EXHIBIT 99.1

                     [SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC. LOGO]

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Relations:
Leslie Aun   (301) 987-4550

Investor Relations:
Jim Duke  (301) 987-4333


     SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES REACHES AGREEMENT FOR SODEXHO ALLIANCE TO
               ACQUIRE SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES' PUBLIC SHARES

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexho Marriott Services (SDH-NYSE)
announced today that it has reached an agreement with Sodexho Alliance S.A.
(EXHO-PARIS) for Sodexho Alliance to acquire all company shares it does not
already own for $32 per share in cash. Based on the outstanding Sodexho Marriott
Services shares held by the public, the total equity value of the transaction is
approximately $1.1 billion.

Under the agreement, Sodexho Alliance will commence a cash tender offer no later
than May 21, 2001 for all publicly held shares of the company. Any company
shares not acquired in the tender offer will be acquired in a second step merger
for the same cash consideration. The tender offer is not subject to any
financing condition, but is subject to other customary closing conditions.

Sodexho Alliance has held an approximate 48% interest in Sodexho Marriott
Services since its formation in 1998. On January 24, 2001 Sodexho Alliance made
an acquisition proposal to the Sodexho Marriott Services at $27 per share. The
Sodexho Marriott Services Board of Directors designated a special committee of
independent directors to evaluate Sodexho Alliance's offer. The current
transaction at $32 per share has been approved by the Board of Sodexho Marriott
Services based on the unanimous recommendation of the special committee, which
concluded that the transaction was in the best interests of the company's public
shareholders.

The special committee was advised by UBS Warburg LLC. Sodexho Alliance was
advised by Goldman, Sachs & Co.

"Since the formation of our company, our people have worked very hard to create
value for our shareholders, our clients and our customers," said Michel Landel,
president and CEO of Sodexho Marriott Services. "We believe that this
transaction helps us continue to build on the strong foundation that we have
established."

Sodexho Marriott Services, Inc. is the largest provider of food and facilities
management in North America, with $4.7 billion in annual sales. Sodexho Marriott
Services offers a variety of innovative outsourcing solutions, including food
service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset
and materials management, and laundry services to corporations, health care
facilities, schools, universities and colleges, and remote sites. Headquartered
in Gaithersburg, MD, the company has 111,000 employees at 5,000 locations across
the U.S. and Canada.

Security holders are strongly advised to read both the tender offer statement
and the solicitation/recommendation statement regarding the tender offer
referred to in this press release, when they become available, because they will
contain important information. The tender offer statement will be filed by
Sodexho Alliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the
solicitation/recommendation statement will be filed by Sodexho Marriott Services
with the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these
statements (when available) and other documents filed by Sodexho Alliance and
Sodexho Marriott Services at the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov. The tender offer
statement and related materials may be obtained for free by directing such
requests to the information agent for the offer. The solicitation/recommendation
statement and related documents may be obtained by directing such requests to
Jim Duke, Investor Relations, (301) 987-4333.