BLACK COLLEGIAN RANKS SODEXHO USA AMONG TOP EMPLOYERS

GAITHERSBURG, MD, March 8, 2005 - Sodexho USA, the nation's leading provider of food and facilities management services, has been ranked among the nation's top ten employers by The Black Collegian, a publication serving the career and self-development interests of African-American collegians.

“Sodexho is proud to be on The Black Collegian's list for the second year in a row,” said President and CEO Richard Macedonia. “Diversity is one of our key strategic imperatives and we are committed to embracing diversity and creating opportunities for the advancement for all of our employees. By building an inclusive environment, we are able to continue to leverage the talents and skills of our diverse workforce that play such a critical role in our success.”

Ranking sixth in the survey, Sodexho was joined at the top by prestigious corporations such as Northrop Grumman, JP Morgan Chase, Lockheed Martin, and Procter and Gamble. Sodexho also ranked second in the magazine's list of top employers by academic major in the hospitality category. The Black Collegian surveys major employers, ranking respondents according to the projected number of hires from college recruiting for the class of 2005.

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 110,000+ 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 in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.