Sodexho Receives Prestigious Freedom Award from U.S. Department of Defense

GAITHERSBURG, MD., October 8, 2007 - Sodexho, the nation's leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services, was recently honored by the U.S. Department of Defense as a recipient of the 2007 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award, sponsored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), is the highest honor bestowed upon America's employers who provide support to their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Sodexho was one of 15 companies nationwide to be selected for this prestigious award.

The Freedom Award recognized Sodexho for providing support to its employee Reservists and Guard members in ways that are beyond the legal requirements. For example, Sodexho continues employee benefits-including health insurance, life insurance-and provides pay differential. In addition, the company organizes care packages, letters and emails to these employees and their families at home.

“This is a great honor for our organization,” said George Chavel, president and CEO of Sodexho. “We are humbled by the recognition from ESGR and the Department of Defense and are proud to support our National Guard and Reserve. We are proud of all our military employees for their bravery and dedication, and are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation and gratitude to our Armed Forces.”

Sodexho and the other 14 corporate honorees were recognized and personally thanked by President George W. Bush at the White House, and in separate events were congratulated by Vice President Dick Cheney and many high ranking military and government officials in September.

During these events, Dr. L. Gordon Sumner, Jr., executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, said “These employers have provided exceptional support to the men and women serving in our National Guard and Reserve and now, more than ever, we appreciate and thank them for doing much more for these employees than the law requires.”

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.