Trading Statement

Sainsbury(J) PLC
12 April 2002


               J Sainsbury plc - Fourth Quarter Trading Statement
         Fifth consecutive quarter of strong like-for-like sales growth


J Sainsbury plc, the major UK and US food retailer, today issued its Fourth
quarter trading statement for the 12 weeks to 30th March 2002.


Sainsbury's Supermarkets (UK)

•         Quarter Four total sales up 7.6%* - Easter contributing 1.6%

•         Quarter Four like-for-like sales growth up 6.8%* - Easter contributing
          1.5%

•         Total sales growth for the year up 7.8%* - Easter contributing 0.4%

•         Like-for-like sales growth for the year up 6.3%* - Easter contributing
          0.3%

*All sales figures are excluding petrol


Shaw's (US)


•         Quarter Four total sales up 9.1%  - Easter contributing 2%

•         Quarter Four like-for-like sales growth up 4.9% - Easter contributing
          1.8%

•         Total sales growth for the year up 8.2% - Easter contributing 0.5%

•         Like-for-like sales growth for the year up 3.9% - Easter contributing
          0.4%


Sir Peter Davis, group chief executive, said:

'For the UK supermarkets, we are pleased to report total sales growth of 7.8%*
for the year and like-for-like sales growth (adjusted for Easter) of 6%*.

This is our fifth consecutive quarter of strong like for like sales growth and I
am particularly pleased with this performance as it is against strong
comparatives for the first time.

These numbers demonstrate a sustained step change in our UK supermarkets sales
performance.  This is clear evidence that our strategy of upgrading our store
portfolio combined with offering outstanding quality and great service at
competitive prices is being well received by our customers.

We have made real progress and this is evidenced by the fact that we
outperformed the industry average for like-for-like sales growth in the quarter
and the year.


Shaw's in the US has maintained good progress with total sales growth for the
year of 8.2% and like-for-like sales growth of 3.5% (adjusted for Easter).
Quarter Four like-for-like sales growth saw an improvement over Quarter Three,
despite a mild winter and challenging economic conditions.

We look forward to providing a full update on the progress of our UK recovery
programme in our preliminary results announcement on 29th May 2002.'


Unaudited Quarter Four sales

                            Sainsbury's Supermarkets                        Shaws

                               Excluding Petrol        Including Petrol
                            Q4 2002    Q4 2001     Q4 2002    Q4 2001       Q4 2002     Q4 2001

Total sales growth             7.6%       6.9%        6.2%        6.0%         9.1%          3.2%
Net new space added            0.8%       2.1%        0.8%        2.2%         4.2%          0.7%
Like for like sales growth     6.8%       4.8%        5.4%        3.8%         4.9%          2.5%

Easter adjusted:

Total sales growth             6.0%       6.9%        4.9%        6.0%         7.1%          3.2%
Like for like sales growth     5.3%       4.8%        4.2%        3.8%         3.1%          2.5%

Notes:

1.Sainsbury's Supermarket's inflation in Q4 was -0.4% including petrol, and 1.6%
excluding petrol.

2. The Q4 reported numbers included the week before Easter that was not in the
comparatives, and therefore the 2001/02 numbers have been adjusted to a
comparable basis.



Unaudited Full Year 2001/02 sales

                            Sainsbury's Supermarkets                      Shaws


                               Excluding Petrol       Including Petrol
                            FY 2002    FY 2001     FY 2002    FY 2001     FY 2002      FY 2001

Total sales                    7.8%       3.9%        6.9%       4.7%         8.2%          5.4%
Net new space added            1.5%       2.2%        1.5%       2.4%         4.3%          4.0%
Like for like sales growth     6.3%       1.7%        5.4%       2.3%         3.9%          1.4%

Easter adjusted:

Total sales growth             7.4%       3.9%        6.5%       4.7%         7.7%          5.4%
Like for like sales growth     6.0%       1.7%        5.1%       2.3%         3.5%          5.4%

Notes:

1.Sainsbury's Supermarket's inflation in FY was -0.2% including petrol, and 1.7%
excluding petrol.

2. The Q4 reported numbers included the week before Easter that was not in the
comparatives, and therefore the 2001/02 numbers have been adjusted to a
comparable basis.



For enquiries:

Investor Relations           [phone]
Roger Matthews
Lynda Ashton
Jennifer van der Eem


Media                        [phone]
Peter Davis
Mandy Pursey


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