The parent company of B&Q will reveal plans today to shut dozens of DIY stores in response to a long-term decline in the number of Britons willing to spend their weekends immersed in doing things themselves.
Kingfisher is to announce that between 40 and 60 DIY stores will close out of a total B&Q estate of 360 outlets. The cutbacks will jeopardise up to 1,000 jobs, including that of Kevin O’Byrne, the chain’s boss, who is expected to leave.
Véronique Laury, the new chief executive of Kingfisher, intends to take a more aggressive approach to improving the fortunes of B&Q as part of a new strategy to be laid out this morning, according to insiders.
Her predecessor, Sir Ian Cheshire, admitted some time ago that