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How did a small start-up based in Marseille become a world leader in services? Here’s how we grew our ambition and our activities, while always focusing on our original values and mission.
Sodexho signed its first major contract with the French Research Institute for Atomic Energy (the CEA).
50 years later, Sodexo is still delivering food services at the CEA’s site in Pierrelatte.
Sodexho served its first school meals during a year when Sodexho also won contracts in companies and government services.
1967
Rapid international growth
In 1967, Sodexho landed its first contract in the multiservice market with the CNES in French Guiana, entering the remote site management business.
In 1970s, Sodexho launched in new countries with contract wins in Belgium, Italy, and Spain as well as further developments in Africa and the Middle East between 1971 and 1978.
Sodexho was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
Sodexho provided food services for all the athletes, staff, and journalists at the Calgary Olympics.
Sodexo became the world’s biggest food company after acquiring Gardner Merchant and Partena.
Sodexo became the leader in corporate services in the United States after merging with Marriott International.
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Sodexho launched Stop Hunger. A program that affirms the company’s commitment towards the fight against hunger.
Sodexho becomes the world’s number #1 in remote sites.
Sodexo joins the New York Stock Exchange, a major step in our international development.
Sodexho supported the Inco Group in New Caledonia with services for the construction site for Goro Nickel’s mine, hiring 95% of employees locally.
Sodexho became the #1 provider of services to the German healthcare market, after having doubled our size in the country and concluded the acquisition of VR, the Brazilian leader of vouchers and card services, securing first place in this sector in this country.
In order to give the group a more international scope, and to support its transformation to a global services group, Sodexho becomes Sodexo.
Sodexo acquired Lenôtre, one of the greatest names in French cuisine, strengthening Sodexo’s gastronomic expertise in Paris and worldwide.
Sodexo acquired Roth Bros in the United States, MacLellan in India, and Atkins in the UK in the same year as deploying a global technical expertise platform.
Sodexho established in Thailand.
On January 31 Sodexo’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Pierre Bellon, passed away aged 92.
Sodexo demonstrated the success of the 2025 strategic plan with solid results achieved by focusing on food services, boosting the sustainability and innovation in the services we offer to our consumers, redesigned the consumer experience in FM services, simplified its organization, reinforced its attractiveness as an employer and strengthened its financial performance.