Ensure a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that reflects and enriches the communities Sodexo serves
As part of Better Tomorrow 2025, Sodexo has advanced far beyond traditional diversity metrics to embed Culture & Belonging into the core of its employee experience. This evolution reflects our conviction that inclusion must be lived daily, in the way teams collaborate, communicate, and support each other, and that true belonging is achieved when every individual feels valued, respected, and integral to Sodexo’s success.
This shift is reinforced by a strong equity and non-discrimination framework. Our Code of Conduct and Fundamental Human Rights at Work Statement set clear expectations on fair treatment and prohibit all forms of discrimination or harassment, in alignment with the UN Guiding Principles and ILO (International Labour Organization) conventions. Our Speak Up ethics line further guarantees a safe and confidential channel for reporting concerns without fear of retaliation, a critical safeguard for creating a workplace where trust and respect prevail.
Through leadership accountability, local action plans, and dedicated training, Sodexo ensures that inclusion and equity are not abstract principles but operational realities across all regions. Employee Resource Groups, awareness campaigns, and global programs such as SheWorks or partnerships on disability inclusion strengthen opportunities for underrepresented groups and foster a culture of solidarity and fairness.
Our progress under Better Tomorrow 2025 demonstrates tangible impact:
- 42% of women in senior executive roles globally, moving steadily toward gender balance at all levels of the organization.
- 2,900 women supported through SheWorks since 2019, with the engagement of more than 850 Sodexo ambassadors across 30 countries.
- Ongoing participation in international initiatives such as The Valuable 500 and the ILO Global Business and Disability Network, reinforcing Sodexo’s commitment to inclusion for people with disabilities.
These actions are closely tied to Sodexo’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP), where Belonging stands alongside Thriving and Acting as a defining feature of our employee journey. Belonging means that every individual, regardless of their background, can thrive, grow, and connect to a shared purpose.
Promote local development and fair, inclusive and sustainable business practices
For more than a decade, Sodexo has embedded inclusive sourcing at the heart of its procurement strategy, working hand in hand with local suppliers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to foster economic resilience and shared growth. Through our Supply Chain Inclusion Program, launched in 2013, we have consistently expanded opportunities for small businesses, and local and social enterprises across the 43 countries where we operate.
As part of Better Tomorrow 2025, we set ourselves the ambitious goal of directing 2 billion euros of spend toward SMEs. By Fiscal 2025, we have not only met this commitment but exceeded it significantly, reaching 2.8 billion euros, a clear signal of Sodexo’s determination to create long-lasting positive impact through its supply chain.
This achievement reflects the dedication of our 800 procurement professionals, who ensure fair, merit-based access to opportunities and strengthen our partnerships with more than 30,000 SMEs worldwide.
Beyond numbers, this milestone showcases how our inclusive sourcing practices generate a ripple effect: strengthening local economies, supporting job creation, fostering innovation, and building more resilient communities. It also reinforces trust with our clients and consumers, who increasingly expect responsible and sustainable business practices.
Drive diversity and inclusion as a catalyst for societal change
At Sodexo, equal opportunities and non-discrimination are not only workplace values, they are a powerful driver of change in the communities we serve. Our approach is threefold:
- Empowering communities through Stop Hunger, which addresses food insecurity while also tackling the structural causes of inequality, with a strong focus on women and youth’s empowerment. This work helps strengthen resilience, dignity, and opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. As part of our Better Tomorrow 2025 roadmap, Sodexo set a goal to empower 180,000 women in communities around the world. By the end of Fiscal 2025, we had surpassed this target by a wide margin, reaching more than 526,000 women through training, mentoring, and economic inclusion initiatives. This remarkable achievement reflects the collective power of our employees, partners, and the Stop Hunger ecosystem to create lasting social impact at scale.
- Supporting inclusive growth across our value chain, by championing local businesses and SMEs and helping them scale up sustainably. Beyond commercial relationships, we provide training, partnerships, and fair business practices that ripple across local economies.
- Fostering a culture of belonging within Sodexo, where equity, respect, and non-discrimination are embedded in every part of the employee experience. Our Culture & Belonging framework ensures that every individual feels valued and included, while initiatives with partners such as the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant and Tobacco Workers (IUF) reinforce our zero-tolerance stance on discrimination and harassment.
Together, these three dimensions amplify Sodexo’s impact at scale: improving access to food and economic opportunities, enabling local businesses to thrive, and creating inclusive workplaces where employees feel they truly belong. By linking business success to social progress, Sodexo demonstrates how diversity and inclusion can be a genuine catalyst for societal transformation.