Company summary
Compass Group is the world's largest contract foodservice company, providing catering and support services to businesses, schools, hospitals, sports venues and other institutions.
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CPG
Compass Group
Support Services
- Index
- FTSE 100
- ISIN
- Not specified
- Book status
- 2026 edition — current
Key activities
Contract catering, workplace dining, healthcare and education food services, sports and leisure catering, vending and selected facilities-management services.
Key markets
North America is the largest market, with substantial operations in Europe and other international regions. Customers include corporations, hospitals, schools, universities and entertainment venues.
Key drivers
Outsourcing of catering, new contract wins, client retention, like-for-like volumes, pricing, food and labour costs, acquisitions, operating margins and continued growth in North America.
Key risks
Food and wage inflation, labour shortages, loss of major contracts, economic weakness, food-safety incidents, acquisition integration, currency movements and pressure on client budgets.
Recent Developments
14 May 2026: first-half revenue rose 9% to $25.0bn and underlying operating profit increased 12% to $1.84bn. Compass raised its full-year profit-growth guidance as strong outsourcing demand continued.
Dividend notes
Pays interim and final dividends, with a policy linked to earnings and cash generation. The 2026 interim dividend was 25.5 US cents per share, ex-dividend on 18 June and paid on 30 July.
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