RNS No 3959q
WENSUM COMPANY PLC
24th September 1998
                            
  INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 JULY 1998

The Business  Wensum operates from two principal
              locations, serving many leading brand
              companies.  Wensum Clothing, based in
              Norwich, designs and manufactures high
              quality tailored clothing.  Wensum
              Corporate, based at our new site at
              Gatwick, provides a complete service
              comprising the design, development,
              sourcing, distribution and project
              management of corporate clothing and
              career wear.

              Wensum is committed to providing high
              levels of service and support to our
              customers based on a clear emphasis on
              product specialisation, quality and added
              value.

Highlights     -    Pre-tax profit up 18.0% to #767,417.
               -    Operating profit of 9.9% to sales.
               -    Turnover up 12.2% to #7,953,607.
               -    Earnings per share up 17.3% to 6.84p.
               -    Increased interim dividend to 1.65p.
               -    Nil net gearing.
               -    Excellent order book.

Results        I am delighted to be able to report record
               results for the Wensum group for the six
               months ended 31 July 1998.  Profits before
               taxation increased to #767,417 (1997:
               #650,397) on turnover of #7,953,607 (1997:
               #7,091,245).

               Earnings per share were 6.84p (1997:
               5.83p).  There was nil net gearing
               compared with 9% at the same time the
               previous year.

               The directors are recommending an
               increased interim dividend to 1.65p per
               ordinary share (1997: 1.575p) which will
               be paid on 21 November 1998 to all
               shareholders on the register on 9 October
               1998.

Review of      Wensum Corporate performed well in the
Operations     period under review, increasing both turnover
               and operating profits.

               During the year a number of important
               programmes for new and existing customers
               were implemented, including a major launch
               for P&O. We anticipate this pattern will
               continue into the second half.

               The new site at Gatwick has been a great
               success, strongly supporting our leading
               position in the airline and travel
               sectors.

               Wensum Clothing also performed well,
               increasing both turnover and operating
               profits.

               Manufacturing efficiencies have improved
               greatly during the past year and the
               development of personal tailoring has also
               been a key feature of our success.

               The "Englishness" and positioning of our
               product in the market place is clearly
               being well received.

Current        The second half has started well with
Trading        turnover and profits ahead of last year.
& Prospects    
               We are currently well underway with a
               substantial initiative to enhance our
               management and computer systems in support
               of the closer links we are creating with
               our customers.  In many cases these are
               centred around facilities management
               principles.  This is a key element of our
               future strategy.

               We believe an operating profit of 9.9% to
               sales in the period under review, together
               with the strength of our order book in a
               difficult market place, is a clear
               reflection of the quality of our business.


Andrew Hughes
Chairman

24 September 1998


                     INTERIM RESULTS
                            
          FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 JULY 1998
                            
                            
                         6 months       6 months         12 months
                         ended          ended            ended
                         31 July 1998   26 July 1997     31 January 1998
                         (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      (Audited)
                         #000           #000             #000

Turnover                 7,954          7,091            14,561
                         ------         ------           -------
Operating Profit           792            682             1,428
Net interest payable       (25)           (32)              (76)
                         ------         ------           -------
Profit before taxation     767            650             1,352
Tax charge                (238)          (201)             (444)
                         ------         ------           -------
Profit after taxation      529            449               908
Dividends                 (128)          (121)             (387)
                         ------         ------           -------
Retained profit            401            328               521
                         ------         ------           -------
Earnings per share("EPS") 6.84p          5.83p            11.79p
                         ------         ------           -------


1.  The EPS has been calculated on 7,745,916 ordinary
    shares, being the weighted average number of shares in
    issue throughout the period ended 31 July 1998 (6 months
    to 26 July 1997 - 7,691,383)

2.  An Interim Dividend of 1.65p (1997 - 1.575p) is
    proposed, payable on 21 November 1998 to shareholders on
    the register on 9 October 1998.

3.  The tax charge for the six months to 31 July 1998 is
    based on an estimated rate of 31% (1997 - estimated rate
    31%).  The tax charge for the year to 31 January 1998 is
    the actual charge.








GROUP BALANCE SHEET


                         31 July 1998    31 January 1998     26 July 1997
                         (Unaudited)     (Audited)           (Unaudited)
                         #000            #000                #000

Fixed Assets             2,563           2,300               2,309
                         ------          ------              ------
Current Assets
Stocks                   1,812           2,063               1,780
Debtors                  2,612           2,633               2,653
Cash at bank and in hand 1,449           1,300                 615
                         ------          ------              ------
                         5,873           5,996               5,048

Creditors: amounts
falling due within
one year                 3,382           3,581               2,785
                         ------          ------              ------

Net current assets       2,491           2,415               2,263
                         ------          ------              ------
Total assets less
current liabilities      5,054           4,715               4,572

Creditors: amounts
falling due after
more than one year         688             750                 812
Deferred taxation           30              30                  44
                         ------          ------              ------
                         4,336           3,935               3,716
                         ------          ------              ------
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital    387             387                 385
Share premium account      125             125                 102
Other reserves           1,082           1,082               1,082
Profit and loss account  2,742           2,341               2,147
                         ------          ------              ------
                         4,336           3,935               3,716
                         ------          ------              ------

1.   The above financial information does not constitute
     Statutory Accounts as defined in Section 240 of the
     Companies Act 1985.  The comparative financial
     information is based on the Statutory Accounts for the
     financial year ended 31 January 1998.  Those accounts,
     upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion,
     have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

2.   The accounts have been prepared on a basis
     consistent with the full year accounts to January 1998.
     There have been no changes in accounting policy.


3.   The interim results will be sent to shareholders of
     the Company, and copies will be available to the public
     at the Registered Office, 179 Northumberland Street,
     Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4EE.




END

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