Woolworths Holdings - Trading update for the six months to December 2005

Woolworths Holdings - Trading update for the six months to December 2005        
Woolworths Holdings Limited                                                     
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
Registration number: 1929/001986/06                                             
Share code: WHL     ISIN: ZAE000063863                                          
("Woolworths Holdings" or "the Company")                                        
Trading update for the six months to December 2005                              
Woolworths Holdings sales growth increased for the six months from July to      
December 2005 by 16.3% compared to the same period last year.                   
Woolworths, Clothing & Home grew sales by 12.6% in total and 8.2% in comparable 
store sales with an average deflation rate of approximately -2.3% over the      
period. Food sales grew by 20.9% in total and by 12.2% in comparable store sales
with an average inflation rate of approximately 3.7% over the period. Expansion 
plans in corporate stores delivered an increase of 4.2% trading space in        
Clothing & Home over the period, and 6.5% in Food. Trading over the festive     
season was in-line with expectations.                                           
Retail sales for the Australian subsidiary, Country Road, for the six months    
ended 31 December 2005 were 6.3% higher in Australian dollars than the same     
period last year, with good volume increases, whilst total sales increased by   
1.0%.                                                                           
The publication of the interim results of the Company for the 26-week period to 
25 December 2005 is scheduled for mid-February 2006.                            
Contact: Simon Susman (Chief Executive Officer), Norman Thomson (Finance        
Director), Cherrie Lowe (Group Company Secretary) on                            
021 407 9111.                                                                   
Cape Town                                                                       
11 January 2006                                                                 
Sponsor                                                                         
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)                       
Date: 11/01/2006 10:36:33 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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