Purchase of Own Securities

Compass Group PLC
28 March 2003

28 February 2003

                               Compass Group PLC

                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation

Compass Group PLC announces that on 28 February 2003 it purchased for
cancellation 2,500,000 ordinary shares at a price of 280.32 pence per share
through Merrill Lynch International.

Enquiries:

Cathi Lawrence          Compass Group PLC          01932 573 000


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