position in Germany] ] enabled the group to grow to become the largest general retail group in the UK. In 1999, Kingfisher attempted a takeover of Asda, one of the UK's largest supermarket chains, only to be pipped to the post by Wal-Mart. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DQA/is_1999_June_17/ai_55041044 Wal-Mart buys Asda in UK retail shock] ] Coupled with an acrimonious battle for control of Castorama, [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2002/05/16/cnking16.xml Kingfisher swoops for Castorama] ] the resultant share price pressure forced the sale and demerger of several parts of the group by 2001, including Woolworths (forming the Woolworths Group), [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2000/09/14/cnking14.xml Kingfisher springs demerger surprise] ] until the demerger of the electricals business to form KESA in 2003 caused the group to refocus entirely around DIY. [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article1143263.ece Kesa Chief's pay will double after split] ]

Operations

Kingfisher currently operates 780 stores in 9 European and Asian countries. Its main retail brands are B&Q, Castorama, Brico Dépôt, Trade Depot and Screwfix [http://www.kingfisher.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=91] .

The companies now part of the Kingfisher group are:
* B&Q; operations in the UK, Ireland, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
* Trade Depot; 9 branches in the UK.
* Brico Dépôt; in France and Spain.
* Castorama; in France, Italy, Poland and Russia.
* Hornbach Holding AG; with over 120 stores across Europe; Kingfisher holds a 21% stake.
* KOCTAS; in Turkey.
* Screwfix Direct Ltd.; 100 branches in the UK [http://www.kingfisher.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=93] .

Leadership

The group was led between 1984 and 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. [ [http://www.sailing.org/news/3707.php Kingfisher continues sponsorship] ]

The Group was lead by Gerry Murphy from 2002 until 2008. [http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/kingfisher_plc_appoints_ian_cheshire_as_group_chief_executive_25-01-08/ The Retail Bulletin] ] 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 2008 by Euan Sutherland, who also has the role of Chief Executive of the UK Division of Kingfisher. [ [http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/debusiness/news/display.var.2171195.0.new_man_in_the_bq_hotseat.php New man in B&Q hot seat] ]

References

ee also

* European Retail Round Table

External links

* [http://www.kingfisher.co.uk/ Official site]
* [http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=KGF.L Yahoo profile]