WHL - Woolworths Holdings Limited - Trading Update For The Twenty Six Weeks To

WHL - Woolworths Holdings Limited - Trading Update For The Twenty Six Weeks To  
December 2007                                                                   
Woolworths Holdings Limited                                                     
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
Registration number: 1929/001986/06                                             
Share code: WHL & ISIN: ZAE000063863                                            
("Woolworths Holdings" or "the group")                                          
TRADING UPDATE FOR THE TWENTY SIX WEEKS TO DECEMBER 2007                        
Woolworths Holdings increased sales by 16.1% for the twenty six weeks to 23     
December 2007, compared to the same period last year. Comparable store sales    
growth was 8.5%.                                                                
In Woolworths retail, clothing and general merchandise grew sales by 7.3% in    
total and 4.7% in comparable stores with an average inflation rate of           
approximately 9.6% over the period. Food sales grew by 18.8% in total and by    
9.7% in comparable stores with an average inflation rate of approximately 12.1% 
over the period.                                                                
This financial year has 53 trading weeks and as such it is important to note    
that the key trading day of 24th December falls in the second half of the       
financial year.                                                                 
Trading space had increased by 4.9% in clothing and general merchandise and     
13.1% in food as at 31 December 2007, compared to the prior year.               
Woolworths financial services grew its combined books by approximately 13.0%.   
The growth rate has reduced in recent months due to the implementation of the   
National Credit Act and reduced demand for credit and net bad debts have        
accelerated since the beginning of the financial year.                          
Country Road grew total sales by 35.0% in Australian dollar terms. Retail sales,
excluding concession sales, grew by 21.5% in Australian dollars and by 16.5% in 
comparable stores compared to the prior year.                                   
The sales figures reported on above have not been audited by the group`s        
external auditors. The group`s results for the half year ended 31 December 2007 
are expected to be released on SENS on 21 February 2008.                        
Contact:                                                                        
Simon Susman (Chief executive officer) on 021 407 2700                          
Norman Thomson (Finance director) on 021 407 3337                               
Cherrie Lowe (Group secretary) on 021 407 3160                                  
Cape Town                                                                       
17 January 2008                                                                 
Sponsor                                                                         
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)                       
Date: 17/01/2008 08:30:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the    
JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or            
implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or   
completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers,     
employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,     
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature,     
howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,          
information disseminated through SENS.