KINGFISHER is trying to dip a beak into the French DIY retailing

sector through picking up a stake in Castorama, the leading company in

the field in France, writes CHRISTOPHER SIMS.

The group is one of several who have put in an offer to buy the 29% of

Castorama held by Carrefour, the major French retailing group, which

wants to sell it to reduce debt. The chain has 114 outlets in France and

has a similar product profile as B&Q, Kingfisher's DIY chain which is

the UK's largest.