Patrick Macdonald, Chief Executive, said:

 

"I am very pleased with the Group's performance in the first half of 2004.

 

Menzies Distribution benefited from a strong performance from magazine collectables and periodicals, some cover price increases, and a largely event-driven increase in sticker sales. Menzies Distribution continues to be an industry leader in developing new services to support our customers, and I believe that it remains well placed to meet and lead any changes in the competitive environment.

 

Improvements in Menzies Aviation have been broadly based.  The division has steadily raised its performance through contract gains, management action on productivity and costs, and more stable market conditions. Our emphasis remains on getting customer service levels right, managing the cost base and selectively expanding the core business.

 

Our result in the second half of the year will be measured against the strong performance achieved in the second half of last year.  Our Board is confident that we will continue to make progress during the rest of the year."

 

 

Contact:

 

 

 

Notes to Editors:

 

1.      John Menzies plc is one of Scotland's largest companies. It has two operating divisions, Menzies Distribution and Menzies Aviation, both of whom specialise in providing efficient, high quality, time-critical services to their customers.

 

2.      The company was established in 1833 and its head office is in Edinburgh. Today the company is an international business with offices, partners and operations located in Europe, North and South America, China and South East Asia, Australasia and Africa.

 

3.      Menzies Distribution is a leading provider of added value distribution and marketing services to the newspaper and magazine supply chain in the UK. The division delivers over 1.8 million magazines and 4 million newspapers every day to more than 21,200 customers, and has over 4,300 employees.

 

4.      Menzies Aviation is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of ground handling services to the aviation market. The division provides air cargo handling (1 million metric tonnes annually), ground handling (50 million passengers, 250,000 flights per year) and other services for many of the world's leading airlines and some of the busiest international airports. The division employs over 9,000 people across the globe, at 90 airports in 21 countries servicing more than 500 airline customers.

 

5.      Further information on John Menzies plc can be found at: www.johnmenziesplc.com; www.menziesdistribution.com; and www.menziesaviation.com.