AGM Statement

NWF Group PLC
01 September 2004


Embargoed until: 07.00, 1 October 2004

                                  NWF Group plc
                                        
                    Statement re: disposal of Country Stores
                                        
                            Chairman's AGM Statement
                           
             
NWF Group plc ('NWF'), the diversified sales and distribution business, today
announces that it is in final negotiations to sell its remaining five Country
Store businesses to Countrywide Farmers plc, pending completion of TUPE employee
consultations.

Graham Scott, Chief Executive of NWF, commented: 'As previously announced, our
retail strategy is to focus firmly on garden centres and, having closed our
Managrakem Country Store on the Isle of Man, I am pleased to announce that we
are close to concluding a deal to sell the businesses of our remaining stores
(Wardle, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Melton Mowbray and Wrexham) to Countrywide
Farmers. We will make a more detailed announcement as and when the transaction
has completed.'

At the Annual General Meeting of NWF, to be held in Cheshire at 10.30 am today,
the Chairman, Roy Willis, commenting on the first quarter performance will say:

'NWF Group's financial year is significantly skewed towards the second half when
most of the businesses experience their peak trading. The first quarter is an
extreme example of this and typically represents less than 10% of the full
year's profit. I am nevertheless pleased to be able to report to shareholders
that the year has opened satisfactorily.'

For further information please visit www.nwf.co.uk or contact:

Graham Scott, Chief Executive               John West/Claire Melly
NWF Group plc                               Tavistock Communications
Tel: [phone]                          Tel: [phone]




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