WLW Woolworths

RNS Number:0542B
Woolworths Group PLC
21 July 2004


                              Woolworths Group plc

                            Pre Close Trading Update

                            24 weeks to 17 July 2004


Woolworths Group plc is today updating the market on trading for the 24 weeks to
17 July 2004 ahead of entering its half year closed period.

In the 24 weeks to 17 July 2004, total Group sales increased 7.4 per cent to
#1,036.2 million.

Group retail like-for-like sales increased by 0.9 per cent.  Within this, the
Mainchain was up 1.0 per cent, Woolworths big W increased by 1.0 per cent and
MVC fell by 0.8 per cent.  The gross margin has continued to show the solid year
on year improvement reported at the time of the AGM.

Underlying Group retail sales for the 24 week period grew by 1.6 per cent versus
the same period last year after adjusting for the agency treatment of electronic
top-up sales for mobile phones and the outsourcing of the in-store cafe
operation.  Entertainment Wholesale and Publishing third party sales
(Entertainment UK and VCI) grew 50.0 per cent.

The 10/10 store refit programme is on schedule, with 30 stores to be converted
by the half year.  As outlined at the preliminary results in March, the full
year cost of the refit programme (pre-opening costs and the impact on store
contribution from the refurbished stores) will be approximately #5.0 million.
Due to the opening programme being more heavily geared to the first half, the
majority of this cost is likely to be accounted for in the first half numbers.

Progress continues to be made with the restructuring of the Woolworths big W
property portfolio. A more detailed update on both Woolworths big W and 10/10
stores will be given with the interim results on 8 September 2004.

Commenting on the announcement Trevor Bish-Jones, Chief Executive said:

"The Group has made a solid start to the year and the business is making
positive progress. We continue to be encouraged by the investment we are making
in our stores and planning for the key Christmas period is well advanced."



For further information contact:

Christopher Rogers, Finance Director                          020 7706 5883

Nicole Lander, Head of Corporate Affairs                      020 7706 5653

Kate Inverarity, Tulchan Communications                       020 7353 4200

Alexia Latham, Tulchan Communications                         020 7353 4200



Note:  Stores undergoing a 10/10 refit remain in the like-for-like store base.
Excluding them from the sales numbers would not impact the reported
like-for-like number for the 24 weeks.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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