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Our History

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.

  • 1966

    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.

  • 1971

    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.

  • 1983

    Sodexho was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

  • 1988

    Our first Olympics

    Sodexho provided food services for all the athletes, staff, and journalists at the Calgary Olympics.

  • 1995

    Sodexo became the world’s biggest food company after acquiring Gardner Merchant and Partena.

  • 1997

    Sodexo became the leader in corporate services in the United States after merging with Marriott International.

Stop Hunger

1996

Sodexho launched Stop Hunger. A program that affirms the company’s commitment towards the fight against hunger.

  • 2000

    Sodexho becomes the world’s number #1 in remote sites.

  • 2002

    Sodexo joins the New York Stock Exchange, a major step in our international development.

  • 2005

    Sodexho supported the Inco Group in New Caledonia with services for the construction site for Goro Nickel’s mine, hiring 95% of employees locally.

  • 2008

    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.

  • 2011

    Sodexo acquired Lenôtre, one of the greatest names in French cuisine, strengthening Sodexo’s gastronomic expertise in Paris and worldwide.

  • 2013

    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.

Bangkok Skyline Mahanakhon Homepageslider

2004

Sodexho established in Thailand.

  • 2022

    On January 31 Sodexo’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Pierre Bellon, passed away aged 92.

  • 2023

    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.