Trading Update

McBride PLC
23 April 2004

23 April 2004


                                  McBride PLC
                                 Trading update

McBride plc ('the Group'), Europe's leading supplier of household and personal
care retailer brand products, confirms that the trading performance and cash
generation of the Group continues to be satisfactory.

As part of the Group's continued focus on lowering its cost base by improving
capacity utilisation and operational efficiency, the Board has today taken the
decision, after extensive consultation with employee representatives, to close
the Company's factory in Breda, Netherlands. The Netherlands based commercial
team will be unaffected by the plant closure and will continue to drive Dutch
sales. Production will be transferred to other Group plants in Belgium, Poland
and the UK. It is expected that the closure and transfer of capacity will be
completed by December 2004.

The Board anticipates that the annualised effect of the decision to close the
Breda factory will be to reduce operating costs by approximately £2.8m. The
closure of Breda will result in a one-off exceptional charge, related to
redundancies, of £3.5m in the current financial year.

In addition, the Board has also approved capital expenditure of nearly £5.0m,
before £1.0m of proceeds from anticipated property disposals, over the coming
few months. This expenditure will be primarily to upgrade the equipment and
facilities of the receiving factories.

Mike Handley, Chief Executive commented:

'This closure will further improve our competitiveness by lowering our cost
base. The closure is proceeding smoothly and some of our factories are now
preparing to receive the volumes from Breda. The Netherlands based commercial
team will continue to drive our strong Dutch sales.

'Overall, trading continues to be satisfactory. Looking ahead, improved
operational efficiency and capacity utilisation will remain central to our
management thinking.'

For further information please contact:

Mike Handley, Chief Executive
01494 607050

Miles Roberts, Finance Director
01494 607050

Andrew Dowler, Financial Dynamics
020 7831 3113



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