Although Sodexo, Compass and Elior still largely dominate the foodservice market, it remains a highly fragmented sector. Hospitals, EPHADs, companies, embassies, schools and the armed forces are just some of the many groups that use these services, which are capable of producing meals for the guests of a given community at a moderate price.
History, core business, values, key figures - get to know France's largest contract catering companies!
1. Sodexo, the world leader in foodservices
The first heavyweight in the foodservices sector is Sodexo. It was founded in 1966 by Pierre Bellon in Marseilles. Between 1971 and 1978, it took its first international steps in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Africa and the Middle East. The company went public in 1983.
Sodexo promises its customers an authentic, gourmet taste experience, a diversity of choice, access to the expertise of talented chefs, healthy eating and responsible sourcing. Through services such as CROC' (school catering) and Toqla (corporate catering), the company is committed to improving the daily lives of millions of people around the world. Because, yes, a meal can really change the flavour of a day, regardless of age or situation!
The Sodexo Group in figures :
- 412,000 employees worldwide, including 35,000 in France,
- 100 million consumers a day in 56 countries.
2. Elior, creativity at the service of contract catering
Another major player in the sector was born in 1991. This was the Elior group. After acquiring the catering companies Les Repas Parisiens (LRP), Hôpital Service in the healthcare sector, Vivaë, l'Alsacienne and Ansamble, Elior gradually established itself as one of the leaders in the French contract catering market. In 2019, the group decided to cease its concession catering activities, grouped together under the Areas brand, in order to refocus on its core business, i.e. contract catering.
The company has a clear ambition: to be the benchmark restaurateur, thanks to a strategy based on 5 fundamentals:
- offer tasty, creative recipes to make mealtime a real pleasure,
- guarantee food safety,
- being a responsible employer,
- respect the environment,
- innovate.
This strategy is reinforced by a commitment to the following 6 themes: tailor-made catering, nutrition for all ages, local products, anti-waste and anti-plastic initiatives, team training and talent development, and the fight against inflation. This is how they manage to stand out from their competitors and offer their customers real added value.
Elior offers a catering solution adapted to every category of guest and every moment of consumption: from newborns in crèches, to teenagers in high schools, to adults in the workplace, as well as patients and caregivers in healthcare establishments.
Elior in figures :
- excellent territorial coverage with over 9,500 sites throughout France,
- more than 850,000 meals served in schools (400,000), businesses (300,000) and healthcare establishments (150,000),
- more than 20,000 employees (kitchen, service, management).
3. Compass, tailor-made catering
The company's history dates back to 1960, when Eurest was founded. Compass Group acquired the brand in 1977. This was followed by a merger with SHRM, then the purchase, takeover, sale and creation of several companies. From the outset, Compass has been guided by one leitmotiv: to offer quality service at the cutting edge of innovation to everyone who tastes its dishes.
Compass stands for a personalized approach, adapted to the nature of the establishment, as well as a creative culinary experience. Thanks to these brands - Exalt for corporate customers, Medirest for healthcare and medico-social facilities, and Scolarest for schools and local authorities - the group offers a range of products and services tailored to the needs of each customer.
Compass Group France in figures :
- more than 13,000 employees,
- nearly 155 million meals served every year,
- 2,240 customer sites.
4. Restalliance, a catering solution for healthcare establishments
Restalliance was founded in 1993 by Christophe Dassonville. Right from the start, the company based its growth strategy on 3 fundamentals: the human dimension, independence and high standards.
This company specializes in collective catering in healthcare establishments (hospitals, clinics, EHPAD, senior residences, etc.) and is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable people. Aware of the impact that eating well has on the daily lives of patients and residents, Restalliance places their comfort, pleasure and well-being at the center of the plate by offering appetizing and generous cuisine. To achieve this, we pay particular attention to the quality, freshness and seasonality of our products.
Restalliance in figures:
- 3,200 employees,
- 30 years of experience
5. Arpège, top-of-the-range contract catering
Arpège is a subsidiary of the Elior group. It is considered the group's "urban style" brand.
Arpège is positioned in the premium corporate catering market. The brand sees the lunch break as a real opportunity to enhance employee well-being.
At the brand's 120 partner restaurants, you'll find an experience that's still uncommon in contract catering: food courts. Employees can dine in one of 6 mini-restaurants: Le Passe (bistro), Sensé (100% vegetarian), Da Gino (Italian), Zesté (salad bar), Brut (meat, poultry and fish) and Léché (desserts). But all these upscale canteens have a few things in common. Among them: taste, balanced flavors, discovery and wonder.
Take-away, room service, event services, flexible and all-day catering, Arpège's offer is extremely diversified.
Arpège in figures:
- 30 years of expertise,
- 70,000 meals a day,
- 1,700 employees.
6. Ansamble, a company with a mission
Now it's time to get to know Ansamble, another key player in the foodservice market. The company was founded in 1978, in Vannes, Morbihan. At the time, it was known as Breiz Restauration, and became Ansamble in 2002. The following years were marked by nationwide expansion. The company then joined the Elior group. Ansamble is the first company in the foodservice sector to display the nutriscore and carbon score on its menus.
Ansamble is a company with a mission. What does this mean in concrete terms? It means that Ansamble is not driven solely by the pursuit of profit. It seeks to reconcile economic performance with social, societal and environmental contributions to the general interest .
It is aimed at establishments specializing in early childhood and education, as well as companies and medical-social facilities. It makes it a point of honor to cater for its guests at every stage of their lives, offering them a diet based on 4 pillars:
- preserve the health of as many people as possible through a healthy, balanced diet,
- contribute to the development of the regions in which it operates by using local, short-distance products,
- provide employees with pleasant working conditions and surroundings,
- protect the environment by carefully selecting products and limiting waste and the use of plastic.
7. API Restauration, a family business
Does the name API Restauration sound familiar? This family business was founded in 1956. Initially, it was a delicatessen and catering business. Gradually, it turned to the delivery of meals to company restaurants, a field in which it rapidly experienced strong growth.
API Restauration's cuisine is responsible, healthy and delicious. Our chefs put their talent and creativity to work for our guests, using quality raw materials and local, seasonal produce. Our recipes are systematically validated by a team of 80 dietician-nutritionists, whose job it is to ensure that everyone's nutritional intake is respected.
API Restauration in figures:
- 900,000 meals cooked every day,
- 10,100 employees, including 9,000 in France,
- more than 10% growth over 20 years.
8. Convivio, 1st independent foodservice group in western France
1982 marks the birth of Restéco in Rennes. The company then took over the reins of Bretagne Restauration, Houlé Restauration, PoitouResco and Sogerest. Convivio officially came into being in 2010, bringing together all the above-mentioned entities.
Convivio is the leading independent foodservice group in the western half of France. Why is this important? Convivio is an independent catering group, which gives them freedom of action in terms of the chefs' choice of menus, the selection of local products and suppliers, and the group's development strategy.
Working with Convivio means opting for a company on a human scale, combining tailor-made catering solutions with authentic, responsible cuisine adapted to the needs of its guests. Convivio is committed to offering quality culinary services to its target audience: working people in companies, children and teenagers in schools, the elderly and disabled in medical-social facilities.
Convivio in figures :
- 2,600 employees,
- 2,700 customers,
- 300,000 guests served daily.
9. Newrest, a versatile player
The company was founded in 1996 under the name Catair. In 2001, it joined the airline catering division of Compass, and became Newrest in 2005. The company is unique in that it operates in all catering and related services sectors: airline catering, concession catering, base-lives and support services, rail catering, airport and motorway catering concessions and many others.
Companies, embassies, clinics, hospitals, government departments, schools - many are the people who want to delegate the management of their restaurants to the Newrest team. When you choose Newrest, you choose healthy, diversified food that your guests can enjoy in pleasant surroundings. It also means ensuring respect for the nutritional needs of each individual and food safety, thanks to the highest standards.
Newrest in figures :
- 36,622 employees,
- present in 54 countries.
10. Dupont Restauration, a company on a human scale
Dupont Restauration is a renowned company in the foodservice sector. With decades of experience, it has established itself as one of the industry's leaders in providing top-quality catering solutions. It caters to schools, businesses, healthcare institutions and local authorities.
Dupont Restauration's philosophy is based on fundamental values such as product quality, compliance with health standards, ingredient traceability and sustainable development. The company uses local suppliers and favors fresh, seasonal and organic produce to guarantee healthy, balanced cuisine.
This player in the contract catering sector also places great importance on culinary innovation and creativity. Its team of talented and passionate chefs designs varied, tasty menus adapted to different dietary preferences. The company makes it a point of honor to offer every guest an exceptional taste experience.
In terms of services, Dupont Restauration offers a complete range from self-service catering to table service and fast food. It also runs campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and the fight against food waste.
Dupont Restauration in figures:
- 750,000 meals served per day,
- more than 800 restaurants under management,
- 3,000 employees.
11. Sogères
The first time you heard of Sogères was in 1986, when the company opened its first restaurant. The company operates in three market segments: corporate & administrative, school and health/medical/social.
Part of its success lies in the selection of products, which are then sublimated by chefs. Sogères places taste, freshness and seasonality, contact with trusted partners, preservation of the planet and local know-how at the heart of its food purchasing strategy. In the group's kitchens, passion, culinary excellence and generosity reign supreme. And all this can be felt on the plates of our guests!
Sogères in figures :
- 350,000 meals served per day,
- 1,300 restaurants,
- 5,000 employees.
Would you like to find out more about catering? Companies such as Groupe Pomona, Mille et un repas, Groupe Bertrand, Terres de cuisine and Elite have yet to reveal their secrets to you, so don't hesitate to continue your research!
👉 To find out more: Who are the foodservice industry's competitors?
-
Innovorder supports the foodservice industry in its digital transformation, working closely with major players such as Sodexo, Elior, Compass, Convivio, Newrest, API, Dupont Restauration and Restalliance.
Are you a restaurant manager looking to digitalize your establishment? Contact an Innovorder expert for personalized advice.
