1st Quarter Results

Kingfisher PLC
23 May 2001


EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS

Wednesday 23 May 2001


Trading statement for 13 week period ending 5 May 2001


KINGFISHER REPORTS SALES GROWTH OF 11.3% TO £ 2.9 BILLION


Kingfisher plc, the leading European home and family retailer, today reports
total sales growth during the first quarter of this year of 11.3% to a record £
2.9 billion.  Like-for-like sales growth over the same period was 4.9%.

Sales of products for internal projects, combined with a record two week Easter
holiday trading period, offset the impacts of poor weather on outdoor seasonal
ranges in the first two months of the year.  The strong growth for B&Q has also
benefited by around 3% due to the 13 week period to 5 May 2001 being more
weighted towards the peak trading season when compared with the first quarter
last year which ran to 29 April 2000.

Electrical and Furniture - total sales growth 7.9%, like-for-like 1.6%.
New technology and digital products continued to drive sales offsetting slower
demand for PCs.  Overall, sales growth in the sector was delivered in spite of
the comparison with a very strong equivalent period last year.

General Merchandise - total sales growth 7.1%, like-for-like 3.6%.
Initiatives set in train last year focusing on improving ranges, product
availability and value to customers helped deliver sales growth in the sector.
The new Big W and General Store formats continue to show promise for the
future.

Commenting on the sales figures, Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, Group Chief Executive,
said: ' This is a satisfactory start to this year with trading in line with our
expectations.  As always it is too early to draw conclusions from these figures
about the year as a whole. '

He added: 'All the businesses are clearly focused on delivering their financial
and strategic objectives in the extremely competitive markets in which they
operate.  As previously announced, the separation of Kingfisher's General
Merchandise businesses is well underway and is on schedule to be delivered by
the end of July.

Work on the demerger option has progressed well.  At the same time we are well
advanced with negotiations with the prospective buyers of both the main
businesses.  Our final decision will be based on which route ensures best value
for shareholders.   Having leading brands in fast growth markets combined with
a track record of successful innovation and investment leave us well placed to
deliver our medium term growth targets.'


                                      end
Notes to editors:

Kingfisher plc is one of Europe's leading retailers.  It operates principally
through its two international businesses, Home Improvement and Electrical &
Furniture, and its UK-focused General Merchandise business. The company employs
more than 130,000 people in over 2,900 stores across 16 countries and has some
of the best known retail brands in Europe, including B&Q, Castorama, Comet,
Darty, BUT, Woolworths and Superdrug among others.


                                 For further information


Media Enquiries
Andrew Mills, Director of Corporate Affairs              + 44 (0) 20 7725 5776
Gail Lavielle, Director of Corporate                     + 33 (0) 1 43 18 52 68
Communications
Tom Wyatt - Financial Dynamics                           + 44 (0) 20 7269 7204

Broker and Institutional Enquiries
Ian Harding, Director of Investor Relations              + 44 (0) 20 7725 5776
Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Communications        + 33 (0) 1 43 18 52 26

Kingfisher plc                                           + 44 (0) 20 7724 7749

Kingfisher Website                                           www.kingfisher.com




                          QUARTER 1 TRADING STATEMENT
                             First Quarter 2001/02
                  Sales for 13 week period ending 5 May 2001


                                            2001/  2000/ % increase/(decrease)
                                               02     01
                                                         Total sales  Like-for- 
                                                                      like sales
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               £m      £m         %           %

UK (1)                                      795.0   677.9    17.3%*      11.8%*
France (2,7)                                438.6   390.7     12.3%        4.2%
International (3)                           149.8   124.2     20.6%      (3.8%)

Home Improvement sector                   1,383.4 1,192.8     16.0%        7.6%
-----------------------                   ------- -------     -----       -----
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darty (7)                                   282.9   266.2      6.3%        0.3%
Comet                                       272.8   235.8     15.7%        7.2%
ProMarkt (4,7)                              139.2   134.9      3.2%      (2.3%)
BUT (7)                                      82.2    75.5      8.9%        3.8%
Other (5)                                    41.4    46.3   (10.6%)     (11.7%)

Electrical and Furniture sector             818.5   758.7      7.9%        1.6%
-------------------------------             -----   -----      ----        ----
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woolworths                                  394.2   387.5      1.7%        1.2%
Superdrug                                   211.0   192.8      9.4%        6.9%
Other (6)                                   118.4    95.6     23.8%       12.2%

General Merchandise sector                  723.6   675.9      7.1%        3.6%
--------------------------                  -----   -----      ----        ----
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Group                                2,925.5 2,627.4     11.3%        4.9%
                                           ------- -------     -----        ----
Euro (2001/02: £1 =  EUR 1.59; 2000/01: £1
= EUR 1.65)

Home Improvement France (EURm)              698.9   643.3      8.6%
Darty (EURm)                                450.7   438.4      2.8%
ProMarkt (EURm)                             221.9   222.1    (0.1%)
BUT (EURm)                                  130.9   124.3      5.3%



The like-for-like increases are shown at constant exchange rates
*   The growth has benefited by 3% due to the 13 week period to 5 May 2001
    being more weighted towards the peak trading season when compared with the
    first quarter last year which ran to 29 April 2000.





Notes


(1)      Home Improvement UK includes B&Q Warehouse, Supercentre and Screwfix.


(2)      Home Improvement France relates to domestic French operations only
         (Castorama France, Brico Depot France, Dubois Materiaux and Amiland).

(3)      Home Improvement International includes all Home Improvement
         activities outside of France and the UK.  B&Q China included for the 3
         months to 31 March 2001 (last year 3 months to 31 March 2000).
(4)      ProMarkt included for the 3 months February to April 2001 and February
         to April 2000 respectively (previously reported as the 3 months to 31
         March 2000).
(5)      Electrical and Furniture Other comprises BCC, New Vanden Borre and
         Datart.  Datart included for the 3 months to 31 March 2001.  Last year
         includes sales of £8.5m from Electric City.
(6)      General Merchandise Other includes Big W, General Store, Entertainment
         UK, MVC, VCI and StreetsOnline.  VCI included for the 3 months
         February to April 2001 and February to April 2000 respectively
         (previously reported as the 3 months to 31 March 2000).  StreetsOnline
         included for the 3 months to 31 March 2001.  Entertainment UK and VCI
         are not included in the like-for-like sales.
(7)      Castorama, Darty, ProMarkt and BUT sales are reported on a calendar
         month basis.