Director Shareholding

Sainsbury(J) PLC
20 December 2001

                                 SCHEDULE 11

         NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS


1)        Name of company


J Sainsbury plc


2)        Name of director


R Matthews


3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
    holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18 or in       
    respect of a non-beneficial interest


R Matthews


4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them (if notified)

n/a

5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

n/a

6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary

n/a

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired


n/a


8)  Percentage of issued class

n/a

9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

n/a

10) Percentage of issued class

n/a

11) Class of security

n/a
12) Price per share

n/a

13) Date of transaction

n/a

14) Date company informed



n/a

15) Total holding following this notification

n/a

16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

n/a


If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes

17) Date of grant

20 December 2001

18) Period during which or date on which exercisable


1st March 2005 - 31st August 2005


19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option

n/a

20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number

Ordinary 25 pence shares

21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise

302.0p

22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification

692

23) Any additional information

Option granted under Save As You Earn Scheme

24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

Hazel Jarvis

020 7695 6378

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification Hazel Jarvis

    Date of Notification.20th December 2001