Profit after tax increased by almost a third to £640 million (771 million euros, $1.01 billion) in the 12 months to late January, compared with £494 million in 2010/11, Kingfisher said in a results statement. Kingfisher, which also owns the B&Q home-improvements chain in Britain, added that sales grew 3.6 percent in the reporting period to £10.831 billion, as strong growth in France offset a flat performance in Britain and Ireland. "I am pleased we have delivered another year of strong profit growth, our third such year in a row," chief executive Ian Cheshire said in the statement. "Whilst the immediate economic outlook remains uncertain, we face the future in robust shape," he added. Kingfisher said that during 2012/13, it planned to open 67 new stores, including 50 in Britain.