AGM Statement

Nichols PLC
14 May 2003



Date:               Embargoed until 11am, Wednesday 14 May 2003


Contacts:           John Nichols, Chairman
                    Gary Unsworth, Chief Executive
                    Brendan Hynes, Finance Director
                    Nichols plc
                    Telephone:      [phone]

                    Alistair Mackinnon-Musson
                    Philip Dennis
                    Hudson Sandler
                    Telephone:      [phone]
                    Email: [e-mail]


                                  Nichols plc


                                 AGM Statement


The Board of Nichols plc, the soft drinks, food and foodservice group, made the
following statement at today's Annual General Meeting:


The restructuring of the group we announced in March this year is on track and
progressing well. In our co-packing operation, the production line of our
largest customer is now successfully running again having been moved to Nichols
Foods' site at Haydock. On the soft drinks side, the process of outsourcing the
manufacture of all canned and carbonated soft drinks has been largely completed
and cordial products will be outsourced by the end of June as planned.


The restructuring will improve the group's operating efficiencies and
significantly reduce its cost base through the rationalisation of its
manufacturing facilities. The full annual benefit to the group is estimated to
be in excess of £2million at the operating profit level. Although some of the
benefits from the restructuring will be felt in 2003 the full effects will not
come through until 2004.


Although Balmoral, our supplier of hot beverage systems, has had a difficult
start to the year, overall group trading for the first four months of the year
has remained very much in-line with last year. Recognising the bias of group
profitability towards the second half of the year and based on the restructuring
continuing to plan, we expect our results to meet market expectations.


                                     -Ends-


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