About
About Screwfix
Type
Private (subsidiary of Kingfisher PLC)
Founded
1979 as the Woodscrew Supply Company
Headquarters
Yeovil, Somerset
Key People
John Mewett – Chief Executive Officer
Max Britten – Managing Director for UK and Republic of Ireland
Kersty Drinkwater – Finance Director
Liz Bell – HR Director
Ian Howe – Supply Chain & Logistics Director
Scott Parsons – Operations & Property Director
Matt Compton – Commercial Director
Nick Burton – Technology Director
Sue Harries – Digital, Proposition & Data Director
Jack Wallace – Marketing Director
Dan Monaghan – CEO of Screwfix Connect
Employees
Over 13,000
Industry
Trade, Maintenance, Serious DIY
Products
Screws, Power Tools, Hand Tools, Fixings and Accessories
Kitchens, Bathrooms and Flooring
Lighting, Building and Plumbing, Cleaning Hygiene,
Safety and Workwear,
Security and Ironmongery,
Landscaping & Outdoor
Website
www.screwfix.com
www.screwfix.ie
www.screwfix.fr
www.screwfix.eu
Our History
Based in Yeovil, Somerset Screwfix started life as the Woodscrew Supply Company in 1979. The company’s first mail order catalogue consisted of a single page, solely dedicated to screws and, in 1987, this was increased to a four page version offering hardware to DIY and Trade professionals in the name of Handimail. The first catalogue to be produced in the name of Screwfix Direct appeared in 1992 and, with a turnover of £4 million the company moved into larger premises at Pen Mill, Yeovil in 1994. This was to herald the start of significant growth. In 1998, with a turnover that had virtually doubled year on year to £28M, the company moved to a purpose built site at Houndstone Business Park in Yeovil.
The first website was launched in 1999, just five months prior to the company being acquired by Kingfisher Plc. Later that year, the company expanded its Houndstone site with the opening of a new Contact Centre, employing 500 people. In January 2000, Screwfix trading hours were extended to 7 days a week. The 1000th employee joined the organisation in March 2000 and next day deliveries within mainland UK were introduced.
In January 2001, Screwfix subsequently expanded their contact centre. The company re-launched the website later that year, and was awarded E-tailer of the Year.
In September 2004, to continue to meet the increased demand, a fully automated, 325,000 sq. ft. distribution centre was opened in Trentham, Stoke on Trent, fulfilling next day orders. The innovative ‘Screwfix Community’, an online forum pre-dating Facebook, was also launched later that year.
In August 2005, the first Screwfix store opened in Yeovil, Somerset and to support the store expansion a new 540,000 sq. ft. distribution centre in Stafford was opened in 2007. By 2008, Screwfix had over 100 stores across the UK.
Plumbfix was launched in 2008, offering qualified plumbers a wider range of specialist goods at better prices, this was followed by the launch of Electricfix the next year. Screwfix officially launched its Facebook page in May 2010. In July 2011, Screwfix launched its Click & Collect service, enabling customers to order and pay securely online and collect in-store in 5 minutes. Screwfix expanded its online offering by launching a mobile website, enabling customers an easier shopping experience when not at home. Click & Collect was introduced onto this platform in January 2012. Screwfix proceeded to join Twitter in October 2012.
By 2013 Screwfix launched its 300th store and with this success they moved into new markets in 2014, opening seven stores in Northern Ireland and four stores in Germany. In the same year, the web and mobile site extended the range to include 23,000 products available online and the contact centre extended their opening hours to deliver a 24/7 service. 2015 saw the launch of Screwfix’s Quickshop app, which allows customers to build their order on their smartphone and generates a QR code which can be scanned at the till point in store.
Its Click & Collect in as little as one minute service means customers can conveniently purchase over 10,000 products online or over the phone and collect from the store in as little as one minute. In 2021 Screwfix Sprint was introduced, allowing customers to place an order on the new Screwfix app and get it delivered straight to their location – either at home or on site – in 60 minutes or less. Screwfix Sprint is currently available in over 325 eligible stores, reaching nearly 50% of the UK population, with the aim to reach even more busy tradespeople across the Nation.
In July 2022, Screwfix opened its 800th store in Bourton-on-the-water, Gloucestershire, marking a significant milestone for the business and bringing Screwfix closer to its overall target of 1,000 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Following the successful launch of its French website in 2021, Screwfix opened its first five stores in France at the end of 2022. Screwfix now counts 20 stores in France in Northern France with more planned for 2024.
In 2023 Screwfix launched its European website, serving customers in Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Sweden.
In March 2024, Screwfix, celebrated the opening of its 900th store in the UK and Ireland in Nottingham – Bilborough, marking a new milestone for the business which continues to grow.
Screwfix’s many accolades include;
- Screwfix was awarded South West Contact Centre Forum’s Large Contact Centre of the Year Award in 2017.
- Screwfix was awarded Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in 2017 and 2018.
- Screwfix was awarded Retail Week’s ‘Best Retailer over £250m’ and ‘Digital Pioneer’ awards in 2018.
- Screwfix was awarded in the A-Z of Recognised Retailers in the Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019.
- Screwfix was awarded Retail Week’s Mark of Excellence’ for Best Place to Work in 2019.
- The Screwfix and Wincanton team came highly commended in the Chep Award for Supply Chain Strategy and Design at the Logistics Manager Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2019.
- Screwfix Sprint awarded ‘Best Customer Experience’ at the Retail Week Awards 2022.
- Screwfix Sprint awarded ‘Best Innovation in Delivery’ at the eCommerce Awards 2023.
As part of the retailer’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, all the new stores are equipped with air source heat pumps to provide heating and hot water.
Screwfix’s entire store network is already powered exclusively by renewable electricity and the retailer has been on a journey to retrofit its existing stores with air source heat pumps. At the end of the 2023/24 financial year, more than 630 Screwfix stores were fitted with the low carbon technology, representing over 60% of the overall total, with more to be rolled-out in 2024.
To be even closer to local communities, all Screwfix stores are now provided with a life-saving defibrillator.
Screwfix is part of Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement company with approximately 2000 stores, and operations in eight countries across Europe. We operate under retail banners including B&Q, Castorama, Brico Dépôt, Screwfix, TradePoint and Koçtaş, supported by a team of over 80,000 colleagues. We offer home improvement products and services to consumers and trade professionals who shop in our stores and via our e-commerce channels. At Kingfisher, our purpose is to make home improvement accessible for everyone.