Limestone Announces Expanded Partnership With Sodexo

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving quality of life, is collaborating with Limestone College to expand its dining services, while also offering the campus improved services for facility and grounds maintenance, housekeeping, and the bookstore.

In addition to providing dining and catering services at Stephenson Dining Hall and the Dixie Lodge as it has for the past four years, Sodexo will also operate a grill and other amenities inside Limestone’s new student center that will soon be under construction. The 65,000-square-foot student center and library building is expected to open in the fall of 2020 – the same year that the school’s name will change to Limestone University.

Over the length of the new 10-year agreement, Sodexo is expected to invest over $2 million at Limestone in the way of scholarships and capital improvements and another $3 million in operational and utility savings, expanded services, and more. Sodexo has previously made over $1 million in renovations and improvements to Stephenson Dining Hall.

As part of Limestone’s expanded contract with Sodexo, starting on July 1, the company will begin to oversee campus maintenance and housekeeping, while also operating the bookstore.

“This is another stepping stone to achieving our strategic vision and making our drive to university status in two years,” said Limestone President Dr. Darrell Parker. “We are partnering with an industry leader to get us where we want to be faster and more efficiently. This expanded relationship with Sodexo will positively impact Limestone and ensure our future success and growth. Sodexo is deeply committed to people and service. We have been tremendously impressed with their dining services operations the past few years, and we’re excited about growing our relationship.”

The staff members in the impacted areas will make a seamless transition to being employees of Sodexo, while remaining a part of the Limestone family, Parker noted.

Sodexo USA is an American business that is part of a global Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Delivering more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities, and improve quality of life, Sodexo is a leading provider of sustainable, integrated facilities management, and food service operations. The company has nearly 450,000 employees across the globe.

“Our expanded partnership will allow us to provide the training and support to improve our operations,” Parker explained. “Sodexo also has the core competencies that will bring to campus the best practices for the safety of our employees. By increasing campus-wide efficiencies and providing strategic asset management, we will also reduce costs in many areas.”

The company employs 133,000 Americans at 13,000 sites across the country and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional U.S. jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses.

“Our mission is to enhance the student experience on campus,” said Kahlicia Pettus, Senior Vice President with Sodexo. “By focusing on services that improve quality of life, Limestone can attract, engage, and retain students even better than before.”

In support of local communities across the nation, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $30 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger.