Caterer Sodexo expects remote working to hit business

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<br>Jan 6 (Reuters) – French catering and food services group Sodexo warned on Thursday the return to remote working this winter could affect its volumes, but said it was not worried if COVID-19 restrictions remained short-lived.<br> <br>Caterers have been hit hard by the pandemic and are looking for new ways to adapt to recurring lockdowns, more working from home and fewer events.<br> <br>Chief Finance Officer Marc Rolland said during a call with journalists that catering for the white-collar sector could decrease a little.<br> <br>The French parliament approved on Thursday the government’s latest measures to tackle COVID-19, including a vaccine pass, and barring unvaccinated people from hospitality venues and trains.<br> <br>Rolland said it was too early to say if the group could achieve its annual forecasts, but noted first-quarter organic growth of 17.5% was at the top end of its 15-18% full-year guidance range.<br> <br>”At this stage, we maintain our annual guidance and remain confident in the continued recovery,” chairwoman and interim Chief Executive Officer Sophie Bellon said in a statement.<br> <br>The Paris-based firm, one of the world’s biggest Catering Rumahan companies alongside Britain’s Compass, said revenues reached 95% of pre-COVID levels in the first quarter, with recovery visible in all activities, segments and geographies.<br> <br>Revenues rose to 5.26 billion euros ($5.95 billion) from 4.43 billion a year earlier.

Analysts had on average expected 5.24 billion euros, according to a company-provided consensus.<br> <br>Sodexo, which in July launched a search for a new chief executive to replace Denis Machuel, said the process was moving forward, but its was taking time to choose the right person.<br> <br>Sodexo shares were down 1.8% to 79.58 euros at 0802 GMT.<br> <br>($1 = 0.8844 euros) (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Mark Potter)<br>

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