5 things: Compass, Elior offer financial updates

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

London-based Compass Group reported that third quarter organic revenue grew by 36.4%, including 36.1% in North America—where it operates the largest contract management company—with revenues in B&I and Education improving gradually while Healthcare/Seniors and Defense/Offshore/Remote continued to grow and

Sports & Leisure benefitted significantly from higher attendance levels following an

easing of restrictions in North America. The company also noted that what it calls “flight to trust” has led to strong new business wins across all regions, with around half of those from first time outsourcing. The third quarter covers April 1 through June 30 of 2021.

Read more: Q3 Trading Update

Elior Group, the French corporate parent of the fifth largest contractor in the U.S., reported nine-month revenues for 2020-2021 were down 9.1% on an organic basis, but up 39.2% in the third quarter, which covered this past April-June as lockdown policies across the world were eased.

Related:Salary Survey finds hourly wage increases outpaced salaried increases

While it didn't give specific numbers, the company did report that organic growth in its U.S. operations was "less pronounced" than in its other countries "due to its

greater resilience last year," when business activity was particularly sustained by emergency meals that enabled it to optimize its central production units. "This year, widespread hybrid learning (in-person/remote) in the K-12 market crimped revenues,” it added.

Major contract wins in the U.S. in the third quarter included Honeywell International, the Knoxville Zoo, Yellowstone County Detention Facility, New Haven public schools in Connecticut, Langston University in Oklahoma and Inglewood’s Child & Adult Food Program in California.

Read more: A gradual recovery paced by the evolving health situation

Chartwells Higher Education a has announced the launch of an initiative called Joy-Ful, a year-long, national campaign aimed at welcoming students back to college campuses and rekindling a sense of community after a school year largely defined by separation due to the pandemic. Throughout the school year, students will be invited to four signature Joy-Ful events taking place in unison across school campuses nationwide, with the first being a welcome back "Food Festi-Ful" in September that will feature popular street food menus and unique celebrations customized by each campus. Other signature events will take place in November, March, and May. In addition, each month will feature special events and engaging moments focused on specific themes, such as "Cheer-Ful" in September and "Mind-Ful" in January.

Related:5 things: Supply chain issues on tap this fall for school meal programs?

Read more: Chartwells Higher Education Launches Joy-Ful, a New Year-Long Celebration of Being Back Together on Campus

Google is postponing a return to the office for most workers until mid-October and rolling out a policy that will eventually require everyone to be vaccinated once its sprawling campuses are fully reopened in an attempt to fight the spreading Delta variant. The announcement follows a similar one from Apple about a week earlier that pushed back its return to office deadline by at least a month, to October at the earliest. The previously announced plans had caused some friction with employees because of remote work allocation policies.

Read more: Google Delays Workers' Return to Office, Mandates Vaccines

This social media post roundup of athletes showing off favorite dishes being served at the Tokyo Olympics includes items like dumplings, pizza and ramen. The Olympic Village has two dining halls for athletes: a main dining hall and a casual dining hall that is all Japanese food.

Read more: Athletes share inside look at dining halls and food in the Olympic Village

Bonus: Sodexo launches search for new global CEO

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]