5 things: Sodexo North America posts 15.7% organic revenue gain in FY2023 Q1

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:

Sodexo has reported a 15.7% organic increase in fiscal year 2023 first quarter revenues over the same period in fiscal 2022 for its North American operations. Total growth, including external (1.1%) and currency effect (18.8%), was 35.7% for the same period. In its release, the company noted that the growth in North America was "boosted by the post-Covid return to the workplace, a better-than-expected increase in the sporting and convention center activity and more retail and event catering activity on University campuses. Healthcare was also up in particular due to a strong increase in retail sales."

Read more: Sodexo Q1 Fiscal 2023: strong start to the year

Meal allowances will soon be a thing of the past for Twitter employees, according to a tweet from Zoë Schiffer, a journalist at Platformer. Elon Musk's Twitter is set to scrap a number of employee benefits during this quarter, according to an internal email seen by Schiffer. This includes commuting perks and expensing meals, per Schiffer.

Related:5 tech things: Jamba by Blendid expands into the healthcare market

Read more: Twitter is scrapping employees' meal allowances, following rumors that lavish lunches would be scaled back — but office snacks and coffee will remain, report says

Umpqua Community College (UCC) in Oregon has announced that it is opening its cafeteria to local non-profit Friendly Kitchen to help it provide about 1,200 meals per week to more than 200 area residents through its Meals on Wheels program. UCC said the Friendly Kitchen moved their operation from a local Methodist Church to the college’s cafeteria for some much-needed extra space from which UCC says Friendly kitchen will serve and deliver food for seniors and disabled adults and will even provide meals for UCC students on campus.

Read more: Umpqua Community College opens cafeteria to provide meals on wheels

More companies are ordering workers to return to the office, with some like investment firm Vanguard even threatening to fire and deny severance to those who don’t comply. Leading New York investment banks like Goldman Sachs have been among the strictest employers when it comes to returning to work while others like LifePro Financial Services in San Diego are telling candidates up front that there is no leeway when it comes to being on the job, on site, “100%.” For now, “There’s a little bit of a tug of war going on,” says David Garfield, global head of industries at AlixPartners, a consultancy that has been working with companies on the problem of getting workers back into offices. “Employers are not having an easy time of it.”

Related:5 things: Study warns diabetes among teens could skyrocket

Read more: More Bosses Demand Workers Return to the Office

Northwestern University has added two new food options at its Norris University Center, with 847 Burger offering variations of burgers and a chicken sandwich, and Buen Día serving tacos, quesadillas and burrito bowls. “We know that students are looking for customizable choices with authentic flavors that can also address a variety of dietary needs including allergen friendly, vegan and Halal options,” says Sophia Bamiatzis, district marketing manager for dining services contract firm Compass Group. “Both 847 Burger and Buen Día’s offerings align with what we hear our students want, while addressing their needs.”

Read more: Northwestern Dining launches new restaurants, ‘847 Burger’ and ‘Buen Día,’ in Norris University Center

Bonus: Nominations now open for Food Management’s 2023 Best Concept awards

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]