Acquisition Completed of U.S. Vending Business

Compass Group PLC
29 February 2000

                    COMPASS GROUP PLC
     ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF U.S. VENDING BUSINESS


Compass Group PLC has completed the acquisition of  Sands
and  Co.  Inc., a U.S. vending business for which 521,282
ordinary shares of 2.5p each have been issued. The shares
will rank pari passu with the existing ordinary shares.

The  net  assets of the business being acquired are  £1.8
million.


Enquiries:

Ron Morley, Compass Group PLC           01932 573000
Nick Lyon, Hudson Sandler Limited       0171 796 4133