B&Q

B&Q in brief

• Rank: #83 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #10 of 13 in Retail & E-Commerce.
• WCRC Power Score: 62.48 out of 100.
• Founded: 1969, by Richard Block and David Quayle.
• Owner: Kingfisher plc, Eastleigh, England.
• Leadership: Thierry Garnier, Group CEO of Kingfisher (leaving 31 December 2026; Sebastian Gundel succeeds from 1 February 2027).
• Latest revenue: £12.9bn revenue (FY2026, year to Jan 2026, +1.3%), group revenue of Kingfisher plc, as per company filings.

What makes B&Q powerful

B&Q is one of the best-known names in British DIY, and it sits within Kingfisher, one of Europe's largest home improvement groups. In the year to January 2026 B&Q's sales rose 3.9% to £3.97bn, with like-for-like sales up 3.3%, while Kingfisher's total sales rose 1.3% to £12.95bn and adjusted profit before tax rose 6% to £560m.

For B&Q, being part of Kingfisher brings sourcing scale, shared own-brand ranges and investment in digital and trade services. The brand's national reach means it is a natural destination for many householders starting a home or garden project, and its website and app extend that reach online. Press coverage linked the group's stronger UK trading to the collapse of rival Homebase, which left B&Q and sister brand Screwfix to win its customers.

B&Q's sales rose 3.9% to £3.97bn in Kingfisher's 2025/26 financial year, with like-for-like sales up 3.3%.

Why B&Q ranks #83

B&Q ranks 83rd with a WCRC Power Score of 62.48, just behind Argos and ahead of Pearson. Positioning & recall and Trust both score 64, reflecting a name most British householders know. Sustainability & governance is 62. Product & innovation and Digital & financial, both at 60, hold it back, despite B&Q returning to sales growth in Kingfisher's 2025/26 year.

The Achilles' heel

B&Q has often been the weaker of Kingfisher's two big UK brands, and sales of big-ticket items such as kitchens and bathrooms depend on the housing market and consumer confidence. Its owner is also changing leadership: group chief executive Thierry Garnier leaves at the end of 2026. The brand faces competition from online marketplaces and trade-focused rivals.

The 2026 story

In March 2026 Kingfisher reported results for 2025/26 showing B&Q sales up 3.9% to £3.97bn, group sales up 1.3% to £12.95bn and adjusted profit before tax up 6% to £560m. Thierry Garnier announced in May 2026 that he would leave to run Ahold Delhaize, and in October Kingfisher named OBI boss Sebastian Gundel as its next chief executive from 1 February 2027, with finance chief Bhavesh Mistry acting as interim chief executive in January.

Pillar profile

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

Questions people ask

Also featured in

• Most powerful Retail & E-Commerce brands
• Most powerful brands in England

Key facts

Sources

• Revenue figure published by Kingfisher plc
• Company website, official announcements and press releases
• Published interviews and statements by the leadership
• WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data