Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France, recently visited Sodexo China's headquarters, where he was welcomed by the Sodexo China leadership team. The two sides exchanged views on the development of French companies in China and on Sodexo China's business operations and local practices.

A Long Record of Sino-French Engagement

Raffarin served as Prime Minister of France from 2002 to 2005. He currently chairs La Fondation Prospective & Innovation and serves as Co-Chair of the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation.

According to the announcement, he has advocated closer ties between China and France and has contributed to strengthening bilateral friendship and strategic cooperation. In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed him Special Representative of the French Government for China. In 2019, he was awarded the Friendship Medal by the People's Republic of China in recognition of his sustained efforts to promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Sodexo's Position in the Sino-French Business Community

The visit took place against more than six decades of diplomatic relations between China and France, which the announcement describes as having built a strong foundation for cooperation across business, culture and social development.

Sodexo Group was founded in 1966 and entered the Chinese market in 1995, embarking on a journey of more than three decades of growth and development in the country. The Franco-Chinese Business Council, established in 2018, serves as a platform for businesses from both countries to build connections and pursue new opportunities.

As a core council member, Sodexo says it actively engages in this dialogue and has business partnerships with approximately 70% of the council's member companies, reflecting its connections within the Sino-French business community.

Sixty Years for Sodexo Group

The year 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of Sodexo Group. Founded in the port city of Marseille, France, in 1966, the company says it has remained committed to its purpose of shaping better everyday experiences for clients and consumers through its Food and Facility Management Services.

Over more than three decades in China, Sodexo says it has continued to expand its local operations, bringing its global perspective and expertise to bear on the evolving service needs of the Chinese market and delivering service experiences that create lasting value for clients, consumers and local communities.

Raffarin on People, Service and Collaboration

During the visit, Raffarin recognized Sodexo's contribution in China as a French company deeply rooted in the local market, and its positive role in fostering cultural exchange through its service activities.

He underscored that people are at the heart of the service industry, and that respect for individuals and cultural differences, and Service Spirit, lays the foundation to build a competitive position in the Chinese market.

He further emphasized the importance of fostering strategic collaboration with clients and ecosystem partners to advance sustainable solutions, ensuring that technology and innovation ultimately serve people and deliver everlasting value.

Sodexo China Operations

Sodexo entered the Chinese market in 1995. The company describes itself as the leader in Food and Facility Management Services in China, with a dedicated team of 18,400 employees across 1,000 sites nationwide, serving over 1.2 million consumers on a daily basis.

Sodexo China says it has grown into a trusted partner across a full spectrum of clients from Corporate, Healthcare to Education and Sport & Leisure, providing sustainability-led and people-centric practices around well-being services. The company also says it commits to upholding the highest standards of business conduct and compliance.

Sodexo says it will remain focused on its continued growth in China and maintain its role as a bridge for business exchanges between China and France, and set a new paradigm for integrating business value with responsible corporate citizenship as a key multinational player.

Group Figures

Sodexo reported the following figures:

  • 24 billion euros in Fiscal 2026 consolidated revenues
  • 443,000 employees as at August 31, 2026
  • Ranked as the number one France-based private employer worldwide
  • Operations in 43 countries
  • 80 million consumers served daily
  • 8.3 billion euros in market capitalization as of October 22, 2026

Sodexo was founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon. The Group describes itself as the leader in Food and Services, shaping better everyday experiences at every moment in life: work, heal, learn and play. It cites its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model as distinguishing features, with a dual goal of improving the quality of life of its employees and those it serves, and contributing to economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where it operates.