Sodexo and Dussmann, the two largest meal suppliers in Luxembourg have suffered a 50% decline in revenues since the beginning of the outbreak.

Apart from their gastronomic duties, both companies also provide cleaning and gardening services, putting them on the list of the country's largest employers, with 4,300 people working for Dussmann and 2,300 for Sodexo.

Since the beginning of the lockdown, both companies have increased their hygienic standards to reduce direct contact between clients and staff.

The closure of various businesses throughout the country, as well as the suspension of university classes has almost brought business down to a complete halt. "25% of our sites still operate snack corners, but more than 60% of our overall activities have been stopped", Sodexo CEO Julien Demoulin explained.

Only operations with essential business are still running at full capacity: hospitals, treatment centres, and food delivery. Dussmann has registered an increase in delivery orders, especially for people of advanced age, but had to force more than half of its employees into partial unemployment nonetheless.

Great solidarity

Sodexo has seen around 800 of its employees enter into paid family leave or partial unemployment since the beginning of the lockdown. The company has therefore reorganised large parts of its business to suit the new needs of current times. "I see great solidarity and flexibility from our staff", noted Demoulin.

Meal hours had to be altered in care homes for instance. Whereas people usually enjoyed their food together, people are now asked to eat within the confines of their rooms.

Further precautions are being taken when delivering food to treatment centres to avoid any form of contact between the parties involved in the process.

What does the future hold?

Both companies are confident that they will draw positives from this crisis, even if their revenues have seen some drastic drops. The increase of local production is paramount for a time after the corona crisis.

Angelo Rossi, managing director at Dussmann, explained that "once schools reopen, work will restart once more. Changes will need to be made, but that is the core of our business."