AGM Statement

Next PLC
13 May 2004







Date:          Immediate Release:  Thursday 13 May 2004



Contacts:      Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive
               David Keens, Group Finance Director
               NEXT PLC
               Tel:  [phone] (13/05/2004)
               Tel:  [phone] (thereafter)

               Alistair Mackinnon-Musson
               Philip Dennis
               Hudson Sandler
               Tel:  [phone]
               Email:  [e-mail]



                                    NEXT PLC

                             ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
                                 Trading Statement



In the fourteen weeks since the start of the new financial year NEXT Retail
sales are 17% ahead of the previous year.  Like-for-like sales in the 316 stores
which have been trading for at least one year are 3.1% ahead.  Included in those
stores are 30 that, as anticipated, have been directly affected by new store
openings and extensions.  Underlying sales in the 286 stores which have not been
affected by new space are 4.9% ahead of last year.



NEXT Directory sales for the first fourteen weeks are 13% ahead of the previous
year.



Taken together, sales for the NEXT Brand are 16% ahead.



As a result of recent activity we now expect to increase net selling space by at
least 480,000 square feet in the current year.  This would increase the total by
17% to 3.3 million square feet.



As previously announced, two of our non-executive Directors will be retiring
from the Board after today's Annual General Meeting.  On behalf of everyone at
NEXT I would like to thank Alistair Mitchell-Innes and Ann Burdus for their
contribution to our success and wish them well for the future.



I am also pleased to announce that Jonathan Dawson has been appointed a
non-executive Director of the company today.  Jonathan's career has included 8
years in the Ministry of Defence and 20 years in investment banking with Lazard.
He is currently a non-executive Director of Galliford Try plc and a senior
advisor to Apax Partners' financial services team.



David Jones CBE
Chairman
13 May 2004




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