Sodexo

Sodexo

File:Sodexo logo.svg Logo since 2008
Company type	Public
Industry	Food services, Facilities management
Founded	1 January 1966 (1966-01-01) in Marseille, France
Founder	Pierre Bellon
Headquarters	Issy-les-Moulineaux , France
Area served	Worldwide (55 countries)
Key people	Sophie Bellon (Chairwoman and CEO), Denis Machuel (former CEO), Michel Landel (former CEO), Pierre Bellon (founder)
Products	Food services, Facilities management, Service vouchers and cards
Revenue	€28.1 billion (FY ending August 2023)
Operating income	€699 million (FY ending August 2023)
Number of employees	522,000 (2023)
Website	www.sodexo.com

Sodexo (previously known as Sodexho Alliance) is a French company specializing in food services and facilities management, with its headquarters located in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris. By 2023, the company employed 522,000 individuals across 55 countries and catered to 100 million clients each day. It holds the position as the second-largest European firm in its industry based on both employee count and revenue, trailing only behind Compass Group.

For the fiscal year ending in August 2023, Sodexo reported revenues amounting to €28.1 billion alongside an underlying operating profit of €699 million. As of October 2023, its market capitalization was valued at €11.5 billion.

The company's operations span numerous sectors such as private businesses, government bodies, educational institutions ranging from preschools to universities, healthcare establishments, assisted living facilities, military installations, and correctional institutions. Its subsidiary, Sodexo Justice Services, oversees support services for 122 prisons across eight nations, including prominent activities in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Chile, and the United Kingdom.

History

Founded in 1966 by Pierre Bellon (Chairman) in Marseille, France, Sodexo began as Société d'Exploitation Hotelière (Hotel Services Corporation), initially providing services to corporate cafeterias, schools, and hospitals. Today, it features on the Fortune Global 500 list and ranks as the second-largest employer among French multinational corporations.

Throughout the 1970s, Sodexo expanded both within France and internationally by entering markets such as Belgium, Africa, and the Middle East. After going public on the Paris Bourse in 1983, the company extended its reach to North America, South America, Japan, South Africa, and Russia.

Sodexo commenced operations in India in 1994 and currently employs over 40,000 people there, with its Indian headquarters situated in Goregaon, Mumbai.

In 1997, the holding entity rebranded to Sodexho and merged with Universal Ogden Services—a leading U.S. remote-site service provider. Prior to this, in 1995, Sodexo had acquired Gardner Merchant Ltd., a food service company. The following year, it merged with Marriott Management Services to form Sodexho Marriott Services, strengthening its position as a major U.S. food services provider. By 2001, Sodexo had taken full ownership of Sodexho Marriott Services.

Sodexho was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2002 but withdrew five years later in 2007. It continues to be traded on Euronext Paris under the ticker SW and over-the-counter under SDXOF and SDXAY.

In 2006, Sodexo collaborated with NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson to establish SodexhoMAGIC, LLC—a joint venture primarily owned by Johnson. The following year saw the launch of its UK school catering brand "For you...".

To facilitate easier global pronunciation, the company simplified its name to Sodexo in 2008.

Expanding into senior care services in 2009, Sodexo acquired Comfort Keepers—a franchised provider offering non-medical in-home care based in Dayton, Ohio.

Acknowledged for excellence in diversity management practices, Sodexo was ranked first on DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2010.

That same year marked partnerships with United Coffee and Numi Organic Tea to supply fair-trade certified coffee machines alongside organic tea products.

In 2011, Sodexo secured an eight-year agreement to deliver food services at 51 mess halls operated by the United States Marine Corps.

Leadership

In 2005, Michel Landel took over as CEO, succeeding Pierre Bellon, who continued to serve as Chairman of the Board. In January 2016, Lorna C. Donatone was named leader of Sodexo's North American division and global CEO of school services. Denis Machuel succeeded Landel as CEO in 2018. After Pierre Bellon's passing in 2022, his daughter Sophie Bellon stepped into the roles of chairwoman and CEO. In February 2025, Michael Svagdis was appointed CEO for campus and government services in the United States.

Food services and facilities management

Sodexo's food service portfolio encompasses employee cafeterias, catering solutions, executive dining options, vending services, and meal deliveries. Its comprehensive facilities management includes soft services such as reception, concierge, cleaning, pantry operations, laundry, landscaping, waste disposal, and vendor coordination. Additionally, hard services cover HVAC system maintenance, electrical systems up to 220kV, energy optimization and sustainability initiatives, plumbing and water treatment plant management, equipment maintenance agreements, and project oversight.

Service vouchers and cards

Sodexo's payment solutions involving vouchers and cards are partially facilitated through a partnership with Freedompay.

Name change

On 22 January 2008, following approval by shareholders at the annual general meeting, the company officially rebranded from Sodexho Alliance to Sodexo. The adjustment involved dropping the 'h' to address pronunciation challenges in certain languages. Along with the name change, the logo was redesigned by replacing five stars with a single star.

Controversy

In 2009, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) initiated a nationwide campaign within the U.S., targeting Sodexo to advocate for improved wages and working conditions. The following year, SEIU organized student-led strikes at multiple universities protesting alleged unfair labor practices including anti-union conduct and inadequate wages. While strikes at the University of Pittsburgh resulted in negotiated wage increases and enhanced health benefits for cafeteria staff, none of the Sodexo accounts targeted by SEIU unionized or pursued formal election votes. Sodexo dismissed SEIU's campaign as a smear effort intended to benefit competing labor unions and gain media attention.

In March 2011, Sodexo filed suit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, accusing SEIU of employing unlawful tactics to force unionization. Court documents revealed SEIU manuals advising pressure strategies involving blackmail, extortion, and personal attacks on corporate leaders. After this evidence surfaced, SEIU ceased its public campaign against Sodexo and related charges were dropped.

Student protests at the University of Washington in May 2011 opposed the institution’s contract with Sodexo and led to several arrests.

On 22 February 2013, all frozen beef products supplied by Sodexo in the UK were withdrawn after tests detected horse DNA contamination. Sodexo serves approximately 2,300 UK institutions including schools, senior care facilities, prisons, and military units.

In August 2013, Sodexo Justice Services faced allegations of inflicting "cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment" on a female inmate at HMP Bronzefield (UK), including extended segregation under poor conditions.

The UK Ministry of Justice issued criticism in February 2019 regarding systemic human rights violations at HMP Peterborough, citing unlawful strip-search procedures described by Justice Julian Knowles as "humiliating and embarrassing."

HMP Bronzefield was also investigated after a woman gave birth alone without medical assistance in her cell; tragically, the newborn died shortly after delivery in September 2019.

In December 2019, a labor dispute between UNITE HERE Local 11 and Sodexo at Loyola Marymount University threatened disruption of a Democratic presidential debate amid allegations of worker mistreatment.

Beginning in October 2019, Sodexo staff at St Mary's Hospital, London, organized by the UVW union, protested against inequitable pay and contract conditions. Following prolonged industrial action—the longest strike recorded within NHS history—their demands were fulfilled; by January 2020 all 1,200 Sodexo employees across four hospitals were transitioned to full NHS employment. The workforce primarily consisted of Black, Latino, Asian, and migrant workers; leadership was provided by Lithuanian migrant Loreta Younsi.

After a Kronos system outage from December 2021 to March 2022 disrupted timekeeping and payroll processes, former employee Sharnee Smith filed a lawsuit alleging unpaid overtime. Although the court found no liability on Sodexo’s part, a $1 million class-action settlement was reached with eligible employees able to claim compensation.

Animal welfare

Since 2010, Sodexo has collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to promote greater environmental responsibility throughout its supply chain. The organization has set a target to achieve global sourcing of 100% sustainable fish and seafood by the year 2025.

Additionally, Sodexo is dedicated to shifting entirely to free-range pork, encompassing group-housed and gestation crate-free methods, with a goal set for completion by the end of 2025. The company has initiated procurement of gestation crate-free products through Clemens Food Group and has reported partial advancements toward this objective.

In 2016, Sodexo committed to obtaining only cage-free eggs worldwide by 2025. Despite this pledge, there have been no public updates on progress, prompting advocacy groups such as the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) to actively support and encourage fulfillment of this promise.

Notes

• Revenue data is categorized into four primary segments: On-site Services, Business & Administrations, Education, Healthcare & Seniors.