Pre-Close Period Update

Greencore Group PLC
28 September 2001

GREENCORE GROUP PLC

CONTACT: MR. K.C. O'SULLIVAN             TELEPHONE [phone]
                                         FAX [phone]

              GREENCORE PRE ANNUAL RESULTS CLOSE PERIOD UPDATE

The following is the basis of an update that will be provided to analysts
before Greencore enters its close period prior to its preliminary results
which are scheduled to be announced on 29 November 2001.

Restructuring, Integration & Disposals

Good progress has been and continues to be made in relation to the
restructuring and integration of Hazlewood Foods which was acquired in January
2001.   Since the interim report on 5 June, the horticultural businesses and
an Irish fats and edible oil business  have been sold and several other
disposals are anticipated in the short term.    Proceeds to-date amount to
over Euro40m.  The  Group expects to complete its disposal programme by May
2002 as planned.   In an environment of low interest rates, disposals are
likely to dilute earnings.  The integration of the Manchester ambient bottled
sauces operation into Selby was recently announced and further steps to
improve efficiency have also been instigated.  In pizza, the closure of the
Dallas Road facility and the transfer of pizza topping activity to our new
Deeside facility was announced on 25 September.

As stated at the time of the Hazlewood acquisition, the Group intends to take
an exceptional charge in 2001 in relation to the fundamental re-organisation
and restructuring programme following the acquisition and this is currently
estimated at Euro50m with approximately half of this being cash.
Additionally, fair value issues, including fixed asset impairments relating to
Hazlewood disposals, will increase goodwill arising on the acquisition of
Hazlewood.

Trading

Within the recently acquired Hazlewood businesses, trading in the chilled
businesses has been good with strong progress in particular in sandwiches and
chilled sauces.  In ambient grocery, commissioning issues at the major new
cake facility at Hull together with difficult market conditions mean that
results will be below expectations.   The bottled sauces and pickles plant at
Selby, which was flooded in November 2000, is back to full production with
every effort being made to recover market share lost as a result of the flood.
Other grocery operations traded satisfactorily.   However, challenges
remain to achieve the level of profitability of which the Board believes these
businesses are capable.

In non-Hazlewood businesses, results in U.K. baking will be well below
expectations mainly as a result of margin pressure in the value bread market
together with a drop in bread consumption.    Other businesses are generally
performing in line with expectations.

David Dilger, Chief Executive of Greencore said 'While overall trading
conditions are far from easy  with margin pressures in many of our businesses,
we are encouraged by the progress made in the integration, synergies and
disposal programme  and, in particular, by the growth being achieved in the
chilled foods sector.  The acquisition of Hazlewood is delivering improved
prospects and growth to the Group'.


K.C. O'SULLIVAN
DIRECTOR


GREENCORE GROUP PLC,
ST. STEPHEN'S GREEN HOUSE,
EARLFORT TERRACE,
DUBLIN 2.
                 28th September, 2001.