International News - Kingfisher plans £120m growth for Bricot Depot

Kingfisher is investing£120 million in an expansion programme at Brico Depot over the next five years.

The French chain has 56 stores, but Kingfisher boss Gerry Murphy said this could almost double to more than 100. Kingfisher estimates spending about£3 million per store.

Expansion at Brico Depot will run in parallel to a revitalisation of the core Castorama chain, which began this month with the launch of three stores.

Murphy said the reopened stores maintained the Castorama signature, while drawing on knowledge from B&Q.

He added that Kingfisher will continue to expand in key markets overseas, including Poland and and China, while testing Spain, Korea and Turkey.