Our history

How did a small start-up based in Marseille become a world leader in services? Here’s how we grew our ambition and our activities, while always focusing on our original values and mission.

Sodexo, bringing us together for 60 years

Meet the 60 stakeholders who make Sodexo the company it is today. Discover the portraits and stories which reflect the diversity of our business, partners, clients and their communities. These people – well-known or not, partners, employees, clients, and stakeholders – fuel Sodexo’s growth and will continue to shape our business for the next 60 years.

Read Sodexo’s 60th anniversary book
Sodexo 60th anniversary book cover

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

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

  • After getting started with companies and government services, we successfully entered the education and healthcare markets, serving our first school and patient meals.

Rapid international growth

In 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, we won our first contracts in Italy and Spain between 1971 and 1978, while developing in Africa and the Middle East.  

  • Sodexo was first listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. Today, we are a member of the Euronext CAC 40 ESG Index.

  • Our first Olympics

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

    It was the beginning of a historic relationship as we went on to also work for the Barcelona, London, Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...