[SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC. COMPANY LOGO]


    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


    SODEXHO MARRIOTT NAMES NEW
    SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PURCHASING AND DISTRIBUTION

                  Gaithersburg,  Md., April 6,  2000--Sodexho  Marriott Services
    (SDH-NYSE) today announced that Bernard Royer has been appointed Senior Vice
    President of Purchasing and Distribution.  Royer fills a position previously
    held by Tony Wilson who was named president of Instill Corporation.
         Most  recently,  Royer was Corporate  Vice  President of  International
    Purchasing  for the Sodexho  Group where he was  responsible  for  strategic
    global partnerships with manufacturers.
         From 1990 to 1998 Royer was Vice  President of  Purchasing  for Sodexho
    North America. In this position he built Sodexho North America's  purchasing
    strategy including implementing a prime vendor initiative.
         Royer has a BS in Science and Mathematics  from the College of Salon de
    Provence,  Masters in Economics and  Accounting  from the University of Aix,
    Marseilles, and a Master in Law from the University of Aix, Marseilles.
         "I welcome  Bernard to my team," said Michel Landel,  president and CEO
    of Sodexho Marriott Services. "He is known for building strong, long-lasting
    partnerships with  manufacturers  and distributors.  With his experience and
    knowledge of the business,  he has the tools to lead key initiatives planned
    for the future."
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         "Further,  I want to  congratulate  Tony Wilson on his  appointment  as
    president of Instill  Corporation.  We have been doing business with Instill
    for a number  of years and  under  Tony's  leadership,  we look  forward  to
    expanding that relationship in the future." Instill is a leading provider of
    E-business initiatives for the food service industry.

         Sodexho Marriott Services,  Inc.  (NYSE-SDH) is the largest provider of
    outsourced  food and  facilities  management  in North  America,  with  $4.5
    billion  in annual  sales.  Sodexho  Marriott  Services  offers a variety of
    innovative  outsourcing  solutions,  including food services,  housekeeping,
    grounds  keeping,  plant  operations  and  maintenance,  asset and materials
    management, and laundry to the corporate,  health care, education and remote
    site markets. The Company is the 57th largest employer in North America with
    103,000  employees  and its  headquarters  is located at 9801  Washingtonian
    Boulevard, Gaithersburg, Md. 20878.

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    CONTACT:      Kathy Boyle
                  (301) 987-4330
                  email: kboyle@sodexhomarriott.com