Sodexho, Inc. Signs Agreement As New Linen Services Provider for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

GAITHERSBURG, MD-April 24, 2006- Sodexho, Inc. announced today the company's Laundry Services Division was awarded a ten-year contract to operate a central laundry plant in Pittsburgh, processing 19 million lbs. of linen annually for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

Under this new agreement, Sodexho will process UPMC's linen until 2016, and will be able to seek additional laundry service clients in the Pittsburgh area in order to operate the plant at capacity (the plant can process up to 30 million lbs of linen annually). Sodexho began operating the central laundry earlier this month and is leasing the space to process UPMC's linen as well as a few other customers from Buffalo, NY-based Centerstone Development.

“We look forward to enhancing the linen program at UPMC with the proven systems and expertise that we utilize for over 485 other healthcare organizations in the U.S.,” said Emeka Okeani, president, Sodexho, Inc.'s Laundry Services Division. “This is the beginning of what is sure to be a fruitful relationship for both Sodexho and UPMC.”

"The chance to be a vital part of the patient care at UPMC is an exciting opportunity for Sodexho," added Sodexho Inc.'s Health Care Market President George Chavel. “By ensuring that a quality system is in place to manage the linen services, we will have a positive impact on UPMC's patient experience.”

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.