Sodexo Reinforces Animal Welfare Commitment with Phase Out of Gestation Stalls

GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo Inc., the leading provider of Quality of Daily Life Solutions in North America, announced today that it will work with pork suppliers to phase out the use of gestation stalls in its supply chain by 2022, a decision supported by The Humane Society of the United States.

"Sodexo is a company committed to strategically partnering with our clients to meet their consumers' needs. We source products that meet stringent requirements for a wide range of factors, including value, nutrition, safety, quality, environmental impact, and animal welfare," said Deborah Hecker, vice president, sustainability and CSR, Sodexo. "Today we are taking a big step forward in meeting client needs, consumer interests, and improving animal welfare by asking all of our pork suppliers for clear plans to remove gestation stalls from the production process by 2022."

Sodexo has initiated a review process in its North American operations whereby it is asking all of its primary pork suppliers for their plans to not only eliminate gestation stalls from the farms that they own and operate, but their contracted pork operations as well. Suppliers are to provide Sodexo with actionable plans by 2017, detailing how they plan to achieve this. Jim Pazzanese, vice president, supply management, Sodexo explained, "Starting today, all future RFPs for pork and products containing pork will include requirements to demonstrate that gestation stalls will be phased out of the supply chain by 2022."

"Gestation crates confine pigs to such an extreme state that the animals are virtually immobilized for nearly their entire lives," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. "The impact of Sodexo's announcement significantly advances the industry's progress toward a more humane and sustainable food system."

Sodexo also recently amended its Supplier Code of Conduct policy to specifically state that it seeks to work with suppliers who are leaders in their industries with regard to animal welfare and environmental practices. The commitment to animal welfare, however, is just one part of Sodexo's overall approach to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Last year it also launched a Sustainable Seafood Initiative, which includes a commitment to having 100% of its fresh and frozen contracted seafood MSC or BAP certified sustainable by 2015.

Among the recognized achievements in sustainability for Sodexo are: the Dow Jones 2011-2012 Global Sustainability Leader; Sustainability Yearbook; 2012 SAM Sector Leader and 2012 Fortune's Most Admired Companies. Guided by the Better Tomorrow Plan, Sodexo's global roadmap to sustainability, the company actively works to protect the environment, promote health and wellness, and support local communities.

"Creating a more sustainable supply chain that includes best practices in animal welfare is extremely complex for any business where the strategic sourcing priority is to serve specific client needs. It is further complicated by the fact that Sodexo is not directly involved in the care, management or processing of farm animals." said Pazzanese. "Despite these challenges, Sodexo recognizes animal welfare as an important component for a sustainable supply chain and we're committed to educating clients and stakeholders on our sourcing process and promoting the phase out of gestation stalls in our North American operations as a way to deliver on current client needs and consumer interest."

About 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 $17 million in grants to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

About The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the Web at humanesociety.org.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.