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RBG to continue strong focus on brand development, growth of company-managed stores and franchising GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sodexho (NYSE:SDX), the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in North America, announces a change in the top leadership role in its subsidiary the Retail Brand Group (RBG) with the appointment of Husein Kitabwalla as senior vice president. Kitabwalla joined the company in 1999 and most recently served in the role of vice president of operations and brand development for RBG, which has a portfolio of fast-casual brands like the award-winning Jazzman's(R) Cafe and Pandini's(R). In his new role, Kitabwalla will oversee the operations of more than 500 sites, as well as the continued growth and development of additional company- managed and franchised locations in North America. "Husein has been the driving force and passionate spirit behind the development of RBG's most successful brands," said Michael Montelongo, senior vice president of strategic marketing, Sodexho, Inc. "His considerable brand development experience and outstanding leadership skills make Husein the clear choice to lead and expand this successful business to new heights of growth and recognition in both our core channels and the retail marketplace." In addition, under Kitabwalla's leadership, the RBG is developing new retail concepts for SodexhoMagic, LLC, the joint venture between Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Sodexho, RBG's parent company. The concepts in development include the Magic Johnson Sports Bar, the Magic Johnson Marketplace and a Magic Johnson-inspired version of the RBG's-own SubConnection(R). Considered an industry expert on retail trends and operations, Kitabwalla is a popular speaker regarding retail and the customer experience. A resident of Allentown, Pa., Kitabwalla moved to the U.S. from Kenya in 1987 and earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. He began his career in food service at Ashland College in Ohio, and sharpened his skill for creating unforgettable customer experiences as an operations manager at the Walt Disney Corporation in Anaheim, Calif., where he operated six restaurants on Main Street USA at Disneyland and served on the President's Council on Guest Services. More information about the Retail Brand Group's wide variety of branded fast casual and quick service restaurants is available at http://www.retailbrandgroup.com/ . Sodexho, Inc. ( http://www.sodexhousa.com/ ) is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $6.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 125,000 employees. Sodexho serves more than 10 million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexho, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a subsidiary of Sodexho Alliance (NYSE:SDXNYSE:http://www.sodexho.com). Sodexho, Inc. funds the Sodexho Foundation ( http://www.helpstophunger.org/ ), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $7.2 million in grants to fight hunger in America. DATASOURCE: Sodexho, Inc. CONTACT: Jaya Bohlmann of Sodexho, +1-301-987-4550, Web site: http://www.sodexhousa.com/ http://www.sodexho.com/ http://www.helpstophunger.org/ http://www.retailbrandgroup.com/

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