Contract Awarded

Glanbia PLC
22 May 2001


         Compass Group awards 5 year contract to Glanbia Food Service


Compass Group, the world's leading foodservice and hospitality organisation,
has awarded a Stg£60 million per annum, five-year contract to Glanbia Food
Service to supply the chilled foods requirements of Compass Group contract
catering outlets throughout Great Britain.

Under the contract, Glanbia Food Service will manage the entire logistics of
supplying the chilled dairy, fresh meat, milk, fruit and vegetable
requirements of 2,500 Compass Group outlets in England, Scotland and Wales,
commencing on 2 July 2001. Over 150 new jobs are being created by Glanbia Food
Service at its national distribution centre in Tamworth and in satellite
distribution depots across GB arising from the contract win.

Glanbia Food Service is the leading chilled foodservice wholesaler and
distributor in Great Britain. It is part of Glanbia plc, an international food
company with interests in the UK, Ireland and the USA. Key to the contract win
is a highly automated call centre, which will log the daily individual
requirements of participating Compass Group catering facilities. Orders will
be consolidated in Glanbia's giant stockholding centre in Tamworth and
fulfilled via a network of satellite depots country-wide, with minimum product
handling.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr John McPhie, Senior Supply Chain Manager,
Compass Group, said, 'Compass Group is in the process of consolidating its
supply-chain management to expert operators in target sectors. Our appointment
of Glanbia Food Service as our strategic partner in chilled foods logistics
follows a lengthy and rigorous selection process. We are satisfied that they
offer the necessary business model and infrastructure to manage the complex
process of meeting the individual needs of our network on-time, accurately.'

Welcoming the Stg£300m contract win, Mr John Moloney, Group Managing Director
Designate of Glanbia plc, said, 'We are delighted to have been chosen by
Compass Group to manage this critical aspect of their supply chain. Chilled
foodservice distribution is a core competency of our UK operations, supported
by recent heavy investment in state of the art facilities in Tamworth. We
believe we offer unrivalled expertise, facilities and range in chilled foods
across Great Britain, a view which has been supported by this important
business win. We are committed to justifying Compass Group' selection of our
food service business as their strategic partner through outstanding service
levels and consistent product quality.'


ENDS

22 May 2001


Enquiries to:

Compass Group:     Nicky Crayfourd, Business Manager,

                   Tel: [phone]


Glanbia plc:       Michael Patten, Director of Communications,

                   Tel: [phone]