Sodexho Wins $43 Million Contract with Valdosta State University for Campus Dining Services

VALDOSTA, GA.- April 6, 2006 -Sodexho, Inc. (NYSE: SDX) the leading provider of food and facilities management services in the United States, announced today that it has been awarded a $43 million booked volume contract over five years to provide food service for Valdosta State University (enrollment 10,000).

The Palms residential dining center location will feature SoCuisine, a customized approach to culinary dining for college students. SoCuisine creates a student-friendly social gathering space. SoCuisine is led by Customenu, concepts and recipes created by Sodexho, based on student taste preferences, as indicated through surveys conducted by Sodexho's Student Board of Directors.

Additionally, Sodexho will create a distinctive dining environment at several locations on campus, including the new The Palms Quad Retail Center, the outdoor pedestrian mall, North Campus, Odum Library and University Center Food Court.

“Our priority is to give the students healthy, great tasting food in environments that are familiar and inviting to them,” said Aubrey Wooton, Sodexho's senior district manager. “Sodexho's SoCuisine and Customenu has allowed us to seek new and better ways not only to listen to students, but act on what they tell us and give them the services they want-whether that means food with a cultural twist, convenience, social atmosphere and ambiance, or all the above.”

Sodexho will lead the renovation of the Palms Resident Dining Center and the Palms Quad Retail Center by adding several retail and convenient food stop locations. These include the national sandwich chain, Quiznos® and Jazzman's® Café, which is one of the fastest growing coffeehouse chains in America. Jazzman's serves a full line of coffee, espresso and specialty drinks with sandwiches, piping hot soups, cool salads, hot-pressed paninis and gourmet baked goods. The Palms Dining Center will welcome a new design with an outdoor patio where students can study, read a newspaper or snack on their favorite item while taking in the sunshine.

“Our goal was to move our food services to the next level through outsourcing,” said Robert Kellner, director of Valdosta State's auxiliary services. “Based on the student's initial reaction that has occurred in the first week, we can't wait for the renovations to see the real impact that Sodexho will bring to our dining services operations.

The University Center Food Court will be the new home to SubConnection®, which serves quality deli meats and cheeses on freshly baked breads, Sky Ranch Grill®, a premier burger and grilled chicken concept and the national chain Chick-fil-A®.

The Education Center on Valdosta State's campus will welcome an Einstein's Bros. Bagels® and the Odum Library will have the second Jazzman's on campus to fuel students through those late nights.

The North Campus area will include an Einstein's Bros. Bagels kiosk and the new Pedestrian Mall will have mobile food courts making lunchtime especially easy for those on-the-run.

“Our goal is to make a successful dining service program for Valdosta State by directly addressing the student's needs. With several new platforms coming on campus students will easily be able to find dining locations that fit into their schedule,” said Wooton.

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $6.3 billion in annual revenue and 120,000+ employees. Sodexho USA  offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites throughout North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the U.S. Marine Corps.