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WOMEN’S FOODSERVICE FORUM (WFF) RECOGNIZES
SODEXO
FOR SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING WOMEN LEADERS
Sodexo Awarded Prestigious Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR
Award
At the WFF Annual Leadership Luncheon at the NRA Show
in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL (May 19, 2008) – The
Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) is pleased to announce that Sodexo is the winner of the 3
rd annual Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR Award. Sponsored by Yum! Brands, the SOAR award celebrates companies that are the
Standard-setters for Opportunity, Advancement and Recognition of women leaders in their
organization.
The SOAR Award honors companies with demonstrable
corporate initiatives that result in a strong track record of attracting, developing, retaining and
promoting women to the highest levels of the organization.
“WFF congratulates Sodexo for supporting the
industry-wide mission of elevating women leaders in foodservice,” said Mary Bentley, WFF
president. “Sodexo has successfully harnessed the potential of a diverse workforce to drive
innovation and achieve sustainable business results.”
Sodexo’s key achievements in the area of gender
diversity include:
· In 2008, Sodexo ranked 12
th on DiversityInc’s Top 50 list
· Sixty-two percent of women in management received
promotions last year, and they had over 90% retention the past two years of middle managers and
above
· More than half (57%) of Sodexo’s U.S. based
full-time employees are female, while 18% of its C-level positions are filled by women
· Sodexo ties 25% of executive and 10% to 15% of
managerial bonuses to a Diversity Scorecard Index, which are paid out regardless of the company’s
financial performance
· One of Sodexo’s six Employee Network Groups and
its largest, the Women’s Network Group, hosts 650 members, nine regional chapters and eight local
chapters, with a mission to “foster a culture where enhancing a women’s individual and professional
growth contributes to the global success of our company and the communities we serve”;
· Sodexo’s most formal mentoring program, Spirit of
Mentoring – IMPACT, is cross-divisional and cross-functional where approximately 50% of
participants are women; more than half of Sodexo’s executive team serve as mentors in the
program
“Sodexo is proud to accept this prestigious award
from the Women’s Foodservice Forum,” said Michael Norris, Chief Operating Officer and Market
President – Corporate Services, Sodexo. “Commitment to diversity is essential in today’s workplace,
to not only stay ahead but to improve business performance. Sodexo is honored to support the
WFF and its mission of Elevating Women Leaders and enhancing the industry through gender diverse
leadership.”
Named after a founding member of the WFF and a
true pioneer in the Foodservice industry, Jackie B. Trujillo rose from a car-hop to the Chairman of
the Board of the largest KFC franchise in history. She not only spurred women leaders forward in
her organization, but opened doors for more women to be elevated in the Foodservice industry. The
SOAR award is the highest honor an organization can receive from the WFF. It recognizes
and measures the efforts that companies are making to elevate more women leaders in
Foodservice. Doing so will ensure that the industry as a whole continues to thrive, because as
research has demonstrated, gender diverse work teams produce better financial results.
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The Women’s Foodservice Forum is the premier
leadership development community for collective insights and connections that empower women in the
Foodservice industry to envision and achieve their highest potential. With more than 3,700 members
from all segments of the foodservice industry, including restaurant operations, manufacturing,
distribution, publishing and consulting, Women’s Foodservice Forum is committed to helping elevate
women leaders. Through highly beneficial keynote addresses and workshops at the Annual Leadership
Development Conference, Regional Connect events, mentoring and more, WFF provides members with the
tools needed to make a positive difference in their careers. For more information about Women’s
Foodservice Forum, please visit the website www.womensfoodserviceforum.com.