Trading Statement

RNS Number:2709Q
Dairy Crest Group PLC
29 September 2003



29 September 2003

                             Dairy Crest Group plc
                                 Trading Update



The Group is issuing the following trading update for the six months ending 30
September 2003.


Our brands have performed well.  In dairy spreads we are now seeing a clear
benefit from our brand management activities following the St Ivel Spreads
acquisition where our two leading brands Clover and Utterly Butterly have
increased our overall market share and achieved combined volume growth of well
over 10%.  St Ivel Gold is in the process of being relaunched with a new
commercial on television from October.  Cathedral City, Frijj and the Yoplait
brands have also performed strongly with double-digit volume growth and
increased market share.


As anticipated, despite challenging market conditions in the first half, we are
now seeing progress in the tightening of stocks of cheddar with prices of mature
cheddar starting to firm.  We expect margins to improve progressively throughout
the rest of the financial year.


We were again active in implementing the retail milk price supplement this
summer and will continue to play an important role in returning market leading
milk prices to supplying producers.


During the period we have made good progress in improving the quality of our
earnings both through today's announced sale of our chilled juice business to
Princes Limited and through the closure of our butter and powder ingredients
facility at Chard which was completed in July.


The Group continues to make progress and, including the benefit of the St Ivel
Spreads acquisition, we expect adjusted Group profit before tax (before
exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) for the first half to be in line
with expectations.


As previously announced Alastair Murray joined the Company as Group Finance
Director on 8 September 2003.  Interim results for the six months ending 30
September 2003 will be announced on 12 November 2003.




For further information, please contact:



Dairy Crest Group plc                               Tel: [phone]
Drummond Hall, Chief Executive
Alastair Murray, Finance Director


Will Shaw, Investor Relations
Greg McNeill, Corporate Communications


Citigate Dewe Rogerson                              Tel: [phone]
Martin Jackson / Alexandra Scrimgeour


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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