As the leading home improvement retailer in Europe and Asia, with operations in eight countries, Kingfisher has a scale and international reach which give it unique competitive advantages. But these advantages can only be truly realised with the Group's commercial functions, its operating companies and its global supplier base working closely together.

The Kingfisher Sourcing Organisation (KSO) network of overseas sourcing offices, enables Group companies to buy products directly from manufacturers, which offers major competitive advantages, not least the ability to secure favourable buying terms. Increasingly, Kingfisher is also using direct sourcing to drive quality, innovation and design excellence in the products it buys.

With KSO offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Poland, India, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, Kingfisher has coverage of the world's key product supply markets, each specialising in distinct product areas that, when combined, provide the broad range of options demanded by product buyers and customers within Kingfisher's businesses.

We have common purchasing programmes, dedicated to key product ranges within categories such as tools, lighting and wood flooring, covering own-brand as well as third-party branded products. By bringing product buyers together for joint purchasing trips and dedicated networking events, these programmes allow greater sharing of ideas and expertise between Kingfisher's largest businesses, as well as boosting the Group's purchasing power from aggregated volumes. Crucially, they also allow Kingfisher to take the lead in determining the design and specifications of many products, using the in-house design and product benchmarking expertise of B&Q UK and Castorama France.

Kingfisher also utilises direct sourcing to develop its own and exclusive brand portfolio, notably in hand tools, power tools, air-treatment and decorative products. These own brands include Performance Power and MacAllister power tools and the Colours range of decorative products, which includes lighting and soft furnishings, the majority of which is direct sourced.