ASTRAL FOODS LIMITED - TRADING UPDATE AND CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT

ASTRAL FOODS LIMITED - TRADING UPDATE AND CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT               
ASTRAL FOODS LIMITED                                                            
("Astral Foods" or "the company")                                               
Share Code: ARL                                                                 
ISIN: ZAE000029757                                                              
Registration number: 1978/003194/06                                             
TRADING UPDATE AND CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT                                      
Shareholders are advised that Astral Foods" results for the six months ended 31 
March 2004, which is to be released on SENS on or about 21 May 2004, are        
expected to exceed management"s expectations and headline earnings is expected  
to be materially (in terms of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa Listings 
Requirements materially means between 10% and 30%) higher than the headline     
earnings as reported in the previous comparative financial period.              
As these results have not been reviewed by the company"s auditors, shareholders 
are advised to exercise caution when dealing in Astral Food"s shares on the JSE 
Securities Exchange South Africa until the results for the six months ended 31  
March 2004 are published.                                                       
Pretoria                                                                        
19 March 2004                                                                   
Sponsor                                                                         
HSBC Investment Services (Africa) (Pty) Limited                                 
Date: 19/03/2004 11:05:08 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department