Transaction in Own Shares

Compass Group PLC
23 January 2004



                               Compass Group PLC

                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation



Compass Group PLC announces that on 23rd January 2004 it purchased for
cancellation 700,000 ordinary shares at the price of 364.05 pence per share from
Hoare Govett's affiliate, ABN AMRO Equities (UK) Limited.



Enquiries

Justin Besley       Compass Group PLC     01932 573 000

Jeremy Thompson     ABN AMRO Equities (UK) Ltd     020 7678 8000


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