Compass Group, a global leader in food services, has been recognised as one of the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere, following an independent and rigorous assessment of its global ethics and compliance practices. Compass Group is the only UK-listed honouree, and one of only two in the global foodservice industry this year.
In total, 138 organisations were recognised across 17 countries and 40 industries, reflecting a diverse group of companies that continue to embed ethics into everyday decision‑making and long‑term strategy.
The World’s Most Ethical Companies® recognition is grounded in a comprehensive assessment that requires companies to provide more than 240 documented proof points demonstrating high-signal indicators of ethics and compliance program maturity. These span areas including corporate governance, programme structure & resourcing, written standards & training, risk assessment, auditing & investigations, third‑party risk management, measurement of ethical culture and environmental & social impact.
All submissions are subject to qualitative review by Ethisphere’s panel of experts, who spend thousands of hours each year vetting and evaluating applicants. To view the full list of this year’s honourees, please visit the World’s Most Ethical Companies website: https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.
This recognition builds on Compass Group’s Compliance Leader Verification™, awarded by Ethisphere earlier in 2026. It also follows the company’s recognition for the eighth consecutive year as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies™.
Erica Salmon Byrne, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair, Ethisphere:
“Congratulations to Compass Group for achieving recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®. As we mark the 20th class of honourees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision‑making and long‑term strategy. Companies with strong ethics, compliance, and governance programmes are built for better long‑term performance.”
Stephen Storey, Group Head of Ethics and Integrity, Compass Group:
“This recognition reflects Compass Group’s long‑standing commitment to doing business the right way, underpinned by the continued strengthening of our global Ethics & Integrity programme and the ethos that reinforces it. At Compass, integrity is a shared responsibility that sits at the heart of how we support our people, serve our clients, work with our suppliers and partners, and contribute positively to the communities in which we operate. Being recognised by Ethisphere is not an end point, but a reflection of the standards we expect of ourselves, and the decisions we make, every day.”
© 2026 Compass Group PLC