Issue of Bonds

COMPASS GROUP PLC
9 July 1999

COMPASS GROUP PLC

ISSUE OF GBP200,000,000 7.125 PER CENT BONDS
DUE JANUARY 2010 (THE 'BONDS')


COMPASS GROUP PLC ('COMPASS GROUP'), ANNOUNCES THE ISSUE OF
GBP200,000,000 BONDS DUE JANUARY 2010 (THE 'BONDS').  THE JOINT LEAD
MANAGERS AND BOOKRUNNERS TO THE ISSUE ARE BARCLAYS CAPITAL AND
GREENWICH NATWEST LIMITED.  HSBC MARKETS AND LEHMAN BROTHERS
INTERNATIONAL HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS CO-LEAD MANAGERS.

THE BONDS WERE PRICED TO YIELD A MARGIN OF 180 BASIS POINTS OVER THE

GROSS REDEMPTION YIELD OF THE 5.75 PER CENT.  TREASURY STOCK DUE 2009

AND WILL BEAR A COUPON OF 7.125 PER CENT, PAYABLE ANNUALLY IN
ARREARS.  THE BONDS WILL BE REDEEMED AT PAR ON 19 JANUARY 2010.

THE PROCEEDS OF THE ISSUE WILL BE USED FOR GENERAL CORPORATE
PURPOSES.

COMPASS GROUP IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST FOODSERVICE ORGANISATION
EMPLOYING OVER 170,000 PEOPLE IN OVER 50 COUNTRIES.

APPLICATION WILL BE MADE FOR THE BONDS TO BE ADMITTED TO THE OFFICIAL

LIST OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE.  IT IS EXPECTED THAT OFFICIAL
DEALINGS WILL COMMENCE ON 20  JULY 1999.  PRIOR TO OFFICIAL LISTING,

DEALINGS WILL BE PERMITTED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE IN ACCORDANCE

WITH ITS RULES.
PRESS ENQUIRIES:

MARK BOYLE      COMPASS GROUP PLC
                CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR     TEL: [phone]

RON MORLEY      COMPASS GROUP PLC
                COMPANY SECRETARY                  TEL: [phone]

STEPHEN JONES   GREENWICH NATWEST
                SYNDICATE HEAD
RICHARD MANN    BARCLAYS CAPITAL
                SYNDICATE HEAD


NOTES TO EDITORS


1. COMPASS GROUP IS THE WORLD'S LEADING FOODSERVICE COMPANY,
PROVIDING SERVICE TO CLIENTS IN MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES AROUND THE
WORLD INCLUDING THE USA, UK, CONTINENTAL EUROPE, EASTERN EUROPE,
SOUTH AMERICA, SOUTH AFRICA AND ASIA.  COMPASS GROUP FLOATED ON THE
UK STOCK EXCHANGE IN 1988 AND SINCE 1992 HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT

GROWTH, NOW EMPLOYING APPROXIMATELY 170,000 PEOPLE WORLD-WIDE.

2. COMPASS GROUP COMPANIES CAN OFFER CLIENTS AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF
HIGH QUALITY BRANDS INCLUDING BURGER KING, UPPER CRUST AND RITAZZA

3. COMPASS GROUP'S WEB SITE IS LOCATED AT WWW.COMPASS-GROUP.COM