RNS Number:2288T
AGA Foodservice Group PLC
19 March 2002


19th March 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                  AGA ACQUIRES US HOME FASHIONS RETAILER, DOMAIN

Aga Foodservice Group ("Aga") is to expand in the US with the acquisition of
the East Coast based retailer, Domain Home Fashions ("Domain").  Aga is paying
$25 million (£17.6 million) in cash for Domain. Aga is also entering into
agreements with four officers of Domain pursuant to which they will receive an
aggregate of $4 million on 1st April 2005 subject to their continued
employment.  The officers have an option to receive 1.18 million shares in Aga
in lieu of the deferred cash payment at that date.  The transaction, which is
subject to the filing of a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware, is expected to close later today.

Domain made a profit before tax of $3.3 million in the year ended 30th June
2001, on sales of $62 million.  At that date Domain's net assets were $9.3
million.  Domain is currently trading well and in the year to date is ahead of
the prior year.

Domain was founded in 1986 by current Chairman and CEO, Judy George.  It
designs, sources and retails exclusive European-inspired home furnishings for
more upscale East Coast consumers.  Based in Boston it has 25 stores in
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and
Pennsylvania with a concentration in some of the most prestigious shopping
malls and premier retail locations.  Domain's average store size is around
6,000 square feet, it has a customer database of 165,000, and it achieves one
of the highest levels of sales per square foot of any US furniture retailer.
In addition, Domain has won industry and consumer awards for its unique retail
concept.

The acquisition brings Aga a major presence in key US East Coast retail
markets, with an established furniture retailer keen to extend its existing
living room and bedroom collections to kitchen environments.  Domain will
bring to Aga a successful and experienced retail team.  Domain is enthusiastic
to take the Aga Group's lifestyle products to US markets as its existing
customer base is a natural audience for not only the Group's cookers, but also
for Fired Earth and Elgin & Hall's products.  New stores are to be opened
incorporating the enlarged Group's products.

William McGrath, Chief Executive, Aga Foodservice said, " Domain is an
excellent business in its own right and provides the US platform we have
sought for our strong consumer products led by Aga.  Domain brings retail
experience and a fast and cost-effective way of obtaining a significant
presence in the US market."

Judy George, Chairman of Domain, said "Aga and Domain are absolutely
compatible brands with compatible customer bases.  We see great synergies in
our branded product approach, our educational sales process and our life-long
marketing programs.  Domain has created an aspirational lifestyle for
consumers in the US home, just as Aga represents a lifestyle brand with a rich
heritage in its traditional markets.  Our team is very excited about growing
both brands in the future."

Further information on Domain Home Fashions can be obtained from the website,
www.domain-home.com .



                                  (-ENDS-)

Enquiries:

William McGrath, Chief Executive, Aga Foodservice Group plc  - 0121 742 2366

Jonathan Glass, Brunswick Group                              - 0207 404 5959





                      This information is provided by RNS
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