After completing my studies and military service, I joined the little ship supply company founded in 1895 by my grandfather and developed by my father.
A few years later, I made two observations to my father:
- First, the ship supply business in Marseille was declining and in the long run was doomed.
- Second, I wanted to be independent. I felt I could accomplish something on my own and wanted to create my own corporate food services company.
My father, who was very perceptive, simply replied: "You're right." That's how I created Sodexho in Marseille in 1966: with a few thousand francs and a single company restaurant. The business grew very quickly, and today Sodexo:
- Generates €15.3 billion in revenues
- Employs 380,000 people
- Operates 34,000 sites
- Is present in 80 countries
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