UK supermarket group J Sainsbury has issued a clarification statement, confirming recent press speculation that its half-year profits will be below market expectations.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The company said that underlying profits before taxation for the half year ended 9 October 2004 are expected to be within a range of £125m (US$224.4m) to £135m, compared to £366m a year earlier.


Sainsbury’s had come under pressure from the Financial Services Authority to make a statement ahead of its scheduled trading update after increasing analyst and press speculation.


The retailer reiterated that it is conducting a thorough business review, the conclusion of which will be announced on 19 October.


“While this review is not yet completed, the company is not in a position to give any guidance on the future expectations for the full year, but guidance will be given as part of the presentation of the business review,” the company said.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact