Holding in Company

Compass Group PLC
25 June 2001

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

COMPASS GROUP PLC


2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC


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

SEE LETTER BELOW


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

SEE LETTER BELOW


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

N/A

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

N/A

8)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

ORDINARY SHARES OF 10 PENCE EACH


10)  Date of transaction

ON OR BEFORE 21 JUNE 2001


11)  Date company informed

22 JUNE 2001


12)  Total holding following this notification

66,361,553
               
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

2.99%


14)  Any additional information

SEE LETTER BELOW



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

ANDREW V DERHAM
TEL:  [phone]


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

     Date of Notification .....22 JUNE 2001


Letter to Compass Group plc
Dated 21 June 2001

SECTION 198 NOTIFICATION
Notification of Decrease

This Notice is given by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. on behalf of its
affiliates, including Capital Guardian Trust Company, Capital International
Limited, Capital International S,A., Capital International, Inc.. and Capital
Research and Management Company, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act
1985.

The interest in the relevant share capital indicated below arises by virtue of
holdings attributed to the Companies (see Schedule A). These holdings form part
of funds managed on behalf of Investment clients by the Companies.

Share capital to which this relates:

      Ordinary Shares (2,214,574,336 shares outstanding)

      Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:

                66,361,553
                                     
      Name(s) of registered holder(s):

      See Schedule B

Compass Group plc 

                                                 Number of Shares   Percent of
                                                                    Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies, Inc ('CG') holdings   66,361,553        2.99%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

*Capital Guardian Trust Company                    14,971,217        0.68%

*Capital International Limited                     23,193,189        1.05%

*Capital International S.A.                         6,841,461        0.31%

*Capital International Inc.                            31,221        0.00%

*Capital Research and Management Company           21,324,465        0.96%


Schedule A

Schedule of holdings in Compass Group plc
as of 21 June 2001

Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                                     Local Shares
State Street Nominees Limited                                        3,196,120
Bank of New York Nominees                                              293,586
Chase Nominees Limited                                               3,638,485
BT Globenet Nominees Ltd                                                67,000
Midland Bank plc                                                     3,142,378
Bankers Trust                                                          738,800
Barclays Bank                                                          215,000
Citibank London                                                        912,321

Schedule B

Nortrust Nominees                                                    2,607,227
Royal Bank of Scotland                                                   5,500
MSS Nominees Limited                                                    37,000
National Westminster Bank                                                1,900
Citibank NA                                                             16,000  

Deutsche Bank AG                                                         2,900
ROY Nominees Limited                                                    22,000
Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                                            75,000

                                          Total                     14,971,217

Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                                   Local Shares
State Street Nominees Limited                                          671,642
Bank of New York Nominees                                            2,305,203
Chase Nominees Limited                                               6,803,639
Midland Bank plc                                                       219,245
Bankers Trust                                                        8,069,311
Barclays Bank                                                          206,465
Citibank London                                                        178,347
Morgan Guaranty                                                         34,962


Schedule B

Bank One London                                                        284,498

                                        Total                       23,193,189