Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence: Compass Group USA’s Journey

The year was 1994. Friends debuted on NBC, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” won record the year, and Forrest Gump ‘just felt like runnin.’

The other big news in the early 90s? Compass Group USA’s story was just beginning. Today, we celebrate a milestone anniversary – thirty years of culinary, hospitality and support services excellence.

Our People, Our Purpose

We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the dedication and passion of our remarkable people. At the heart of Compass Group USA are the more than 300,000 associates whose hard work and commitment are the foundation of our success.

From chefs crafting delicious meals to facilities team members ensuring clean and safe environments, our people deliver the best in food, hospitality, and support services. Their stories of dedication and service inspire us, and their collective efforts have shaped the company we are today.

A Look Back at Our Journey

Compass Group USA’s story began in 1994 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with the acquisition of Canteen, which now, three decades later, is the nation’s largest unattended retail company.

Compass Group begins in the USA with the acquisition of Canteen Corporation, with $1 billion USD in revenues.

By 1995, Compass Group USA established our headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Charlotte headquarters is now the epicenter of the innovation and passion that drives our business every day.

Fast-forward to the 2000s, our focus on growth had paid off, and the Compass Group USA footprint was expanding. We were entering new markets and growing our presence in the healthcare, education, sports and leisure, and business and industry sectors.

By the 2010s, innovation and sustainability became central to our strategy, with initiatives aimed at reducing food waste and sourcing locally.

Thirty years later, we serve 11 million meals daily, maintain more than 1.9 billion square feet, and continue to be recognized for our commitment to culinary and hospitality excellence and our desire to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Thank you to all our associates, clients, and partners for being part of our journey. Here’s to the next 30 years of success and growth!