Aramark which provides corporate catering buys part of Sodexo Czechia

Company Aramark, which provides corporate, military and hospital catering, buys Sodexo an integrated facility management and school catering facility, which focuses on building management and catering services. The transaction is being assessed by the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS).

"The proposed merger of competitors is to take place mainly in the areas of providing catering services, catering, facility management and operation of vending machines for food and beverages," the office said.

Aramark, which provides corporate catering in all Škoda Auto operations, operates more than 100 restaurants throughout the Czech Republic. It belongs to the Aramark International Holding group, which operates in 28 countries and has 270,000 employees. It provides food, catering and uniform services to universities, hospitals, prisons and businesses around the world. According to its last financial statements submitted in the Collection of Documents as of September 30, 2019, the company reported CZK 49.9 million for the year.

Sodexo, integrated facility management and school catering facilities is owned by the French company Sodexo as well as by the joint-stock company Sodexo Pass, which offers employee benefits. The company, which is the subject of the transaction, provides building management and dining and catering services in industrial and commercial companies and institutions, in healthcare, education and the military. According to the latest published annual report, for the financial year ending 31 August 2020, it provided services in companies such as Bosch Diesel, Makro Cash & Carry, Siemens, Honeywell, ČSOB, Plzeňský prazdroj or Trelleborg Bohemia. For this financial year, the company recorded a loss of CZK 70.7 million.

Source: CTK