Interim Results

Nichols PLC
16 August 2000


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

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


                          Nichols plc
       Interim Results for the Six Months ended 30 June 2000
                                 
Nichols  plc  announces its interim results. The  group  has  five
principal  operations:  Soft  Drinks (primarily  involved  in  the
manufacture and sale of Vimto throughout the world), Nichols Foods
(manufacturer and supplier to the vending, foodservice and  retail
markets),  Cabana  (soft drinks on draught),  Stockpack  (contract
packer to the food industry) and Balmoral (hot beverage systems).

The key points are:

*    Turnover increased by 13% to £42.7m (1999: £37.8m)
*    Operating profit increased by 15% to £3.1m (1999: £2.7m)
*    Earnings per share were 5.06p
*    Group restructuring continuing as planned
*    Advertising campaign for Vimto cordial targeting London area
     is proving successful


John Nichols, Chairman, commented:

'We are extremely pleased with these figures. Despite the lack  of
summer  weather, demand for Vimto has been strong. The advertising
campaign we are running in the south of England for Vimto  cordial
is working well and we are confident for the year as a whole.'

Please find attached:
Chairman's Statement
Tables of figures


CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

I  am  pleased  to  report the first half of  the  year  has  been
encouraging,  with  turnover up 13% to £42.7million  (1999:  £37.8
million)  and operating profit up 15% to £3.1 million (1999:  £2.7
million).   Excluding last years exceptional credit  of  £906,000,
profit  before tax was up 8% to £2.7 million (1999: £2.5 million).
Earnings per share were 5.06 pence.

The  group  restructuring has continued during the first  half  of
2000,   particularly  in  Cabana,  our  soft  drinks  on   draught
operation,  to  which a new Board of Directors has been  appointed
and  its  head  office relocated from Preston to the group's  Soft
Drinks  Operation at Stone Cross.  These moves have  incurred  one
off  costs,  but will enable the restructured business to  operate
from  a lower cost base in future.  The group also continued  with
its  policy of consolidating the Cabana distributor network and  a
further two distributors were purchased in the first half  of  the
year.   This  latest  move  provides a  rationalised  distribution
network for a large part of the UK market.

Nichols Foods has undertaken a major development in its operations
to supply single portion sachets to the food service market.  This
involved capital expenditure of £1.6 million earlier in the  year.
This   new  business  activity  is  already  beginning   to   show
encouraging growth.

The  group's Soft Drinks Operation is continuing to achieve higher
levels  of  efficiency  from  its new  plant  and  an  advertising
campaign  targeted  in  the London area has resulted  in  improved
market  share figures for Vimto cordial. We are also pleased  with
the  progress  being made internationally, with  continued  strong
growth in the Middle East and Africa.

At  Balmoral, the market leader in supplying hot beverage  systems
to the catering trade, trading is above plan for the first half of
the  year. The new hospital trolley system as shown in the group's
last  annual  report, is being particularly well received  by  the
market.

Stockpack  has  made  significant progress in reversing  the  poor
results  of  last  year  and is trading ahead  of  plan.   We  are
confident Stockpack will make a profit for the year.

The  second  half of the year will see the final restructuring  of
Cabana  and  despite the lack of summer weather, we are  confident
that  the  outcome for the year will be ahead of  1999,  excluding
last year's exceptional credit.

In  the  light of the results for the first half of the year,  the
Board  is  pleased to recommend that an increased interim dividend
of  3.0  pence be paid on 23 October 2000 to shareholders  on  the
register on 4 September 2000.

John Nichols
Chairman
16 August 2000

Consolidated profit and loss account

                               Unaudited               Audited
                               Half          Half
                         year ended    year ended   Year ended
                       30 June 2000  30 June 1999   31 Dec 1999
                              £'000         £'000         £'000

Turnover                     42,725        37,812        80,720
                          ---------     ---------     ---------

Operating profit              3,107         2,688         8,238
Exceptional item                 --           906           906
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                              3,107         3,594         9,144
Net interest payable            436           172           396
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
Profit before taxation        2,671         3,422         8,748
Taxation                        801         1,044         2,547
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                              1,870         2,378         6,201
Equity dividends              1,109         1,127         3,197
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                                761         1,251         3,004
                          ---------     ---------     ---------


Earnings per share (basic)     5.06p         6.27p        16.37p

Dividends per share            3.00p         2.90p         8.50p



Notes

1.   Earnings per share are based on the number of shares in issue
  in the six months to 30 June 2000 of 36,968,772 (weighted average
  number  30  June  1999,  37,914,708 shares;  31  December  1999,
  37,884,216 shares).

2.   The interim dividend of 3.00p (1999 2.90p) will be paid on 23
  October 2000 to shareholders registered on 4 September 2000. The
  ex-dividend date is 29 August 2000.

3.    The  figures  for  31 December 1999 are extracted  from  the
  financial statements for that year which received an unqualified
  auditors'  report  and  have been filed with  the  Registrar  of
  Companies.


Consolidated Balance Sheet

                                Unaudited               Audited
                               Half          Half
                         year ended    year ended   Year ended
                       30 June 2000  30 June 1999   31 Dec 1999
                              £'000         £'000         £'000
Fixed assets
Intangible assets             7,504         5,932         5,782
Tangible assets              34,097        30,722        32,320
Own shares                      540           565           540
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                             42,141        37,219        38,642
Current assets
Stocks                        8,329         6,704         7,083
Debtors                      19,229        18,599        15,975
Cash at bank and in hand        971           304           410
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                             28,529        25,607        23,468
Creditors
Amounts falling due within
one year                     34,541        27,273        26,743
                          ---------     ---------     ---------

Net current liabilities     (6,012)       (1,666)       (3,275)
Total assets less
current liabilities          36,129        35,553        35,367
Provision for liabilities
and charges                 (2,194)       (1,584)       (2,193)
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                             33,935        33,969        33,174
                          ---------     ---------     ---------

Share capital and reserves
Called up share capital       3,697         3,887         3,697
Share premium account         3,255         3,255         3,255
Capital redemption reserve    1,209         1,019         1,209
Profit and loss account      25,774        25,808        25,013
                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                             33,935        33,969        33,174
                          ---------     ---------     ---------

Consolidated cash flow statement

                                 Unaudited              Audited
                               Half          Half
                         year ended    year ended    Year ended
                       30 June 2000  30 June 1999   31 Dec 1999
                              £'000         £'000         £'000


Cash  flow  from operating
 activities                   5,391         8,625       14,639

Servicing of finance:
Interest paid                 (436)         (172)         (396)

Taxation:
Corporation tax paid          (302)         (209)       (2,588)

Capital expenditure:
Purchase of tangible
 fixed assets               (3,897)       (6,037)       (8,675)

Acquisitions of businesses  (2,130)       (4,664)       (4,664)

Equity dividends paid       (2,070)       (1,996)       (3,123)

Management of liquid
 resources                    7,000         7,000         8,000

Financing                        --          (26)       (2,591)

                          ---------     ---------     ---------
Increase / (decrease) in
 cash                         3,556         2,521           602
                          ---------     ---------     ---------


This  statement  will be mailed to shareholders  on  or  about  18
August  1999  and  copies will be available  from  The  Secretary,
Nichols  plc, Laurel House, 3 Woodlands Park, Ashton Road, Newton-
le-Willows, WA12 0HH after that date. Copies of this statement are
now  available on the Investor Relations section of the  company's
website: www.nicholsplc.co.uk.