Kingfisher France and Mr. Bricolage set up purchasing company Unio

Kingfisher France, the French subsidiary of the British DIY group, and the French franchise group Mr. Bricolage have founded a joint purchasing company called Unio. The joint venture is expected to be operational by the time purchasing talks begin in the autumn. The two companies had announced the negotiations to form a joint venture for joint purchasing in March.

Kingfisher France and Mr. Bricolage will each maintain their own purchasing policies, according to a press release. They would maintain their independence and continue to be competitors.

The purchasing partnership aims to strengthen relationships with common national and international suppliers, offer them new business opportunities and create added value, the release said.

In France, Kingfisher is represented by the Castorama and Brico Dépôt distribution lines and now also by Screwfix. Turnover here was around GBP 4.452 bn (EUR 5.149 bn) in the 2022/2023 financial year. This is more than double Mr. Bricolage's annual turnover of GBP 2.353 bn; the company is in the market with the franchise sales lines Mr. Bricolage and Les Briconautes as well as through members with their own presence.