Holding in Company

D.F.S. Furniture Company PLC
9 January 2001

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

DFS FURNITURE COMPANY PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES INC

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18



4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

SEE LIST BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

N/A

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

N/A

8)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

5p ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

NOT KNOWN

11)  Date company informed

9.1.2001

12)  Total holding following this notification

10,491,090
               
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

10.15%

14)  Any additional information

N/A

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

B. TODHUNTER
01302 330365

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification .9 JANUARY 2001.........


Letter to DFS Furniture plc
Dated 5 January 2001


                        SECTION 198 NOTIFICATION
                        Notification of Increase

This Notice is given by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. on behalf  of
its affiliates, including Capital Guardian Trust Company, Capital International 
Limited, Capital  International  S.A.,  Capital  International,  Inc.,  and 
Capital Research  and  Management  Company,  pursuant  to  Section  198  of  the
Companies Act 1985.

The  interest  in  the relevant share capital indicated  below  arises  by
virtue of holdings attributed to the Companies (see Schedule A). These holdings
form part  of funds managed on behalf of investment clients by the Companies.

Share capital to which this relates:

Ordinary Shares (103,402,086 shares outstanding)

Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:

10,491,090

Name(s) of registered holder(s):

See Schedule B


  
As at 5 January 2001
DFS Furniture Plc                                 

                                                   Number of      Percent of
                                                      Shares     Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies, Inc.('CG') holdings  10,491,090      10.15%
           
Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

* Capital Guardian Trust Company                     720,000       0.70%
 
* Capital International Limited                    1,089,590       1.05%

* Capital International S.A.                       2,023,800       1.96%

* Capital Research and Management Company          6,657,700       6.44%
  * SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc.                      6,407,700       6.20%



                                    Schedule A



               Schedule of holdings in DFS Furniture plc
                          As of 5 January 2001

                     Capital Guardian Trust Company

                                                          
Registered Name                                             Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                350,000

Midland Bank plc                                             220,000

Nortrust Nominees                                            150,000

                                                 TOTAL       720,000


                              Schedule B



Registered Name                                             Local Shares
                              
State Street Nominees Limited                                138,900

Bank of New York Nominees                                    264,000
                                         
Chase Nominees Limited                                       220,000

Midland Bank plc                                              15,700

Bankers Trust                                                 74,000   

Morgan Guaranty                                               37,600

Nortrust Nominees                                            313,600  

Vidacos Nominees Ltd.                                         25,790

                                             TOTAL         1,089,590

                              Schedule B



                        Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                             Local Shares
                                                          
State Street Nominees Limited                                325,000

Chase Nominees Limited                                       869,900

Midland Bank plc                                             415,500

Barclays Bank                                                200,000
Barclays Global Securities Services

Royal Bank of Scotland                                       213,400

                                                 TOTAL     2,023,800

                              Schedule B


                    Capital Research and Management Company


Registered Name                                             Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                              6,657,700

                                                 TOTAL     6,657,700

                              Schedule B