The services provider also announced the agreement of the board of directors for plans to separate the On-Site Services (OSS) and Benefits & Rewards Services (BRS) arms of the company.
Sodexo chair and chief executive Sophie Bellon said “The next major step for the Group is the proposed separation of OSS and BRS, that is driven by a strong strategic rationale.
“More focused, supported by a dedicated and empowered governance as well as an adequate capital structure, each entity would be in an even stronger position to pursue its own strategy, achieve its goals and realise its full potential.”
In Europe specifically, the caterer generated first half revenues of 4bn euros (£3.42bn), up 8.3% organically and helped by price increases.
Sean Haley, chief executive of Sodexo UK & Ireland, added: “In the first half of our financial year, Sodexo’s growth – and more specifically, our growth with purpose – has been very positive. Every contract retained or won has been – in part at least – in recognition of the quantified and tangible positive social impact we deliver as a company, in partnership with our clients and suppliers.
“We are optimising the workplace and employee experience at a time of significant change. Our extended global contract with AstraZeneca is a truly great example of a working partnership through a highly collaborative Vested agreement, offering consumers access to global food brands, carbon labelling on menus and a digitised grab and go food offer.
“We are also now delivering foodservices to the ground-breaking higher education institution, University Academy 92 (UA92), which chose to partner with Sodexo as a purpose-led provider that could support UA92’s founding principles of accessibility, social mobility and inclusivity.
“Our colleagues in Ireland have successfully retained a number of contracts in the education sector, and this, alongside the growth of our corporate services business, reinforces our position as a world leader in sustainable food and valued experiences.
“Our partnerships with many public sector organisations have also continued. We have been awarded a new 10-year contract with Royal Stoke Hospital, where last year we were the first to install an innovative automated 24/7 deli solution, providing hospital staff and visitors with access to nutritious and tasty hot food and drink on demand.
“Our results speak for themselves: earlier this year we announced in the 12 months up to 31 May 2023 we have reduced our carbon emissions by 37%. This has put us ahead of schedule in our journey to net zero 2040.
“More recently, we announced our intention to add carbon labelling to menus at 300 of our client sites where we provide food services, part of our work towards ensuring 70% of main dishes on our menus are low carbon by 2030 – a key lever in our SBTi-validated net zero targets.”