Sodexo Named One of the World's Most Ethical Companies for Second Consecutive Year

GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2010 by the Ethisphere Institute. This is the second consecutive year the company has been named to the coveted list, which recognizes firms based on their commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

Sodexo is a leader in providing comprehensive service solutions worldwide, and is one of the world's leading employers, with core businesses in foodservice, facilities management and senior services.

Ethisphere, a think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, will publish the listing of the World's Most Ethical companies in Ethisphere Magazine's Q1 issue. Ethisphere reviewed thousands of nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries in order to determine the winners of the coveted ranking. This is the fourth year Ethisphere has published the rankings.  

"Acting in accordance with high ethical standards is one of the ways Sodexo secures and maintains business relationships and attracts and retains employees," said George Chavel, president and CEO of Sodexo North America and COO of Sodexo Group. "Sodexo voluntarily meets the highest standards of social responsibility and sustainability. We strive for transparency in our business dealings and have instituted rigorous internal controls to drive our ethical principles throughout the organization. We are pleased to be named again as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies."

Chavel added that Sodexo treats its employees with dignity, respect and equality, and supports and encourages them to shape their own future and grow with the company. "By living the Sodexo values and ethical principles, and actively fostering diversity and inclusion, our people make Sodexo a company of the future," he said.

To read more about company employees' success and experiences with Sodexo, visit SodexoCommunity.com. Sodexo actively reinforces its commitment to maintain the highest ethical standards in several ways, including:

• The company has a Business Abuse Hotline that provides employees at every level the opportunity to report legal, ethical, or safety concerns anonymously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• New management employees attend orientation where ethical conduct is emphasized as a core value.
• Executives, senior leaders, and new managers are required to take interactive online ethics training through the company's own Sodexo University.
• All employees are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with uncompromising ethical standards. The company displays Business Integrity posters at all accounts and offices to reinforce this expectation every day.
• Sodexo requires all of its manufacturers to adhere to the company's Supplier Code of Conduct, which addresses respect for people, the environment, and business integrity. Sodexo is committed to these principles and asks the same from its business partners.

Sodexo also recently introduced its Better Tomorrow Plan, the company's global promise for sustainability and its roadmap for sustainability over the next 10 years. The Better Tomorrow Plan includes 14 commitments with measurable targets that the company will work toward achieving.

The methodology for the World's Most Ethical ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers. Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2010 World's Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/wme-2010.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), a member of Sodexo Group, is a leading provider of Comprehensive Service Solutions serving more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care, retirement, schools, higher education, government and remote sites. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Sodexo, Inc. operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. The Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org) is an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $12.7 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2009)

    
    
    Sodexo in the World                        Sodexo in North America
    
    14.7 billion euro consolidated revenue     7.7 billion dollars revenue
    380,000 employees                          120,000 employees
    33,900 sites                               10 million consumers served
    50 million consumers served daily          daily (on-site consumers and
    80 countries                               motivation beneficiaries as a
    22nd largest employer                      single number)
                                               6,000 clients worldwide 
                                               700 facilities management sites

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.