Kingfisher said group like-for-like sales fell 3.9% in the three months to Oct. 31, its fiscal third quarter, and were down 3.4% in the first three weeks of its fourth quarter. Third quarter like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland division rose 1.1%, but in France they fell 8.6%.
The company s stock saw a sharp decline of six per cent, marking it as the top faller on the FTSE 100. The underlying issue, as Kingfisher explained, stemmed from ongoing weaknesses in their French
Kingfisher said the virtual assistant, which can operate in multiple languages, is initially launching on the website and app of its Castorama France unit. If it proves successful, it will be rolled out to its other businesses which include B&Q and Screwfix in Britain and Brico Depot in France.