<ARTICLE> 5

<LEGEND>
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC.
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
COMPANY'S THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 3, 1999 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF INCOME AND THE  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 3, 1999
FROM THE  COMPANY'S  FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000


                                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            OTHER             OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-01-2000       SEP-03-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                     SEP-04-1999       AUG-29-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                       DEC-03-1999       NOV-27-1998

<CASH>                                                      47                76
<SECURITIES>                                                 0                 1
<RECEIVABLES>                                              555               553
<ALLOWANCES>                                                21                18
<INVENTORY>                                                 67                59
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           749               783
<PP&E>                                                     260               241
<DEPRECIATION>                                             174               169
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            1445             1,496
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      821               819
<BONDS>                                                    960             1,090
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0                 0
<COMMON>                                                    63                62
<OTHER-SE>                                                (513)             (591)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             1,445             1,496
<SALES>                                                  1,288             1,209
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         1,288             1,209
<CGS>                                                    1,185             1,109
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            1,185             1,109
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            31                33
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          22                23
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             50                52
<INCOME-TAX>                                                22                23
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         28                29
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0                 0
<CHANGES>                                                    0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                28                29
<EPS-BASIC>                                             0.44              0.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.44              0.45