Kingfisher, Europe's biggest home-improvements retailer, said today that it plans to create more than 1,200 jobs across Britain after net profits rose nearly a third in the group's first half.
"Kingfisher announces that it is to create over 1,200 new jobs across the UK this year as it expands its B&Q and Screwfix operations,'' the company that also owns the Castorama chain in France said in a statement.
The group also said that its overall net profits jumped 29% to £320m sterling (€368m) in the six months to July 30 compared with £248m a year earlier. Retail sales grew 3.8% to £5.66 billion.
"We have delivered very strong profit growth in what are difficult times for all retailers," chief executive Ian Cheshire said in Kingfisher's results statement.
"Looking ahead, economic uncertainty throughout Europe is likely to impact consumer confidence, meaning conditions will remain challenging for retailers," he added.
