RNS Number:9270B
Dobbies Garden Centres PLC
10 April 2001

Stock Exchange Announcement


DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRES PLC ("THE COMPANY")


The Chairman said that in addition to his comments about the Company's future
prospects in his Annual Report statement, he wished to bring shareholders up
to date with current trading.

"We are pleased to report that our like for like sales growth for the 23 weeks
ending April 8 was 4.3% against last year, despite one of the coldest and
wettest winters for thirty years." Asked about the foot and mouth crisis the
Chairman said that "It is difficult to assess the effect of foot and mouth on
the Company's sales but I believe that it has had an affect at some of our
rural centres."

The Chairman went on to say that, "During the period we have continued to
invest for the future, the main expenditure being the redevelopment of two of
our major centres at Milngavie and Shrewsbury. Although these new superstores
will be relaunched in early May, our trading space at these locations has been
reduced by up to 75% during the first half of the year."

"The combined effects of these events will result in our interim profits being
lower than last year. However the half year results are seasonally less
significant and we continue to believe, given a reasonable summer, that
profits for the full year will be above those of last year. The long term
prospects of the Company have not been affected by recent events."
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