Our History
Sodexo was founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon as a small start-up. Discover our journey since then…
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1966: Pierre Bellon created Sodexho in Marseille, a start-up company specializing in providing food services to institutions, businesses, schools, and hospitals.
1966: Sodexho signed 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.
1967: Sodexho won its first contract in the “multiservice” market with the CNES in French Guiana. This signaled Sodexho’s entry into the remote site management business.
1971: Sodexho served its first school meals during a year when Sodexho also won contracts in companies and government services.
1971 – 1978: Sodexho launched 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.
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1980 - 1990
1983: Sodexho was listed on the Paris stock exchange.
1985 – 1993: Sodexho established operations in North and South American, Japan, Russia, and South Africa whilst also reinforcing its presence in Continental Europe.
1987: Sodexho acquired the Bateaux Parisiens and officially launches the Sports & Leisure segment (now Sodexo Live!).
1988: 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.
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1990 - 2000
1995: Sodexo acquired Gardner Merchant and Partena to become the world’s biggest food services company.
1996: Sodexho launched Stop Hunger. A program that affirms the company’s commitment towards the fight against hunger.
1996: Sodexho’s service vouchers and cards business expanded into Brazil with the acquisition of Cardapio.
1998: Sodexho and Marriott International merged to create Sodexo Marriott Services and became the leader in the corporate services market in the United States.
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2000 - 2010
2000: Sodexho became the world’s number 1 provider of services to remote sites.
2002: Sodexho entered the New York Stock Exchange in the same year the Euro enters the Stock Market.
2004: Sodexho was established in Thailand.
2005: Michel Landel became 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
2006: The ambition to “Become the global expert in quality of life services” was launched.
2008: Sodexho renamed as 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.
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2010 - 2020
2011: Sodexo became 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.
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.
2016: Sophie Bellon became Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, succeeding her father, Pierre Bellon, who is now Chairman Emeritus.
2018: The Sodexo Board of Directors named Denis Machuel to succeed Michel Landel as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee.
2020: Sodexo took 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.
2021: Sophie Bellon became Interim Chief Executive Officer in addition to Chairwoman of Sodexo’s board of directors.
2022: On January 31 Sodexo’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Pierre Bellon, passes away aged 92.