Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Ming Lai as CEO for premium food, supporting its ambition to become the market leader in the food and support services in the UK and Ireland. In this new role Ming will have executive responsibility for The Good Eating Company and Fooditude and will work closely with Sodexo’s corporate services business.
Sodexo’s food ambition centres around delivering culinary excellence every day. The company is driving forward its strategy to create future-ready food services solutions, combining menu personalisation, automation and sustainability across its portfolio of distinctive food brands which have been curated to make food feel right for everyone, everywhere.
Jean Renton, CEO Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “Ming brings with him a strong track record in driving growth, innovation and operational excellence with a people focused approach. Through all of our food brands we are delivering on our promise to provide expertly crafted food solutions which support our clients in a whole range of sectors. Ming’s proven commitment to operational excellence along with his people-focused approach will help elevate our proposition as we continue to deliver food excellence.”
Sodexo’s range of food solutions have been specifically and expertly developed for different markets, these include:
- The Good Eating Company: bespoke high-end workplace dining solutions with a focus on quality, ESG and crafting exceptional food experiences.
- Fooditude: delivered-in food services model for kitchen-less offices offering seasonal, fresh, cooked-from-scratch buffet-style meals, prepped centrally and finished on-site
- Modern Recipe: a contemporary all day corporate dining offer designed to foster connections, promote health and well-being with dishes developed using sustainably sourced ingredients
- Kitchen Works: dining offer with menus focused on convenience, value, taste, nutrition and freshness, served in an environment where guests can truly relax and disconnect.
On his appointment Ming Lai said: “Sodexo has a long culinary history and I am looking forward to supporting the business and its talented teams in reaffirming its heritage through the delivery of the food solutions which not only delight guests but that are innovative and market leading, blending the craft of cookery with new technologies that are seeing the industry shift from food services to food intelligence.”
Sodexo demonstrates every day how the seamless delivery of food, hospitality and the workplace experience can significantly enhance employee and consumer engagement. As the leading expert self-delivering in these fields, its unique, insight-led proposition attracts clients who want to maximise value creation from a single, trusted partner.
