Our history

Pierre Bellon created Sodexho in Marseille, a start-up company specializing in providing foodservices to institutions, businesses, schools and hospitals.

Sodexho signs its first major contract with the French Research Institute for Atomic Energy (the CEA). The contract establishes a lasting relationship as, 50 years later, Sodexo is still delivering food services at the CEA’s site in Pierrelatte.

Sodexho wins its first contract in the “multiservice” market with the CNES in French Guiana. This signalled Sodexho’s entry into the remote site management business.

Sodexho serves its first school meals during a year when Sodexho also won contracts in companies and government services.

Sodexho launches in new countries with contract wins in Belgium, Italy and Spain as well as further developments in Africa and the Middle East. A new business (service vouchers) is also launched in Belgium.

Pierre Bellon created Sodexho in Marseille, a start-up company specializing in providing foodservices to institutions, businesses, schools and hospitals.

Sodexho signs its first major contract with the French Research Institute for Atomic Energy (the CEA). The contract establishes a lasting relationship as, 50 years later, Sodexo is still delivering food services at the CEA’s site in Pierrelatte.

Sodexho wins its first contract in the “multiservice” market with the CNES in French Guiana. This signalled Sodexho’s entry into the remote site management business.

Sodexho serves its first school meals during a year when Sodexho also won contracts in companies and government services.

Sodexho launches in new countries with contract wins in Belgium, Italy and Spain as well as further developments in Africa and the Middle East. A new business (service vouchers) is also launched in Belgium.

Sodexho is listed on the Paris stock exchange.

Sodexho establishes operations in North and South American, Japan, Russia and South Africa whilst also reinforcing its presence in Continental Europe.

Sodexho acquires the Bateaux Parisiens and officially launches the Sports & Leisure segment (now Sodexo Live!).

For the first time, Sodexho provided food services for all the athletes, staff and journalists at the Calgary Olympics. Sodexho will go on to deliver services for many future Olympic games including Barcelona and London.

Sodexo acquires Gardner Merchant and Partena to become the world’s biggest food services company.

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

Sodexho’s service vouchers and cards business expands into Brazil with the acquisition of Cardapio.

Sodexho and Marriott International merge to create Sodexo Marriott Services and becomes the leader in the corporate services market in the United States.

Sodexho becomes the world’s number 1 provider of services to remote sites.

Sodexho enters the New York Stock Exchange in the same year the Euro enters the Stock Market.

Michel Landel becomes Chief Executive Officer of Sodexho Alliance. In the same year Sodexho supports the Inco Group in New Caledonia with services for the construction site for Goro Nickel’s mine. More than 95% of employees were hired locally.

The ambition to “Become the global expert in quality of life services” was launched.

Sodexho becomes Sodexo, becomes the Brazilian leader of vouchers and card services through the acquisition of VR and makes further acquisitions in several markets including Zehnacker, doubling Sodexo’s presence in Germany and making Sodexo the number one provider of services to the German healthcare market.

Sodexo becomes the number one on-site services provider in Brazil, Russia, India and China in the same year as acquiring Lenôtre, one of the greatest names in French cuisine, strengthening Sodexo’s gastronomic expertise in Paris and worldwide. 

Sodexo acquires 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.

Sophie Bellon becomes Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, succeeding her father, Pierre Bellon, who is now Chairman Emeritus. 

The Sodexo Board of Directors names Denis Machuel to succeed Michel Landel as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Sodexo takes action to proactively manage the impacts of COVID-19 with a focus on the safety and health of our employees, clients, consumers and the well-being of the communities we serve.

Sophie Bellon becomes Interim Chief Executive Officer in addition to Chairwoman of Sodexo’s board of directors.

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