Statement on Competition Commission Inquiry

Sainsbury(J) PLC
22 February 2000


Sainsbury's Statement on Competition Commission inquiry 

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd notes the Competition Commission's remedies
letter and, in particular, the entirely hypothetical nature of its contents.

The Commission does not envisage any remedies directly relating to overall
profitability. The recent DTI international price comparison further
demolished criticism of UK food prices. Nevertheless Sainsbury's will continue
to co-operate with  this lengthy and distracting inquiry.

David Bremner Managing Director of Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd said 'This
letter changes nothing. It is wrong to dwell on remedies before even
identifying the existence of a problem. Todays free market ensures a better
deal for our customers than any State intervention ever could.'

For further information

Amanda Cobb  (Investor Relations)  020 7695 6215
Pip Wood     (Press)               020 7695 6127