Sodexho Alliance

Sodexho Alliance France, was launched in 1966 by the Bellon family of Marseilles, which had more than 60 years expertise in maritime catering to luxury liners and ships. Its operations initially included servicing staff restaurants of companies, hospitals and hotels.

Its activities were subsequently extended to building maintenance, security, groundskeeping, reception services and food coupons. At the same time it continued to grow organically as well as by entering into alliances with other catering and service oriented organisations in various countries around the world.

Sodexho today has an alliance with Gardner Merchant in the U.K., which it claims is the country's prime contract food services group, Marriot Management Services of the U.S. and a number of organisations in Europe, South America and South Africa.

Sodexho Alliance provides organised services to business houses, educational institutions and healthcare centres in areas such as buildings maintenance, groundskeeping, security, reception and uniforms for staff and food and catering. It is also a big player in the hospitality industry organising river and harbour cruises and remote site management services -- largely catering services to companies with projects in far flung areas.