Final Results - Year Ended 31 December 1999

Norish PLC
3 March 2000


                         NORISH  PLC
       PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AUDITED RESULTS
             For The Year Ended 31 December 1999


-  PRE-TAX PROFITS UP 15.6% TO STG£2.3M


-  EARNINGS PER SHARE
  - BASIC UP 12.4% TO STG19.1p
  - ADJUSTED UP 20% TO STG20.4p


-  FINAL DIVIDEND OF IR3p


-  DEMAND STRENGTHENS AT YEAR END IN FOOD CARE DIVISION


-  BWA ACQUISITION PERFORMS WELL


-  NEW YEAR TRADING STARTS  SATISFACTORILY IN BOTH DIVISIONS


Comment from Paul Byrne, Chief Executive:

'Trading  in  both  divisions has been satisfactory  in  the
early months of 2000 and we remain confident about prospects
for  the current year.  A certain amount of growth will come
from organic expansion of both Norish Food Care and BWA, and
we are actively seeking additional well located cold storage
and ambient warehousing businesses.'

                             
For reference:
                              
Norish plc:                   
Paul Byrne, Chief                  Tel:  + 44 1737 221133
Executive
                              
Murray Consultants:           
Joe Murray / Maura Haslam           Tel:  [phone]


The  Directors are pleased to report profits before  tax  of
STG£2.322m  (Euro  3.734m) compared  with  STG£2.010m  (Euro
2.965m) in 1998, an increase of 15.6 per cent.

Basic earnings per share were STG19.1p (Euro 30.7c) compared
with   STG17.0p  (Euro  25.1c)  per  share  in  1998,  which
represented an increase of 12.4 per cent. Adjusted  earnings
per   share  (excluding  goodwill  and  exceptional   items)
increased by 20.0 per cent to STG20.4p.

At  the  interim stage we declared a dividend of IR1.0p  per
ordinary  share (1998: IR1.0p). The Board is recommending  a
final  dividend for 1999 of IR3.0p per share  (1998:  second
interim dividend IR3.0p).  The company operates a twin share
scheme,  whereby  shareholders receive  dividends  in  Irish
pounds unless they elect to be paid in pounds sterling.

It  is proposed to pay the final dividend on 26 May 2000, to
shareholders on the register at close of business on  2  May
2000.

As  indicated  in the Interim Statement we experienced  some
weakening of demand for cold storage in the second and third
quarters,  while at the same time beef stocks were  reducing
in  our Irish associate. The cold storage division ended the
year strongly.

BWA  has  performed well since its acquisition  and  certain
rationalisation  measures have been successfully  concluded.
We  are now concentrating on developing further added  value
services  for our customers, and on broadening the scope  of
our activities into other ambient products.

Trading in both divisions has been satisfactory in the early
months of 2000, and we remain confident about prospects  for
the  current year. A certain amount of growth will come from
organic expansion of both Norish Food Care and BWA,  and  we
are  actively  seeking additional well-located cold  storage
and ambient warehousing businesses.

A profit and loss statement and balance sheet is attached.

Copies of the Preliminary Announcement can be obtained from
the Secretary, Norish plc, 1 Stokes Place, St. Stephen's
Green, Dublin 2.

Brian A. Joyce
Chairman


                         NORISH  PLC
                              
            Consolidated Profit and Loss Account
             For the year ended 31 December 1999
                              

                                1999         1999        1998
                            Euro 000      STG£000     STG£000
                                                             
Group turnover
Continuing operations         11,785        7,325       8,561
Acquisitions                   8,514        5,292           -
                              ______       ______      ______
                              20,299       12,617       8,561
Cost of sales               (15,271)      (9,492)     (6,334)
                              ______       ______      ______
Gross profit                   5,028        3,125       2,227
Administrative expenses       (1,194)        (742)       (565)
                              ______       ______      ______
Group operating profit                                       
Continuing operations          2,156        1,340       1,662
Acquisitions                   1,678        1,043           -
                              ______       ______      ______
                               3,834        2,383       1,662
Share of                                                     
associated undertaking           312          194         342
                              ______       ______      ______
Profit on ordinary                                           
activities before                                            
interest                       4,146        2,577       2,004
Interest receivable                                          
and other income                 101           63         125
Interest payable and                                         
similar charges                (514)        (320)       (123)
Share of net                                                 
interest of                                                  
associated undertaking             3            2           4
                              ______       ______      ______
Profit on ordinary                                           
activities before                                            
taxation                       3,736        2,322       2,010
Tax on profit on                                             
ordinary activities          (1,141)        (709)       (570)
                              ______       ______      ______
Profit on ordinary                                           
activities after                                             
taxation                       2,595        1,613       1,440
Equity dividends                                             
-  paid                        (134)         (83)        (73)
                                                             
-  proposed                    (322)        (200)       (218)
                              ______       ______      ______
                               (456)        (283)       (291)
                              ______       ______      ______
Retained profit for                                          
the year                       2,139        1,330       1,149
Profit and loss                                              
account at beginning                                         
of year                        2,970        1,846         881
Foreign currency                                             
translation movement             (3)          (2)       (184)
                              ______       ______      ______
                                                             
Profit and loss                                              
account at end of                                            
year                           5,106        3,174       1,846
Basic earnings per                                           
ordinary share                 30.7c        19.1p       17.0p
                               =====        =====       =====
Fully diluted                                                
earnings per ordinary                                        
share                          30.6c        19.0p       17.0p
                               =====        =====       =====
                              
                              
                              
                         NORISH  PLC
                              
                 Consolidated Balance Sheet
                     At 31 December 1999
                              

                                1999         1999        1998
                            Euro 000      STG£000     STG£000
                                                             
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed                                               
assets                        16,189       10,063       7,204
Investment in                                                
associated undertaking            42           26          30
Intangible assets                                            
- goodwill                     5,327        3,311           -
                              ______       ______      ______
                                                             
                              21,558       13,400       7,234
                                                             
Current assets
Debtors                        4,620        2,872       1,845
Cash at bank                                                 
and in hand                    1,247          775       1,880
                              ______       ______      ______
                                                             
                               5,867        3,647       3,725
                                                             
Creditors: amounts                                           
falling due within                                           
one year                     (6,160)      (3,829)     (2,784)
                              ______       ______      ______
                                                             
Net current                    (293)        (182)         941
(liabilities)/assets          ______       ______      ______
                                                             
Total assets less                                            
current liabilities           21,265       13,218       8,175
                                                             
Creditors: amounts                                           
falling due after                                            
more than one year           (7,161)      (4,451)       (746)
                                                             
Provisions for                                               
liabilities and                                              
charges                      (1,499)        (932)       (922)
                              ______       ______      ______
                                                             
Net assets                    12,605        7,835       6,507
                               =====        =====       =====
                                                             
Capital and reserves
Called up share                                              
capital                        2,434        1,513       1,513
Share premium                                                
account                        5,065        3,148       3,148
Profit and loss                                              
account                        5,106        3,174       1,846
                              ______       ______      ______
                                                             
Shareholders' funds                                          
- equity                      12,605        7,835       6,507
                               =====        =====       =====