Wood deal puts Sodexho back in the USA

Paris-based Sodexho Alliance has made a pair of acquisition deals, purchasing Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Wood Dining Services and buying a majority

Both purchases were made from the French Albert Abela organization, which had acquired Wood (then known as The Wood Co.) a decade ago. Reportedly, the bidding for Wood had been intense, pitting a number of leading management companies against each other for the privilege of owning a multi-segment contractor with a great reputation, 530 contracts and more than $600 in annual managed volume.

The moves came only weeks after Sodexho Alliance announced an offer for controlling interest in Sodexho Marriott Services, the largest U.S. foodservice contract management company, in which it already owns a 48% stake. If that offer is accepted, as is generally anticipated, the Wood operation would likely be merged into the Sodexho Marriott Services organization. That would probably push the North American sales of the company past the $5 billion mark.