Trading Statement

Sainsbury(J) PLC
11 October 2002

                             SAINSBURY'S - ON TRACK

Quarter two highlights:

•          Sainsbury's Supermarkets total sales growth of 3.9%*

•          Sainsbury's Supermarkets like-for-like sales growth of 2.5%*

•          Shaw's Supermarkets like-for-like sales growth of 2%*

•         Infrastructure and cost-savings programmes on track

*Numbers are based on the actual results for 15 weeks and estimates for the last
week and exclude petrol


J Sainsbury plc has today issued a pre-close period trading statement including
estimated sales for the Second Quarter  (16 weeks to 12th October 2002).

Peter Davis, group chief executive, said 'In Sainsbury's Supermarkets we are
continuing to make solid progress on sales in a period of significant internal
change and despite a slower market.  We are expecting like-for-like sales growth
of around 2.5%* for the quarter and around 2.8%* for the half year.   Shaw's
will report like-for-like sales growth of close to 2%*, which is at the upper
end of current performance for US food retailers.

'At the end of Quarter one we reported an impact from our decision to terminate
our contract with Air Miles and looked forward to launching our enhanced loyalty
card, Nectar.   Since Nectar's launch on 16th September, early indications are
that the new card is being well received and our sales performance against the
market has improved in recent weeks.  In the first week enough cards were picked
up to cater for 40% of UK households and we believe its introduction will have a
positive long-term effect on our business.   This, together with benefits being
achieved through our store reinvigoration programme, leads us to expect a
stronger second half.

'We are now in the second year of our business transformation programme and are
making significant progress upgrading the business in terms of product ranges,
stores, supply chain and IT re-platforming.   We are achieving strong savings
through our cost efficiency programme and are confident of delivering our target
of £200 million this year.

'In the US, Shaw's has maintained its strong number two position in New England,
against a differentiated competitor profile.   Its like-for-like sales growth
has substantially improved on the first quarter and the company is performing in
line with our expectations.

'We remain confident that we are making real progress across the group to
achieve our targets.   Our sales and profit margins are both continuing to
improve, our ambitious infrastructure programme is on track and we are achieving
our planned cost savings.'

J Sainsbury plc has decided to adopt the policy of issuing an update prior to
the close period preceding its results announcements.  This is the first of
these updates and is issued in advance of the interim results announcement,
which will be made on 20th November 2002.

Notes

Sainsbury's Supermarkets

1.       Total sales growth (excluding petrol) of 3.8%* for the first half year
         of 2002/03
2.       Total sales growth (including petrol) of 3.7%* in the second quarter,
         and 3.4% for the first half year of 2002/03
3.       Like-for-like sales growth (including petrol) of 2.4%* for the second
         quarter of 2002/03, and 2.5% for the first half year of 2002/03
4.       Total deflation in the second quarter was 0.4% and food inflation was
         0.3%

 *These numbers are based on the actual results for 15 weeks and estimates for
the last week, and the half year numbers have been Easter adjusted

For enquiries:
Investor Relations   [phone]      Media        [phone]
Roger Matthews                                 Jan Shawe
Lynda Ashton                                   Pip Wood



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