Sodexo Globally Recognized by Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for Eighth Consecutive Year

Recognition for sustainable development speaks to social advancements as much as environmental

BURLINGTON, ON, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Sodexo, Inc., the world leader in Quality of Life Services, was again recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) as the global leader in its industry segment.

In its North American operations, Sodexo continues to drive progress toward its Better Tomorrow Plan commitments with the development of its people, support for local communities and the pursuit to improve the quality of life for clients and customers. Programs like Recipes for a Better Tomorrow, for example, encourage chefs to consider more sustainable selections in the development of menu options. Partnering with clients like UBC Hospital to implement sustainable initiatives in Food Service work to engage the local community and integrated management services, whether at corporate sites or college campuses, provide sustainable energy, construction and food service solutions that significantly reduce client operating costs.

Every year on behalf of the DJSI the SAM (Sustainable Asset Management AG) evaluates companies across all industry segments on their sustainability performance on an annual basis, conducting an in-depth analysis of specific economic, environmental and social criteria including human resources development, corporate governance, risk management, climate change strategy and supply chain management.

"This is the eighth year in a row that Sodexo has been recognized by the DJSI," said Damien Verdier, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Sodexo Group. "We are extremely proud that Sodexo is the global sustainability leader in its market sector. It is important to note that sustainable development is not just about the environment - the social dimension is absolutely key, in particular for Sodexo. The services sector is a people business; our employees drive our activity. Sodexo's commitment to corporate citizenship and our employees' development has been central to the Group's strategy and ambitions since we were founded in 1966, and we continuously strive to take our credentials to the next level of performance."

In 2009 Sodexo defined a worldwide corporate citizenship roadmap for the Group: the Better Tomorrow Plan. Applicable in the 80 countries where Sodexo operates, the Better Tomorrow Plan is built on a solid base of initiatives undertaken in our host countries, which are critical to our market and stakeholders.

Just a few of Sodexo's achievements in sustainability include:

• Continuous improvement of the Group-wide employee engagement score since 2008 (+9%) with a very high response rate. 85% of our employees rate Sodexo a better employer than its competitors.
• The development and deployment globally of practical and concrete sustainability initiatives in our day-to-day site based operations, such as energy saving and waste reduction programs.
• Maintaining a worldwide agreement with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to promote MSC-certified seafood throughout Sodexo's global network.

About Sodexo 

Sodexo in Canada   
Sodexo Canada has been delivering On-Site Service to clients in the Healthcare, Education, Business & Industry, and Remote Sites sectors for over 40 years. Today, Sodexo Canada provides services at nearly 750 locations for more than 230 clients across Canada. The company's 10,000 employees work together to improve the Quality of Life for their customers by designing, managing, and delivering a wide range of On-Site Service -- from project management to energy planning, from technical building maintenance to concierge services, from housekeeping to fitness centre management, and from catering and foodservices to clinical technology management. Sodexo Canada is proud to have created the Sodexo Foundation, an independent charitable organization that has donated more than 750,000 meals to at risk youth in Canada since it was founded in 2001.

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 a 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 413,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of Quality of Life Services. 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, 2011)

SOURCE: Sodexo Canada