Director Shareholding

Sainsbury(J) PLC
03 August 2004

3rd August 2004



The Trustees of the J Sainsbury plc Employee Share Ownership Trust,
Computershare Trustees (C.I.) Limited have advised the Company that they have
made the following ordinary share purchases with the proceeds of the Return of
Capital:



2 August 2004 250,000 @ £2.6942

2 August 2004 250,000 @ £2.6875

2 August 2004 250,000 @ £2.685

2 August 2004 304,608 @ £2.68

30 July 2004 250,000 @ £2.68

30 July 2004 437,500 @ £2.69

30 July 2004 250,000 @ £2.695

30 July 2004 250,000 @ £2.69

29 July 2004 300,000 @ £2.67

29 July 2004 500,000 @ £2.655



At the close of business on 2 August 2004 the Trustees held 24,336,858 ordinary
shares in J Sainsbury plc.



END






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange