52 weeks ended 22 February 1997					Note		1997 £m	1996 £m
____________________________________________________________________					_______		_______________
Sales at net selling prices					1		14,984	13,028
Value added tax							1,097	934
							_____________
Turnover excluding value added tax					1 & 2		13,887	12,094
Operating expenses					2		13,081	11,341
Employee profit sharing					3		32	29
							_____________
Operating profit					1 & 2		774	724
Net loss on disposal of fixed assets					4		-	(6)
Net interest payable					7		(24)	(43)
							_____________
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation					4		750	675
Profit before net loss on fixed assets							750	681
Net loss on disposal of fixed assets							-	(6)
Tax on profit on ordinary activities					8		230	209
							_____________
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation							520	466
Minority equity interests							-	-
							_____________
Profit for the financial year							520	466
Dividends					9		225	206
							_____________
Retained profit for the financial year					24		295	260
							_____________
							pence	pence
							_____________
Earnings per share					10		24.1	22.2
Adjustment for net loss on disposal of fixed assets after taxation							-	0.3
							_____________
Adjusted earnings per share					10		24.1	22.5
							_____________
Fully diluted earnings per share					10		23.5	21.6
Adjustment for net loss on disposal of fixed assets after taxation							-	0.3
							_____________
Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share					10		23.5	21.9
							_____________
Dividends per share					9		10.35	9.60
							_____________
Dividend cover (times)					9		2.3	2.3
							_____________

Accounting policies and notes forming part of these financial statements can be viewed. All group operations for the financial period are continuing.