8a421b78_port___Business_review___Risks__Description
[Risk] Contracting consumer markets, exacerbated by worsening economic conditions, will impact sales [Action] We have implemented appropriate actions to release value, drive increased sales densities, improve our profit margin and reduce our investment and working capital requirements across the Group. Similarly, we have completed the necessary scenario and contingency planning initiatives to mitigate the impact of a continued worsening of the economic climate. We are committed to continued enhancement of our customer offer, through product innovation, improved customer service and store environment, combined with an aggressive commitment to driving cost efficiencies and reducing cost to sales ratio. This will ensure that we continue to consolidate our market share, whilst maintaining a robust balance sheet and healthy cash flows, should we enter a period of potentially prolonged economic recession. [Description] 
The ongoing global economic crisis will continue to present a difficult trading outlook across the retail sector. Our ability to deliver the desired return in contracting consumer markets will be particularly challenging if the downturn is exacerbated by the stagnation of the housing and construction sectors and the inability of both the retail and commercial banking industry to offer affordable loan facilities to both customers and suppliers.
Kingfisher Annual Report 2008/09 - Report - Business review - Risks
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