Nichols plc Regulatory News (NICL)

16 May 2006 11:00

Nichols PLC16 May 2006 Date: Embargoed until 11.00hrs, Tuesday 16 May 2006 Contacts: John Nichols, Executive Chairman Brendan Hynes, Group Finance Director Nichols plc Telephone: 01925 222 222 Website: www.nicholsplc.co.uk Alistair Mackinnon-Musson Hudson Sandler Telephone: 020 7796 4133 Email: nichols@hspr.com Nichols plc AGM Statement John Nichols, Chairman of Nichols plc, the soft drinks group, made the followingstatement at the company's Annual General Meeting held today: "In overall group terms, both our Soft Drinks and Beverage Systems Operationsare trading in line with our expectations at this early stage in the year". "We are also pleased to announce agreement has been reached to franchise ournorth west and north east Beverage Systems Operation to DJ Drink Solutions Ltd,a new company established by Terry Bates, the Managing Director of our Cabanabusiness. This move is in line with our strategy to convert the majority of ourSystems business to a franchised distributor model, with lower capitalexpenditure". "As a result, Terry has stepped down from his current role and I would like tothank him for his contribution to the business over the last 10 years. We wishhim every success in his new business venture as a Cabana franchisee. Thisdevelopment means we have successfully secured six new regional franchisees forCabana in the last twelve months. Additionally, we directly own three regionalCabana businesses based in Brighton, London and Glasgow". "In our Soft Drinks Operation, the re-launch of the Panda brand as a naturalflavoured, sugar free drink was completed in April 2006 and to date it has beenvery well received by the trade". - ENDS - Note To Editors: The Nichols group has two principal operations: 1) Soft Drinks (primarily involved in the sale of soft drinks, including Vimto, throughout the world and Panda & Sunkist in the UK) and 2) Beverage Systems (Cabana, soft drinks on draught) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange