Top Marine Mess Hall Named

The Sodexo-operated Mess Hall 455 Camp Johnson at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC, has been named the winner of the W.P.T. Hill Memorial Award, the highest honor for a food service operation in the United States Marine Corps. It is the second time in four years the mess hall, which serves 1,500 Marines three meals a day, won the Hill Award.

The W.P.T. Hill Memorial Award, established in 1971, is an annual Marine Corps-wide competition with trophies and certificates of achievement awarded to USMC installations around the globe exhibiting foodservice excellence. The 2009 award for the "Best Full Food Service Contracted Garrison Mess Hall" will be awarded to the Camp Johnson Mess Hall team of General Manager Mike Picanco and Sodexo's food service personnel, Son's Quality Foods and the U.S. Marines from Camp Johnson, Camp Lejeune Base Food Service, at the Joint Services Breakfast during the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago in May.

"Receiving this recognition from the Marine Corps is a high honor for the entire Sodexo team," says Greg Verone, president of Sodexo's Government Services division. "We strive everyday around the country to improve the quality of life for the Marines that we proudly serve. We are especially proud of the service we provide at Mess Hall 455 Camp Johnson."