Sodexo Foundation Welcomes Oneida to the Table in its Fight Against Hunger in the United States

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sodexo Foundation is making space around the table for a returning partner in the fight against hunger. Oneida Ltd., one of the world's largest tabletop suppliers to the consumer and foodservice industries, has announced its commitment to increase the Company's existing support to the Sodexo Foundation during Hunger Action Month.  

Oneida will donate one dollar to the Sodexo Foundation for every new fan added to Oneida's Facebook page now through October 12, 2011, while also soliciting its existing fan base to donate directly to the Foundation.  This commitment is incremental to Oneida's ongoing pledge to donate two percent of Sodexo, Inc.'s purchases from Oneida into the Sodexo Foundation through March 12, 2012.

"We take great pleasure in knowing that awareness about our anti-hunger work has inspired Oneida to take its own leadership role in this cause," said Robert A. Stern, president, the Sodexo Foundation. "Oneida's commitment to fighting hunger and support of the Sodexo Foundation is greatly appreciated as well."

Using social media's viral potential, Oneida is encouraging its fans to tweet or post about the Sodexo Foundation and donate directly to the Sodexo Foundation through a special application found on www.facebook.com/Oneidaltd.  Oneida Twitter followers are encouraged to share this tweet, "Help @Oneida_ltd fight hunger, like us http://on.fb.me/sodexfb, $1 will be donated to Sodexo Foundation for each new fan."

The donation will help fund innovative programs that help children and families in the United States who are at-risk of hunger. Initiatives range from nutrition programs for children, to engaging youth in hunger-fighting community service activities, supported by the Sodexo Foundation. Based on the USDA's Household Food Security Report 2010, nearly 17 million children in the United States are currently at-risk of hunger. Oneida is committed to the Sodexo Foundation's mission of addressing hunger in America and helping reduce these concerning stats, also found in the same report:

• 50 million people in the US are at risk of hunger
• 1 in 5 children in the US today goes hungry
• 1 in 3 households that are served by a food pantry have children
• Hungry children are more likely to fail at school

"Partnering with the Sodexo Foundation was a natural extension of Oneida's involvement in local hunger relief programs through the Food Bank of Central New York," said Jim Joseph, President and CEO of Oneida Ltd.  "Sodexo's broad and ambitious initiatives transcend local, state, and national levels which enable us to impact even more in need."

About Oneida

Oneida Ltd. is one of the world's largest designer and seller of stainless steel and silver plated flatware for the consumer and foodservice industries.  It is also the largest supplier of dinnerware to the foodservice industry in North America.  The Company operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico & Latin America, Europe, and Asia marketing and distributing tabletop products, which include flatware, dinnerware, crystal stemware, glassware and kitchen tools & gadgets. The company originated in the mid-nineteenth century and has since grown into one of the most recognized brands in the industry. Driven by devotion to design, Oneida prides itself on the finest quality products and modern, decorative and classic tableware collections. Visit www.oneida.com and www.foodservice.oneida.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.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.