Acquisition

Bunzl PLC
27 May 2002

                                                                     27 May 2002


             BUNZL EXPANDS ITS EUROPEAN OUTSOURCING SERVICES BUSINESS


Bunzl plc, the international Group supplying business to business consumables,
today announces that it has acquired Lockhart from Sodexho.  Lockhart is the
UK's leading supplier of catering equipment to the foodservice industry
including hotels, caterers, restaurants, retailers and the licensed trade.  It
has a blue chip client base which is highly complementary to Bunzl's existing
customers.  Based in Theale near Reading, it had sales of £59 million in the
year to 31 August 2001 and net assets at that time of £5.8 million.


Anthony Habgood, Chairman of Bunzl plc, said:  'Lockhart is an excellent company
which is the leading player in sourcing and distributing products used primarily
for the preparation, storage and display of food.  This is an acquisition which
strengthens our one stop shop offering to customers in the UK and Ireland'.



Enquiries:


Bunzl plc:                                             Finsbury:

Anthony Habgood, Chairman                              Roland Rudd
David Williams, Finance Director                       Morgan Bone
Tel: [phone]                                     Tel: [phone]




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