Director Shareholding

Compass Group PLC
27 March 2003


COMPASS GROUP PLC - INCREASE IN DIRECTOR'S SHAREHOLDING

Compass Group PLC wishes to notify the following change in Directors' interests 
in ordinary shares in the Company ('Shares').

As a result of the transaction described below, the interest of Mr Bailey has 
increased by 112,787 Shares so that, on 27 March 2003, he is beneficially 
interested in Shares as shown below:

Name                          Number of Shares            Percentage of
                                                          Issued Share Capital

Michael J Bailey              2,242,854                   0.1%

Mr Bailey held share options, awarded on 16 May 1996, under the Compass Group 
PLC Executive Share Option Scheme. On 27 March 2003, the options were released 
and an amount was paid by the Compass Group Employee Benefit Trust Number 2 
equal to the excess of the 295p bid market quotation of a Share on 26 March 2003 
over the 143.9p per Share exercise price under the options as shown below:

Name                          Number of Shares under      Cash amount paid 
                              the released option

Michael J Bailey              220,200                     £332,722.20

The entire cash amount was applied by a family trust in which he has a 
beneficial interest in subscribing for 112,787 Shares at a price of 295p per 
Share (being the bid market quotation of a Share on 26 March 2003).


                       DEALINGS BY DIRECTORS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY
    
    COMPASS GROUP PLC


2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

    FRANCIS MACKAY

3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder
    if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the
    age of 18 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

    DIRECTOR NAMED IN 2 ABOVE


4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

    FRANCIS MACKAY


5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

    N/A


6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary


    EXERCISE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTIONS AT OPTION PRICE OF 143.9P AND DISPOSAL
    OF ALL OF THE RESULTING SHARES

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

    367,000


8)  (%) of issued Class

    0.017%

9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

    367,000


10) (%) of issued Class

    0.017%

11) Class of security

    ORDINARY SHARES OF 10 PENCE EACH


12) Price per share

    £2.9365


13) Date of transaction

    27 MARCH 2003


14) Date company informed

    27 MARCH 2003


15) Total holding following this notification

    3,156,998


16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

    0.14%

     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant

    N/A


18) Period during which or date on which exercisable

    N/A


19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option

    N/A


20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.

    N/A


21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise

    N/A


22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification

    N/A


23) Any additional information

    N/A


24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

    RONALD MORLEY
    01932 573000

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

    Date of Notification      27 MARCH 2003



                       DEALINGS BY DIRECTORS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY
    
    COMPASS GROUP PLC


2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

    ANDREW LYNCH

3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder
    if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the
    age of 18 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

    DIRECTOR NAMED IN 2 ABOVE


4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

    ANDREW LYNCH


5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

    N/A


6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary


    EXERCISE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTIONS AT OPTION PRICE OF 143.9P AND DISPOSAL
    OF ALL OF THE RESULTING SHARES

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

    128,450


8)  (%) of issued Class

    0.006%

9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

    128,450


10) (%) of issued Class

    0.006%

11) Class of security

    ORDINARY SHARES OF 10 PENCE EACH


12) Price per share

    £2.9365


13) Date of transaction

    27 MARCH 2003


14) Date company informed

    27 MARCH 2003


15) Total holding following this notification

    682,056


16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

    0.03%

     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant

    N/A


18) Period during which or date on which exercisable

    N/A


19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option

    N/A


20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.

    N/A


21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise

    N/A


22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification

    N/A


23) Any additional information

    N/A


24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

    RONALD MORLEY
    01932 573000

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

    Date of Notification      27 MARCH 2003



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