Kingfisher, the biggest home-improvements retailer in Europe, announced on Thursday a rise in third-quarter sales helped by a stronger performance at its stores in Britain and Poland. Total group revenue rose 2.4 percent to 2.693 billion pounds (2.975 billion euros, 4.499 billion dollars) in the 13 weeks to October 31 compared with a year earlier, 'primarily reflecting strong sales in B&Q UK and Poland.' Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire described the trading update as 'a strong set of results.' He added: 'With 80 percent of the quarter's profit earned outside the UK and Ireland, we are clearly benefiting from our long-established international strategy.' Kingfisher also owns the Castorama chain in France. Looking ahead, Cheshire said the company would continue to rely on cost-cutting initiatives to drive performance. 