The performance was driven by organic growth of 7.9% that was boosted by two major sporting events - the Rugby World Cup in the first quarter and the Olympics in the fourth quarter.
Sophie Bellon, the group’s chair and chief executive, said: “I am confident that our progress on deploying our culinary food expertise through our food brands and our new production and distribution models, combined with strong digital features, will help us make a difference for clients and consumers. In the meantime, we are reaping the fruits of our efforts to optimise our supply management, and we are continuing to seek out efficiencies.”
With his regional view of the company, Sean Haley, the UK & Ireland chief executive, added: “Our commitment to partnership working and delivering excellent food and FM services has led to the successful retention of many large complex contracts with longstanding clients this year, as well as an increasing portfolio of new business wins across our selected market sectors.
“We attribute this success to three core elements: firstly, the hard work and dedication of our colleagues, who everyday deliver service excellence across our 2,000 client sites.
“Secondly, our food and FM services are all delivered with a hospitality approach and is helping to increase client workplace productivity, engagement and wellbeing. And lastly, we can demonstrate very tangibly the positive impact we are able to deliver through our contracts and suppliers, supporting the communities in which we operate.
“We continue to transform our food and FM services. Whether at a large, acute NHS Trust, corporate workplace or a school we are deploying technology enabling the delivery of these services ever more effectively and efficiently.
“We remain focused on evolving our food offers in line with consumer trends. Our portfolio of food brands – including Modern Recipe, Kitchen Works, Fooditude and the Good Eating Company – ensures that no matter which Sodexo restaurant you eat in, you can be assured that our highly-skilled culinary teams have created healthy, nutritious, tasty and sustainable food options for all to enjoy.
“I am incredibly proud that Sodexo is the only company in its industry this year to be ranked in the top 75 on the Social Mobility Employer Index, we are a Times Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality, and worldwide in the top 4% of companies with an A grade CDA ranking for Climate Action.
“And as we look to the future, over the next 12 months we will celebrate some important anniversaries including the Good Eating Company’s 25th anniversary, and in 2025 we will be marking the tenth anniversary of the publication of our first social impact pledge, with the launch of a fifth iteration and new set of commitments.
“We will also be celebrating two decades of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation providing valuable support to effect real, lasting positive change in communities across the UK and Ireland. Over the last twelve months alone the Foundation’s work has positively impacted 2.8m people.”