Re Contract

14th May 2002

                    Compass Group PLC wins Boeing Contract                     

Compass Group PLC, announced today that Eurest Dining Services, Canteen Vending
and minority-owned partner Thompson Hospitality have been awarded a 10-year
contract to provide food and vending services to Boeing locations in the Puget
Sound area of Washington State; Portland, OR and Wichita, KS. In addition, the
20-year Compass Group relationship at the Boeing location in El Segundo, CA has
also been extended. In total, the contract with Boeing represents annual
revenues of about $40 million per annum.

Eurest, Canteen Vending and Thompson Hospitality will provide full-service
dining, food plazas, deli locations, vending, hospitality and coffee service to
a population of more than 80,000 employees. The contract is expected to take
effect in July.

Gary Green, Chief Executive Officer, North America, commented:

'We are delighted that Boeing has awarded us with a substantial portion of
their foodservice business and are very excited about our growing partnership.
This is a significant contract for the Group.'

Candace Ismael, vice president of Supplier Management and Procurement in Boeing
Shared Services Group, commented:

'The contract with Compass Group and Thompson exemplifies both good value for
Boeing and the mutual success made possible through strategic alliances between
forward-thinking companies. As the customer, Boeing benefits from the combined
strengths of both companies.'

                                     Ends                                      

Enquiries:

Tim Grey / Simon Sporborg,           Brunswick      020 7404 5959            

Notes to Editors

Compass Group is the world's largest foodservice company with annual
foodservice revenues in excess of £9bn. Compass Group has over 360,000
employees working in more than 90 countries around the world providing
foodservice and hospitality. For more information visit www.compass-group.com.
In North America the Group employs more than 116,000 associates throughout the
US and Canada. Compass Group was the official catering services supplier for
the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Compass Group
provided catering and concession services to the 3500 residents of the Olympic
Village as well as more than 125,00 people daily, including members of the
worldwide media, judges and officials.

Thompson Hospitality LLC was formed in partnership with Compass Group in 1997
to concentrate on the contract foodservice business. Thompson Hospitality
Corporation, along with its subsidiary, Thompson Hospitality Services, is among
the USA's largest minority-owned businesses, employing over 2000 associates.
Thompson Hospitality has been featured on the Black Enterprise list of largest
companies since its inception in 1992.

The Boeing Company is the world's leading aerospace company, with its heritage
mirroring the history of flight. Boeing is the largest manufacturer of
satellites, commercial jetliners and military aircraft with company revenues of
$58 billion in 2001. Chicago-based Boeing has customers in 145 countries,
employees in more than 60 countries and operations in 26 states. Boeing and its
subsidiaries employ close to 179,000 people.