Screwfix is to open 35 more stores across the UK and Ireland by the end of January 2026 – creating 400 more jobs in the process. The new openings will largely be small-format Screwfix City stores, which the DIY chain first trialled back in 2023.
Screwfix opened seven Screwfix City stores during its last financial year. These smaller stores feature more than 3,000 products that shoppers can click and collect, with an additional 48,000 items available online for next day collection. Screwfix owner Kingfisher previously said it wanted to focus its expansion on London, before moving into other big cities such as Edinburgh, Bristol and Dublin.
In an update last September, the business said it hopes to have up to 100 Screwfix City outlets in the next few years as part of a wider focus on small stores. Screwfix City stores also allow shoppers to use Screwfix Sprint, which is a rapid delivery service that provides products on site or at home in 60 minutes or less.
Screwfix Sprint is available exclusively available through the Screwfix app and is available from 485 store locations. Screwfix has more than 900 stores in the UK and sells everything from tools, to electrical and lighting accessories and heating and plumbing appliances.
Screwfix CEO John Mewett said: “We’re proud to continue Screwfix’s amazing growth with our plans to open up to 35 new stores within this financial year. Despite the challenges facing the retail industry, investing in our store network remains central to how we can best support tradespeople to get their jobs done quickly, affordably, and right first time.
“Our customers continue to be busy, and we know how important it is to be near a Screwfix store. We are driving forward with our store openings and continuing to focus on providing the ultimate convenience for our customers through our ultra-compact store format, Screwfix City and rapid delivery service, Screwfix Sprint.
“As a business we’re focused on doing the right thing in the communities we serve. Through our sustainability commitments we’re committed to reducing our impact on the environment by reducing our carbon emissions and we’re proud to have donated more than £15m to local charities and not-for-profit organisations through The Screwfix Foundation.”
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B&Q owner Kingfisher reported a 0.5% fall in underlying pre-tax profits to £334million for the six months to July 31, while UK and Ireland like-for-like sales fell 0.2% as cooler spring and early summer weather knocked demand. However, the business said seasonal sales of items such as outdoor furniture, BBQs and decking had improved.
The firm revealed B&Q sales of so-called big ticket items – largely kitchen and bathroom ranges – tumbled 11.6% in the UK and Ireland over the first half. Kingfisher also saw sales plunge 7.2% across France over the first half, with Kingfisher partly blaming ongoing political uncertainty.
Thierry Garnier, chief executive of Kingfisher, said: “As expected, demand for ‘big-ticket’ categories has remained weak, in line with the broader market, while seasonal category sales trends have improved since early July. Against this backdrop we maintained a strong focus on effectively managing our costs and inventory.”
But he added the group was seeing “positive early signs of a housing market recovery, notably in the UK”, which it hopes will help pave the way for improved demand for large purchases.
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