Our History

In 1966, Pierre Bellon laid the foundations for Sodexo by creating a start-up company specializing in providing food services to businesses, , embedding food in our DNA. The name of the company was then Sodexho, an acronym for “SOciété D'EXploitation HÔtelière”.

1966

Our first contract with the CEA

We landed our first major contract with the French Research Institute for Atomic Energy in 1966.

And today?

50 years later, we are happy to say that we are still delivering food services for the CEA in Pierrelatte.

In the following years, we kept developing our catering activities, serving our first school meals in 1971 and winning contracts in company and government services.

Ever since our first day, we have had a vision to become a long-lasting partner in the service industry. As soon as 1967, we landed our first contract in the multiservice market with the CNES in French Guiana, entering the remote site management business.

In the 1970s, we began to conquer other international markets : we launched service vouchers in Belgium, paving the way for today’s Benefits and Rewards Services, we won our first contracts in Italy and Spain between 1971 and 1978, while developing in Africa and the Middle East. 

In the next decade, we furthered our international presence by establishing operations in North and South America, Japan and South Africa while reinforcing our position in Continental Europe.

1983

Paris Stock Exchange

In 1983, we were first listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

And today?

Today, we are a member of the Euronext CAC 40 ESG Index.

In the 1980s, we became established as a rapidly growing group, reinforcing our position in existing services. For example, we acquired Cardapio in Brazil in 1996, expanding our service vouchers and cards business. 

1988

Our first Olympics

In 1988, we provided food services for the athletes, staff and journalists and the Calgary Olympics. 

And today?

After having also worked for the Barcelona, London and Tokyo Olympics, we are happy to report that we will be providing food to all athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. 

Eager to seize new opportunities, we were also inspired to launch into new operations. We acquired the Bateaux Parisiens in 1987 to get started in the Hospitality segment which is still thriving today as Sodexo Live!

From the 1990s to the 2000s and a series of acquisitions, we got recognition as a world leader in services: 

• In 1995, we became the world’s biggest food company after acquiring Gardner Merchant and Partena.
• In 1998, we became the leader in corporate services in the United States after merging with Marriott International.

This would help us become the world’s #1 provider of services to remote sites in 2000 and enter the New York Stock Exchange in 2002.

At the same time, we have striven to act as a responsible corporate citizen, and have launched several programs to have a positive impact on the communities around us.

1996

Stop Hunger

Committed to eradicate hunger and thanks to the dedication of our people, we launched Stop Hunger, our unique philanthropic cause in 1996.

And today?

52 billion people have benefited from this program in the past 6 years and we have teamed up with the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) in 2022.  

At the start of the new century, we kept pursuing Pierre Bellon’s vision of a multiservice company focusing on people and care. That’s how we came to launch our ambition as a “global expert in quality of life services” in 2006 and reached major landmarks in our various sectors:

• Facility Management
  In 2005, we supported the Inco Group in New Caledonia with services for the construction site for Goro Nickel’s mine, hiring 95% of employees locally. In 2013, we acquired Roth Bros in the United States, MacLellan in India and Atkins in the UK, while also deploying a global technical expertise platform.
• Benefits and Rewards Services
  In 2008, we became the Brazilian leader of vouchers and card services through the acquisition of VR.
• Health Services
  In 2008, we became the #1 provider of services to the German healthcare market, after having doubled our presence in the country.
• Food Services
  In 2011, we acquired Lenôtre, one of the greatest names in French cuisine, strengthening our gastronomic expertise in Paris and worldwide.
  
  

Our determination to enhance quality of life and offer valuable services helped us become #1 on site-services provider in Brazil, India and China in 2011. 

2008

From Sodexho to Sodexo

In order to give the group a more international scope, and to support its transformation to a global services group, Sodexho becomes Sodexo.

The shared spirit of our executive team and our frontline employees showed in 2020, when we all came together to manage the impacts of COVID-19. Focusing on the safety and health of our employees, clients, consumers and the well-being of the communities we serve, and despite the difficult times, we were also still able to grow as a company.

In 2021, we defined our purpose, forged by the belief that tangible actions and daily interactions bring real improvements to people's lives, communities and the planet: at Sodexo, we create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.

In 2022, our founder, Pierre Bellon, passed away at 92. His sense of purpose, however, still lives on thanks to the executive team. His daughter, Sophie Bellon, was appointed Chief Executive Officer at Sodexo ; she had already been Chairwoman of the Board of Directors since 2016. 

In 2022, a strong increase in profitability has gone to show that our organic vision of growth is sustainable.