The combination of a good summer, slack growth figures in the Dutch food market, a decline in sales of Christmas hampers because of tax changes and our own strategy in both the food service and the food retail markets, leads Sligro Food Group to expect organic growth of just above 2% on an annual basis in 2003.

The increase in net profit after tax and goodwill amortisation in the second half of the year is estimated at 13-15%. On an annual basis, this will produce a profit increase of approximately 20% in comparison with 2002, when net profit amounted to € 37.0 million. These figures are consistent with the forecast made when publishing the half-yearly figures on 17 July 2003.

The turnover figures for 2003 will be announced on 2 January 2004 and a complete set of figures for the whole of 2003 will be published on 22 January 2004.

Sligro Food Group encompasses food service and food retail companies selling directly and indirectly to the entire Dutch market for food and beverages. Sligro Food Group aims to be a consistent, quality company, achieving controlled growth in all its activities and for all its stakeholders. Turnover in 2002 amounted to € 1,299 million. The average number of employees on a full-time equivalent basis was 2,561.

Veghel, 16 October 2003

On behalf of the Executive Board of Sligro Food Group N.V.
A.J.L. Slippens
H.L. van Rozendaal
Tel. +31 413 34 35 00