Holding in Company

D.F.S. Furniture Company PLC
12 October 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 LETTER AND SCHEDULES 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

     11.10.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     11,515,644
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     10.97%

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 ..12 OCTOBER 2001


LETTER TO DFS FURNITURE PLC - DATED 9 OCTOBER 2001


                         SECTION 198 NOTIFICATION
                         Notification of Decrease

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., 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 (104,970,048 shares outstanding)

Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:

   11,515,644 

Name(s) of registered holders):

     See Schedule B



As of 9 October 2001 

DFS Furniture plc

                                                        Number of   Percent of
                                                           Shares  Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies. Inc. ('CG') holdings      11,515,644     10.99%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:


- Capital Guardian Trust Company                          545,000      0.52%
                                                   
- Capital International Limited                         1,102,390      1.06%

- Capital International S.A.                            2,931,300      2.80%
 
- Capital Research and Management Company               6,936,954      6.62%
  - SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc.                           5,372,170      5.13%
 

                                   Schedule A



                  Schedule of holdings in DFS Furniture plc 
                              As of 9 October 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        545,000

                                 Schedule B


                        Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                        Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                              138,900
Bank of New York Nominees                                  287,000
Chase Nominees Limited                                     220,000
Midland Bank plc                                            25,000
Bankers Trust                                               74,000
Morgan Guaranty                                             18,100
Nortrust Nominees                                          313,600
Vidacos Nominees Ltd                                        25,790
                                              TOTAL      1,102,390

                                Schedule B
     

                         Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                        Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                              325,000
Chase Nominees Limited                                   1,195,400
Midland Bank plc                                           653,500
Barclays Bank                                              390,000
Royal Bank of Scotland                                     213,400
RBSTB Nominees Ltd.                                         56,000
'New Account'                                               98,000
Nominee Information Not Available        
                                              TOTAL      2,931,300
                                Schedule B

                    Capital Research and Management Company

Registered Name                                        Local Shares
State Street Nominees Limited                             5,545,524
Chase Nominees Limited                                    1,391,430
                                              TOTAL       6,936,954

                               Schedule B