Key Stats
Founded: 1966, Marseille, France
Employees: 423,000 (FY 2024)
Annual Revenue: €23.8 billion (FY 2024)
Countries: 45
Headquarters: Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Sodexo SA provides food services and facilities management to corporations, schools, hospitals, and government agencies in 45 countries. The company serves 80 million consumers daily through its operations in North America, Europe, and other international markets.
Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966 in Marseille, France. The company operates two primary business segments: food services, which generates 66% of group revenues, and facilities management services.
Sodexo ranks as the largest France-based private employer worldwide and the second-largest food services company in Europe after Compass Group. The company trades on Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol SW.
Sodexo SA History
1966
Pierre Bellon founded Société d’Exploitation Hotelière in Marseille to provide food services to company restaurants, schools, and hospitals.
1970s
Sodexo expanded internationally into Belgium, Africa, and the Middle East during this decade of growth.
1983
The company completed its initial public offering on the Paris Bourse and expanded into North America, South America, Japan, South Africa, and Russia.
1995
Sodexo acquired Gardner Merchant and Partena, becoming the world’s largest food services company.
1997-1998
The company changed its name to Sodexho and merged with Marriott Management Services to become a leader in corporate services in the United States.
2002
Sodexo listed on the New York Stock Exchange, though the company later withdrew the listing in 2007.
2008
The company dropped the letter ‘h’ from Sodexho to become Sodexo for easier pronunciation in multiple languages.
2022
Following the death of founder Pierre Bellon, his daughter Sophie Bellon became chairwoman of the board of directors and CEO.
2024
Sodexo spun off its benefits and rewards division Pluxee as a separately listed company on Euronext Paris.
Sodexo SA Co-founders
Pierre Bellon
Founded Sodexo in 1966 in Marseille, France. Bellon served as chairman until 2016 and remained chairman emeritus until his death in 2022. He transformed a local catering business into a global food services and facilities management company.
Sodexo SA Revenue
Sodexo SA generated €23.8 billion in consolidated revenue during fiscal year 2024, representing 5.1% year-over-year growth. Organic growth reached 7.9%, driven by 4% pricing increases and 4% new volumes.
North America contributes the largest share of revenue at €11 billion, followed by Europe. Food services now account for 66% of total group revenues.
Sodexo SA Annual Revenue (€ Billion)
Sodexo SA Acquisitions
Sodexo SA built its global presence through a series of acquisitions spanning several decades. The company pursued both organic growth and strategic purchases to expand its food services and facilities management operations across continents.
The 1995 acquisition of Gardner Merchant and Partena transformed Sodexo into the world’s largest food services company. Gardner Merchant, a UK-based catering company, brought extensive operations across Europe. These purchases established Sodexo as a major player in the global food services industry.
In 1997, Sodexo merged with Universal Ogden Services, the leading remote-site service provider in the United States. This merger positioned the company as the number one provider of services to remote sites by 2000. The following year, Sodexo completed its merger with Marriott Management Services, creating Sodexho Marriott Services and establishing North American market leadership.
The company acquired the Brazilian voucher and card services company VR in 2008, becoming the market leader in that sector in Brazil. During the same period, Sodexo doubled its presence in Germany through the acquisition of Zehnacker, making it the top provider of services to the German healthcare market.
In 2011, Sodexo acquired Lenôtre, one of France’s most prestigious culinary names, strengthening its gastronomic expertise in luxury catering. The company continued acquiring businesses across continents, purchasing Roth Bros in the United States, MacLellan in India, and Atkins in the UK in 2013.
More recently, Sodexo made strategic acquisitions to strengthen its post-pandemic position, including Frontline Food Services, Fooditude, and Nourish. The 2018-2019 period saw the acquisition of Centerplate in the US and investments in food technology startups.
Sodexo SA Marketcap
Sodexo SA trades on Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol SW. The company’s market capitalization stood at approximately €6.2 billion as of January 2026, down from peak levels in 2024.
The Bellon family maintains majority control through Bellon SA, which holds 42.8% of shares. Institutional investors own the remaining shares.
Sodexo SA Market Cap (€ Billion)
Sodexo SA Competitors
Sodexo SA competes with global food services and facilities management companies across multiple markets. Compass Group leads the industry by revenue and employee count, followed by Sodexo and Aramark.
The competitive landscape includes both specialized food service providers and diversified facilities management companies operating in corporate, education, healthcare, and sports sectors.
| Company | Headquarters | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Compass Group | United Kingdom | 591,767 |
| Aramark | United States | 278,390 |
| ISS A/S | Denmark | 318,105 |
| Delaware North | United States | 60,000 |
| Elior Group | France | 97,000 |
| Gategroup | Switzerland | 36,000 |
| MITIE Group | United Kingdom | 68,000 |
| ABM Industries | United States | 100,000 |
| Cushman & Wakefield | United States | 52,000 |
| JLL | United States | 106,000 |
FAQs
Who founded Sodexo SA?
Pierre Bellon founded Sodexo in 1966 in Marseille, France. He established the company as Société d’Exploitation Hotelière to provide food services to company restaurants, schools, and hospitals.
What does Sodexo SA do?
Sodexo SA provides food services and facilities management to corporations, schools, hospitals, and government agencies. The company operates in 45 countries and serves 80 million consumers daily.
Where is Sodexo SA headquartered?
Sodexo SA is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a suburb of Paris, France. The company maintains operations across North America, Europe, and other international markets.
How many employees does Sodexo SA have?
Sodexo SA employs approximately 423,000 people worldwide as of fiscal year 2024. The company ranks as the largest France-based private employer globally.
What is Sodexo SA annual revenue?
Sodexo SA generated €23.8 billion in consolidated revenue during fiscal year 2024. Food services contributed 66% of total revenues with facilities management accounting for the remainder.
