Sodexho, Inc. Receives Economic Leadership Award from Montgomery County

GAITHERSBURG, Md., October 30, 2007 - Sodexho, the nation's leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services, was honored today by the Montgomery County Department of Business Development with the 2007 Economic Development Leadership Award. The award recognizes the company's programs that are achieving demonstrable results to develop the county's workforce and promote economic development. Sodexho employs more than 1,000 people in Montgomery County.

Sodexho was chosen for this distinction because of its robust programs in the areas of training and development, diversity and inclusion and corporate citizenship. The company has been nationally recognized for its commitments to diversity, being named a best place to work by DiversityInc., Working Mother, Latina Style and others.

Sodexho has been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World Index, and STOXX Sustainability Index for three consecutive years. Recognizing its impact goes beyond its own actions, the company has formalized a Supplier Code of Conduct that outlines its expectations for vendors and business partners. Further expanding its commitment, the company recently named a new senior executive position, the Vice President for Corporate Citizenship, to be based in Gaithersburg, Md.

Sodexho also offers employees frequent opportunities throughout the year to make a difference in local communities. This fall, Sodexho employees in the county collected enough cereal to fill more than 19,255 bowls and enough milk to provide 476 servings to Washington, D.C. and Maryland families and children during an annual “Back-to-School Cereal Drive” for example. The company also provided 20,000 nutritious summer lunches to school children in Baltimore and Washington D.C. who rely on subsidized meals during the school year through the Sodexho Foundation, its charitable arm.

“It is an honor to receive this award because we are very proud of the programs that Sodexho has that create opportunities for people, and make us the kind of company that people commit themselves to over the long term," said Robert A. Stern, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of Sodexho, Inc. “Providing opportunities for everyone and giving back to the community is who we are as a company.”

Sodexho has been a member of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce since August 2001. The company's recognizable corporate headquarters are a familiar presence in the Rio shopping center in Gaithersburg, Md.

Sodexho, Inc. (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.3 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 125,000 employees. Sodexho serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexho, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a subsidiary of Sodexho Alliance (www.sodexho.com). Sodexho, Inc. funds the Sodexho Foundation (www.helpstophunger.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $9.2 million in grants to fight hunger in America.