TBK Ted Baker

RNS Number:2405G
Ted Baker PLC
16 January 2003

                                16 January 2003

                                 TED BAKER PLC
                           CHRISTMAS TRADING STATEMENT
                                 RETAIL DIVISION


Ted Baker, the designer clothing brand, announces a 19.3% improvement in sales
in its retail division for the period from 1 November to 24 December 2002
against the same period last year.  Retail gross margins have also improved.
Stock levels are in line with expectations and we will enter the new season with
a clean stock position.

We opened our largest store to date in Floral Street, Covent Garden, on 30
November.  With nearly 8,000 sq. ft. of retail space the store provides a
wonderful showcase for our broad range of collections and we are delighted by
the initial reaction from our customers.

In addition to opening in Floral Street, we have plans to relocate at least
three other stores during the coming year as we continue to improve the size and
quality of our retail portfolio and respond to long term movements in retail
markets.  As a result we have decided to recognise in the current financial year
an exceptional operating charge relating to our investment in these stores which
will have to be written off.  We estimate this exceptional operating charge will
be in the region of #1.6 million.  This will have no effect on the cash flow of
the business.

We expect to make our preliminary announcement of results for the 52 weeks to 
25 January 2003 on Tuesday 25 March 2003.  We remain confident of a positive
outcome for the full financial year.

Commenting on trading, Ray Kelvin, Chief Executive, said:

"We are pleased with our strong retail performance over Christmas which reflects
the strength of the Ted Baker brand.  We are also very encouraged by the early
success of Floral Street which now houses the 'World of Ted'."


For further enquiries, please see attached:

Ted Baker:
Tel: 020 7255 4800
Ray Kelvin, Chief Executive
Lindsay Page, Finance Director

Hudson Sandler:
Tel: 020 7796 4133
Piers Hooper
Noemie de Andia

This information is also available on Ted Baker's Investor Relations site at
www.tedbaker.co.uk


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