As I reflect on the recent Vendor Partnership Meeting, held annually in conjunction with the Sodexo Foundation Dinner, I continue to appreciate the ever growing depth of the partnerships that we have built over the years. Our manufacturer and distributer partners provide Sodexo with quality products, top notch service and support that ranges from consumer trend information to innovative menu planning solutions which can be applied to the distinct customer groups we service. I am proud of their commitment to Sodexo’s Supplier Code of Conduct and other quality assurance practices currently in place such as verification of proactive food safety and food security programs and recall policies and procedure.

While our partners are appreciated in many ways throughout the year, our annual Vendor Partnership Meeting is a way for Sodexo to recognize our partners for the work they do on behalf of our organization and their commitment to Sodexo’s company wide initiatives to include Choices 2015, CaRMA, The Market Connection, Sustainability and Health & Wellness.  

Our 2015 commitments continue to build on the quality of our services with the goal of establishing Sodexo as a company focused on a better tomorrow for our clients. We will continue to challenge our partners to help us find solutions that will:

• Reduce our carbon footprint, energy use, and waste by significant percentages.
• Use contracted responsibly grown produce and other sustainable food sources when it makes good economical business sense.
• Establish healthy menu options and active lifestyle programs for staff and customers at our sites.

These commitments will improve the quality of life in the areas where our clients do business. It is through established partnerships with our award winning companies - Koch Foods, Edward Don, G.E.T. , Sysco, Farmland and The Loyalton Group - that our commitments will be realized.