Pierre Bellon founded Sodexo in France in 1966 as a catering and food-services business.
The company was originally called Société d'exploitation hotelière, aérienne, maritime et terrestre, commonly abbreviated as SODEXHO. It began by serving institutional and corporate clients, including schools, hospitals, and workplaces. Its early business focused on food services rather than consumer restaurants.
Sodexo expanded internationally and broadened its services to include facilities management, workplace services, and benefits-related offerings. In 2008, the company simplified its corporate name from Sodexho Alliance to Sodexo.
Bellon remained closely associated with the company for decades. The name is sometimes confused with Compass Group, another major contract-food-services company, but Compass is a separate British business. Sodexo’s origins are specifically tied to Bellon’s 1966 French venture.