Director Shareholding

Sainsbury(J) PLC
31 May 2002



J Sainsbury plc  Directors' Interests


A conditional award of shares was granted to participants under the Company's
Performance Share Plan on 26 July 1999, which was subject to a performance
criterion being met at the end of a three year performance period. The
performance criterion is based on the Company's total shareholder return
measured against a group of twelve comparator companies. It has now been
reviewed at the end of the three year performance period and as a result, a
proportion of the conditional award has been released to the following Directors
in the form of an option, granted on 29 May 2002, over the Company's 25 pence
ordinary shares:



J E Adshead     30,067
I D Coull       31,738
S R Mitchell     9,977



The options may be exercised between 29 May 2002 and 28 May 2012 subject to a
total payment of £1 per participant.



The following Directors were awarded a conditional allocation of shares on 30
May 2002 under the Company's Performance Share Plan:



J E Adshead        68,918
I D Coull          68,918
R J Matthews       82,094
S R Mitchell       70,945
S Weller           70,945



The maximum award set out above will only be released if the Company's total
shareholder return, measured against the comparator group, is at first position
in the group at the end of the three year performance period. There is no award
unless median performance is achieved. Awards are pro rated for performance
between median and first position.



Contact:     Lynda Ashton      Investor Relations Manager        020 7695 7162
                               Media Relations                   020 7695 7295




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