Trading Statement

Nichols PLC
4 December 2001


Date:        Embargoed until 12.30 pm, Tuesday 4 December 2001

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]
             Email:  [e-mail]



                                 Nichols plc
                                 
                               Trading Update


Nichols plc, the soft drinks, food and foodservice group, announces the
following trading update.

The group has three principal operations: Soft Drinks (primarily involved in
the manufacture and sale of soft drinks, including Vimto, throughout the world
and Sunkist in the UK), Food Products and Beverage Systems (including Nichols
Foods, the manufacturer and supplier to the vending, foodservice and retail
markets; Balmoral, supplier of hot beverage systems and Cabana, soft drinks on
draught) and Co-packing (which includes Stockpack, the group's contract food
packing operation).

At the time of the announcement of the group's interim results in August, the
Board said it was confident that profits in the current financial year to 31
December 2001 would be ahead of last year.  Unfortunately, due to the economic
slowdown and some customers delaying the delivery of certain orders, the Board
no longer expects this to be the case, although profits are not expected to be
below £6.0 million at the pre-tax level.


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