Joint venture between STOP Hunger and France's Restaurants du Coeur

For the second year in a row, Sodexho, the world's leading provider of food and management services, has teamed with France's Restaurants du Coeur meals-for-the-needy charity to fight hunger and malnutrition. Since being formed in 2004, the partnership's cooperation and synergy have generated positive results, providing hunger relief in the form of 200,000 meals (hot food donations and charity product initiatives) as well as through Sodexho's efforts to help place the disadvantaged in jobs.

The STOP Hunger initiative is part of Sodexho's sustainable development policy and its economic, social and environmental commitments to its stakeholders. Sodexho was recently named industry leader for its market sector by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes (DJSWI).

Successful cooperation
The two-year-old partnership was renewed this year as part of a long-term effort that includes Sodexho teams learning Restaurant du Coeur's different activities to better understand the association's approach and operating methods. The partners have two common objectives:

• Fighting malnutrition and promoting healthy eating
• Supporting the disadvantaged in finding work

Sodexho's program includes a full range of measures

• Delivery of hot meals to local providers throughout the winter campaign.
• Training in food hygiene, safety and nutrition by Sodexho dieticians.
• Job initiatives in favor of the disadvantaged.
• Access to Sodexho's supplier network.
• The possibility for users to donate Sodexho meal vouchers.
• Charity-product initiatives at Sodexho restaurants.

Following on last year's success, Sodexho will again be conducting its “Desserts du Coeur” campaign this year. From December 12 to 16, customers in company restaurants operated by Sodexho will be able to choose certain desserts, for which a portion of the purchase price is donated to Restaurants du Coeur.

For Sodexho, the world's leading food and management services company, the partnership is consistent with its mission of improving the quality of daily life and its commitment to fight hunger and malnutrition.

Sodexho recognized for its evolving sustainable development strategy
In 2003, Sodexho outlined a sustainable development strategy including specific measures of progress and achievement of objectives for all stakeholders-clients, consumers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and host countries. This continually evolving sustainable development strategy is built on transparency, respect for people and improving the quality of daily life.

In recognition of its commitments, Sodexho was listed in September 2005 by two important indices of socially responsible companies: the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and the Dow Jones Stoxx Sustainability Index (DJSI STOXX for Europe). Introduced in 1999, these were the first global indices to monitor the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. The indices enable stakeholders to assess the quality of a company's commitments, policies and performance with regard to the economy, the environment and corporate governance while providing investors with objective, reliable benchmarks for managing their sustainable development portfolios. Only 10% of the 2,500 largest companies are included in the DJSI listings.

In the DJSI index, Sodexho is listed as the leader for the “hotel, restaurant, bar and recreational services” market sector and in the “travel and leisure” supersector. It also obtained the highest score in environmental policy.

According to the evaluation report performed for the Dow Jones Sustainability indices by the Sustainable Asset Management Group, "Sodexho has demonstrated an excellent overall sustainability performance, which strongly relates to the straight-forward business philosophy and high transparency of the company."

About Sodexho Alliance
Sodexho Alliance is the leading global provider of food and management services, with more than 324,000 employees on 26,700 sites in 76 countries. Listed on Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange, the Group's current market capitalization is €5.5 billion.

About STOP Hunger
As a world leader in food and management services, Sodexho is dedicated to improving the quality of daily life and fighting hunger and malnutrition in its host countries. Created ten years ago, the STOP Hunger is active in four main areas:

• food drives 
• financial donations
• sharing Sodexho's expertise through information and training programs
• volunteer initiatives
  

Sodexho's STOP Hunger initiatives and actions are aimed at assisting the 840 million people worldwide who suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

Media Relations:
Cristina Egal Communication
Phone: +33 (0)1 39 55 82 77
e-mail: cegal@club-internet.fr