Sodexo and Kent Denver School Unveil First LEED Platinum Dining Facility Worldwide

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo, Inc., world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions, and the Kent Denver school, a college-preparatory day school in Englewood, Colo., unveiled today the first LEED Platinum free-standing dining facility in the world.

The Kent Denver dining hall is first-of-its-kind in that it will use approximately 50 percent less energy and water than a typical building, and was constructed using environmentally-friendly, sustainably-produced, and/or locally-sourced materials. Additionally, the majority of the waste generated by the facility is fully composted or recycled. There are currently 114 LEED Platinum certified buildings in the world; only five are in Colorado.

"Sodexo, and Kent Denver, believes that student success starts with one's environment," said Meagan Johnson, general manager for Sodexo at Kent Denver School. "Healthy, sustainable schools create more productive learning environments. By protecting and improving the places in which our children live and learn, we're helping to create a better tomorrow for our kids and community."

The newly constructed dining hall also offers students a fresh approach to healthy, well-balanced meals. Kent Denver Dining Hall's offerings are prepared with locally-sourced fruits from the 100-tree orchard, vegetables from the school's outdoor garden, and herbs from the on-site living herb wall.  The dining facility will also serve up all-natural meats, organic and locally-sourced fruits, and dairy products free from artificial growth hormones.

In addition to offering healthy food choices and a unique dining environment, Kent Denver and Sodexo have also woven educational programs into the mealtime experience.  Students will participate in various environmental-focused programs to educate them on solar power, recycling, and sustainable agriculture.

"We're thrilled that, thanks to our partnership with Sodexo, we're able to bring this facility to life for our students, teachers, and community," said Jerry Walker, associate head of Kent Denver School. "We hope that this exciting new approach to creating productive learning environments for our children will inspire communities and serve as a model for other facilities around the world."

Sodexo works with clients in various industries to offer strategic counsel and comprehensive service solutions that make it possible for them to meet any number of objectives, including sustainability goals. Guided by its Better Tomorrow Plan, the company's global roadmap to sustainability, Sodexo has identified 14 specific commitments in the areas of health and wellness, the environment, and support for local communities. For details about the Better Tomorrow Plan visit www.sodexoUSA.com.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 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 acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee 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 array of On Site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2010)

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.