Purchase of Own Securities

Compass Group PLC
25 September 2003



                               Compass Group PLC

                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation



Compass Group PLC announces that on 25th September 2003 it purchased for
cancellation 115,000 ordinary shares at the price of 359.68 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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