At a time marked by changing behaviors and expectations related to food services and dining habits, some of which have been influenced by the increase in remote work and meal delivery during the pandemic, Sodexo accelerates its transformation to offer multimodal and multichannel meal experiences and make life easier for everyone.
During Fiscal 2021, Sodexo’s teams continued mobilizing to meet their clients’ pandemic-time business continuity needs, adapting service off erings to reinforce the necessary focus on safety and hygiene and creating the conditions needed for recovery. This unprecedented period gave rise to new, temporary or permanent, solutions and services centered around the needs of organizations and individuals.
Knowing that in certain markets, there has been a need for change in the way consumers access Foodservice offerings, Sodexo accelerates its transformation to prepare and deliver quality meals to consumers, on site or remotely, and provide them with flexible solutions that match their expectations. Its unique Meal offering is based on complementarity with its On-site Services, delivery offerings and Benefits & Rewards Services. It is now especially relevant for clients who are looking for solutions to accommodate staff working under more hybrid conditions. This 360° offering is now being implemented by over 30 corporate contracts in France, including Oddo, Novartis and Microsoft, which have been able to count on the adaptability and modularity of Sodexo’s service offerings.
The Group’s ability to provide innovative on-site Foodservices tailored to consumer and client needs continues to expand beyond the traditional offering. Depending on the needs of each organization, Sodexo is able to expand its customizable solutions in terms of retail sales, vending machines as well as welcoming coffee break areas. For SMEs or in establishments without on-site production capabilities, Sodexo is developing specific offerings such as Brio! in Italy, with lunches freshly prepared in Sodexo’s cloud kitchens and delivered to client sites. Sodexo is also forming innovative partnerships with suppliers and startups. In the United States, for example, the Group has developed an unprecedented collaboration with HelloFresh, a global leader in boxed meals, for over 300 universities via its app BiteU.
The development of high-performance technology platforms also allows the Group to continually offer contactless solutions and other practical services. In the United Kingdom, the app Twelve offers automatic check-out functions to make it easier for people to place orders from their workplace. In the Netherlands, the ordering, payment and delivery platform Your Order opens up access to meal options at any time of the day. And with data analysis and artificial intelligence, Sodexo is fine-tuning its offering while increasing operational efficiency, for example using delivery robots on U.S. campuses, developing smart vending machines and Scan & Go options for self-checkout with a smartphone.
The Group is also continuing its targeted investments to develop localized offerings, in particular in foodtech startup, capitalizing on their agility and differentiating positionings. In France, Sodexo is already reaching consumers in their homes and offices with FoodChéri, which is now also available in Belgium, and with the Seazon home-delivery offering. In the United Kingdom, the Group acquired Fooditude for deliveries of a premium food offering to London businesses. The Good Eating Company has also launched a new workplace food-delivery solution for urban markets, an offering that Sodexo is now exporting to North America. In the United States, Sodexo has also acquired Nourish Inc., which distributes on-site and delivers fresh, plant-based meals, and Foodee, aggregators of over 800 local restaurants in 14 cities of the United States and Canada.
With its robust business model and the development of its Benefits & Rewards Services, Sodexo is able to improve the employee experience and adapt it to changing needs and new consumer trends. Over 370 partnerships have been signed around the world with restaurants and online grocery stores as well as meal delivery platforms such as JustEat Takeaway.com and UberEats. These partnerships allow consumers, whether working on site or at home, to enjoy a diverse and flexible meal experience with easy, fast and secure payment solutions. For partner merchants and restaurants, they’re also a major business opportunity. In addition to having access to a very wide range of meal choices, French and Belgian holders of the Sodexo Pass can also support small businesses and fight food waste by purchasing surplus food at lower prices via the app of our partner Phenix.
