A BETTER EVERYDAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

After studying Facility Management, I started my career with Sodexo in 1993 as a supervisor on an oil drilling platform in the North Sea. I entered a whole new world. A drilling platform is like a small village, just as I remembered it from my hometown of Benningbroek in North Holland. It was hard work, but I loved it. We cleaned the rooms, did the laundry, and took care of one of the most important moments of the day: eating together. That was the moment we really made a difference. Those hard-working men, and a f ew women, got a delicious meal as well as a good time.

Back then, we didn't have oversized management reports on sustainability and social impact. But it was still in the back of our minds, even back then. We hardly had any food waste onboard; everything was eaten and leftovers were incorporated into dishes for the next day. Because we depended on each other, everyone was considerate of each other and there was great respect for each other's customs and r ituals. Everyone could be themselves.

Now, thirty years later, I am ultimately responsible for Sodexo Netherlands. The organisation still revolves around people, just like when I started there. With f ood services at the heart of everything we do.

We offer our clients and guests delicious meals, convivial moments and make an important contribution to health. But we have also evolved from mere caterer to integral facility services provider. And we are looking beyond. With Vital Spaces, we are creating attractive, vital work environments where people can get the best out of themselves.

The world has also changed in terms of sustainability. Offshore oil platforms are making way for wind turbines at sea. And to stop the rise of that same sea, we will have to drastically cut CO2 emissions. Sodexo shows responsibility and leadership in this regard.

This Better Tomorrow Update 2023 shows you exactly how we are doing that. Every day, our employees are passionately committed to making a difference for our clients while working towards a sustainable and inclusive world. Their stories make me proud and motivate me to continue on the path I have taken. Sodexo wants to be market maker in sustainability –something we are doing, step by step. Let this Better Tomorrow Update inspire you to take that journey with us.

Cunera Vlaar CEO Sodexo Netherlands

With more than 2,000 employees, Sodexo Netherlands offers food and facility management services. We do so with passion for service and craftsmanship and with a focus on the future of both people and planet. Together with our employees, clients, suppliers and partners, we work on sustainability and social impact every day. This is how we make everyday life better for everyone in order to create a better life for all of us.