Sodexo Planning 75 Restaurants In NC

News & Observer:

Sodexo is looking at North Carolina as a key component of its newest venture in the food business.

Already a big name in food for institutions such as colleges, senior care centers and hospitals, Sodexo is now taking its commercial restaurant division and kicking it into high gear.

Sodexo operates nine restaurant chains with more than 500 U.S. locations. But up until 2004, all of its restaurants were company owned. Now it has chosen three of those nine chains to franchise to entrepreneurs nationwide.

Drawn by the familiar accolades of high education level, high income level and booming growth, Sodexo has picked North Carolina as one of its target markets for franchising.

Over the next 5 years, Sodexo and its restaurant subsidiary, Retail Brand Group, want to open as many as 75 restaurants in the state.