Woolworths Holdings Limited - Trading statement

Woolworths Holdings Limited - Trading statement                                 
Woolworths Holdings Limited                                                     
(Registration number : 1929/001986/06)                                          
ISIN :     ZAE000028288                                                         
JSE Code : WHL                                                                  
Woolworths operating group                                                      
Woolworths operating group increased sales by 15.3% for the 2004 financial year 
which ended on 30 June 2004.                                                    
Clothing & Home recorded sales growth of 12% whilst sales in comparable stores  
increased by 9%.An excellent performance was achieved in womenswear which       
continued to gain market share.  Homeware continued to show signs of improvement
with pleasing sales growth in the last quarter of the year.  Average inflation  
for the period in corporate stores was 6.9% and was significantly lower in the  
second half of the financial year.                                              
Food sales growth of 19.2% benefited from customers using Woolworths more as    
their main food shop with comparable stores increasing sales by 7.8%.  Average  
inflation for the period in corporate stores totalled 6.4% and dropped          
consistently each month to 4.4% in the month of June 2004.                      
Country Road Limited                                                            
Country Road sales for the year ended 30 June 2004 declined by -6.5% in         
Australian dollar terms mainly due to the decision to enter an exclusive        
arrangement with one major wholesale customer.  Retail sales for the six months 
ended 30 June 2004 were up 3.2% in Australian dollar terms on the same period   
last year.                                                                      
The above information has not been reviewed and reported on by the group"s      
auditors.                                                                       
The group has embarked on a process to evaluate alternatives in order to        
optimise its balance sheet structure.  In the event of such a restructure the   
board will consider how it wishes to dispose of surplus funds which may result  
from this process.                                                              
The annual results of the group for the year ended 30 June 2004 are expected to 
be released on 19 August 2004.                                                  
Cape Town                                                                       
13 July 2004                                                                    
Contact:  Simon Susman (Chief Executive Officer) Contact number: (021) 407-2700 
Norman Thomson (Finance Director) Contact number: (021) 407-3337                
Sponsor                                                                         
HSBC                                                                            
Date: 13/07/2004 12:03:56 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department