Holding in Company

D.F.S. Furniture Company PLC
12 March 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

     12.3.2001

12)  Total holding following this notification

     11,492,261
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     11.11%

14)  Any additional information



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 ....12 MARCH 2001



LETTER TO DFS FURNITURE PLC - DATED 8 MARCH 2001


SECTION 198 NOTIFICATION
Notification of New


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 virture 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:

     11,492,261

Name(s) of registered holder(s):

     See Schedule B




Schedule A                                            Number of   Percent of
                                                      Shares      Outstanding
The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ('CG') holdings     11,492,261    11.11%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

 - Capital Guardian Trust Company                        545,000     0.53% 

 - Capital International Limited                       1,098,890     1.06%
     
 - Capital International S.A.                          2,598,800     2.51%

 - Capital Research and Management Company             7,249,571     7.01%
    -SMALLCAP World Fund Inc.                          6,707,700     6.49%


Schedule B

Schedule of Holdings in DFS Furniture plc - As of 8 March 2001

Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                     Local Shares
---------------                                     ------------
State Street Nominees Limited                          350,000
Midland Bank plc                                        45,000
Nortrust Nominees                                      150,000
                                               TOTAL   845,000

Capital International Limited 

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                                        25,000
Bankers Trust                                           74,000
Morgan Guaranty                                         37,600
Nortrust Nominees                                      319,600
Vidacos Nominees Ltd                                    25,790
                                               TOTAL 1,098,890  


Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                     Local Shares
---------------                                     ------------
State Street Nominees Limited                          325,000
Chase Nominees Limited                               1,146,500
Midland Bank plc                                       665,500
Barclays Bank                                          200,000
Royal Bank of Scotland                                 213,400
RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                      48,400
                                               TOTAL 2,598,800

Capital Research and Management Company

Registered Name                                     Local Shares
---------------                                     ------------
State Street Nominees Limited                        6,957,700
Chase Nominees Limited                                 291,871
                                               TOTAL 7,249,571

FROM CAPITAL GROUP OF COMPANIES