Subsidiary's Wins $200M Detroit Airport Contract

Compass Group PLC
20 March 2000


                               COMPASS GROUP PLC
                                   SSP WINS
                $200 MILLION DETROIT AIRPORT TERMINAL CONTRACT
                                       
Select Service Partner (SSP), the retail, travel and leisure subsidiary of
Compass Group PLC, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the single
largest contract for food and beverage at the new $1.2 billion passenger
terminal of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan, USA.

The new terminal, which will open in mid 2001, represents the largest element
of a major redevelopment of the airport, which currently handles over 34
million passengers a year.

The contract awarded to SSP is for a minimum of 7 years with an option for a
further three years and is worth initially in excess of $200 million.

SSP will operate in a total of 19 locations offering a mixture of Compass
Group's owned brands such as Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza as well as many
well-known local brands such as Zingermans Deli, Big Boy and Buddy's Pizza.
An exclusive agreement has also been reached to operate a Motown Cafe at the
airport, which indicates the airport's desire to reflect a strong link with
the local community.

Commenting on this contract win, Gary Green, Chief Executive Officer, North
America, Compass Group, said: 'We are delighted to expand further our
international portfolio of airport catering contracts.  SSP already provides
airport catering for 63 airports in 20 countries world-wide.  We believe that
our expertise in this area will enable us to continue to win new contracts in
the US and world-wide.'
   

Enquiries:     Cathi Lawrence, Corporate Communications Director,
               Compass Group PLC                       Tel: [phone]

               Nick Lyon / Wendy Baker
               Hudson Sandler                          Tel: [phone]

Note:  Compass Group is the largest foodservice group in the world, with over
190,000 employees providing catering for clients including major employers,
educational establishments, hospitals, leisure venues, retail locations and at
major airports and stations throughout USA, Europe, Scandinavia and developing
markets in Asia and South America.  It operates through sector-specific
subsidiaries such as Eurest, the world's largest specialist in providing
foodservice to business and industry clients.  The Group has increased
turnover to over £4.8bn and now operates in over 70 countries world-wide.