Trading Statement

Britvic plc
04 April 2006


4 April 2006


Britvic plc ('Britvic') pre-half year close period Trading Update


As part of the Company's ongoing reporting calendar, Britvic today releases its
pre-half year close period Trading Update for the twenty four weeks to 19 March
2006. This announcement includes H1 2005 IFRS pro-forma adjusted numbers.

In line with our statement on March 2, our guidance remains that if, as we
anticipate, the soft drinks market shows recovery over the balance of the year
when the majority of our sales are made, we continue to be confident of
delivering earnings within the range of current market expectations.

The consumer trend towards 'better for you' that was evident in our performance
in the 8 weeks of trading post Christmas has continued into March. As a
consequence we have yet to see a recovery in the total carbonates market but
there are signs that the rate of decline in sales of full sugar carbonates, the
most affected category, is stabilising. The overall stills market continues to
show growth.

In the twenty four weeks to 19 March 2006, a quieter time of the year for
trading, branded revenue was down by 3.4% compared with the same period last
year, with stills up 1.3% and carbonates down 7.3%. This performance is in part
explained by trading in the last four weeks which has been heavily influenced by
the timing of the important Easter period, falling three weeks later this year
than last, the unseasonably cold weather and recent structural changes in the
customer base.

Against a marginally negative pricing backdrop and lower volumes, first half net
margins have been further affected by the previously highlighted increases in
input and energy costs. While overhead savings initiatives have helped to offset
some of this impact, we still expect first half EBIT margins to be down by
around one percentage point on last year.

Paul Moody, CEO of Britvic plc commented:

'We continue to focus on driving revenue through core brand activity, successful
new product launches and increasing our average realised price. Alongside this
we are concentrating on reducing costs, with a full year target of at least
£10m, improving our cash position and reducing working capital. We continue to
maintain a strong market share performance in many of our key categories and
look forward to a stronger second half.'

The Company's next update to the market will be with its Interim Results for the
twenty eight weeks to 16 April 2006 on 25 May 2006.

Britvic will be hosting an investor day tomorrow focused on the Soft Drinks
Category Report, and the Business Transformation and Product Value Optimisation
programmes. No new trading information will be disclosed and the presentation
used at the event will be posted on our website.

For further information please contact:

Investors:
John Gibney/ Jo Guano                                         01245 504 330

Media:
Conor McClafferty/ Jonathan Glass (Brunswick)                 0207 404 5959

There will be a conference call today at 8.00am for investors and analysts with
Paul Moody (Chief Executive) and John Gibney (Finance Director) and a further
conference call at 2.30pm (9.30am Eastern Standard Time) today primarily for US
investors and analysts. There will be an opportunity on both calls to ask
questions. A recording of both calls will be available for seven days. To access
these calls please dial the relevant number below and use the access number.

8.00am call

Access Number: [phone]

Pin Number: 995324#

2.30pm call

Access Number: [phone]

Pin Number: 217348#

Redial Number: [phone]

Conference Reference: 141347 (8.00am call) 141350 (2.30pm call)


Notes to editors

Britvic is one of the two leading soft drinks businesses in Great Britain. The
Company is the largest supplier of still soft drinks, the faster growing
category in the soft drinks market, and the number two supplier of carbonates.

Britvic plc's broad portfolio of leading brands includes established names with
high brand recognition such as Robinsons and Tango and highly successful
innovations such as J20 and Fruit Shoot. Included within the portfolio are the
Pepsi and 7UP brands, which Britvic produces, markets, sells and distributes
under its exclusive appointment from PepsiCo which runs until December 2023.
This brand and product portfolio enables Britvic to target and satisfy a wide
range of consumer demands in all major soft drinks categories, via all available
routes to market.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement includes statements that are forward-looking in nature.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Appendix 1 -2005 H1 unaudited proforma accounts

                                                         28 weeks ended 17 April
                                                              2005 Proforma
                                                                £ millions

Revenue                                                              343.1
Cost of Sales                                                       -130.0
                                                                   ---------
Gross Profit                                                         213.0
Selling and distribution costs                                      -121.2
Administration Expenses                                              -69.6
                                                                   ---------
Profit from continuing operations before tax and finance
costs/income                                                          22.2
                                                                   ---------

Profit from continuing operations before exceptional
items,                                                                23.1
Tax and finance costs/income
Exceptional operating items                                           -0.9
                                                                   ---------
Profit from continuing operations before tax and finance
costs/income                                                          22.2
Finance costs                                                         -9.0
Finance income                                                         0.2
                                                                   ---------
Profit before tax                                                     13.4
Taxation: UK                                                          -4.3
                                                                   ---------
Profit for the year                                                    9.1
                                                                   ---------




Appendix 2 - Supplementary information re H1 2005 IFRS proforma adjusted numbers

                                    H1 05 Reported Private Water  H1 05 Adjusted
                                                           Label
                                                     Adjustments
(£m unless
otherwise stated)
----------------         ---------       ---------     ---------       ---------
Volume
(million
litres)             Stills                 234.0         (20.8)          213.1
                    Carbonates             448.0                         448.0
                    International           17.3                          17.3
                                         ---------                     ---------
                           Total           699.2         (20.8)          678.4

Turnover            Stills                 156.8          (1.6)          155.2
                    Carbonates             175.6                         175.6
                    International           10.7                          10.7
                                         ---------                     ---------
                           Total           343.1          (1.6)          341.5

Brand
Contribution        Stills                  75.2          (0.4)           74.8
                    Carbonates              71.8                          71.0
                    International            3.2                           4.0
                                         ---------                     ---------
                           Total           150.2          (0.4)          149.8

Non brand A&P                               -5.0                          -5.0
Fixed Supply
Chain                                      -36.3                         -36.3
Selling Costs                              -48.8                         -48.8
Overhead and
other costs                                -37.0                         -37.0

EBIT                                        23.1          (0.4)           22.7
Interest                                    -8.8                          -8.8

Profit before
exceptionals                                14.3          (0.4)           13.9
Exceptionals                                -0.9                          -0.9

Profit Before
Tax                                         13.4          (0.4)           13.0
Tax                                         -4.3                          -4.3

Profit After
Tax                                          9.1          (0.4)            8.7

Profit after
tax pre
exceptional                                 10.0          (0.4)            9.6


NB. Private Label Water Adjustment removes the impact of the own label water
business with grocery retailers acquired following the acquisition of Ben Shaw's
water business. This business has subsequently been discontinued




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