Kingfisher chief executive Thierry Garnier says he could look to expand Screwfix into more European countries if its French business continues to grow.
Speaking at Retail Week x The Grocer Live 2025, Garnier said that Kingfisher operates internationally in eight countries and launched Screwfix in France in 2022. Having started as an ecommerce only brand two years ago, Screwfix France has since opened 30 stores.
Garnier said if Screwfix continues to grow in France it could look to expand the brand into other European countries. Screwfix currently trades in the UK, Poland and France.
“We have high expectations that France will continue to be successful. If it does, we probably have the space to start to look at more European countries to expand into – both in terms of the online market and possibly even with stores. That’s something that we are developing.”
On the future of the store, Garnier said he had looked at retailers around the world – particularly in China – to come up with his view of the brand’s stores and their function in the future.
“What is the store for? If you can do everything online as a customer, then why should you go to a store when you can get exactly what you want to buy online? If the store mainly around offering customers an experience? Or is it a fresh food requirement?
“So, for us, customers will go to the store because they want to buy a kitchen or visit a design centre. They want to talk to somebody who can give them advice and want to touch the material. So, I think the idea that the store is just a place to buy for now would not be the future.
“We believe a lot in dark stores. For us the store is a place where we prepare online, and that’s a change of mindset.”
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