Aramark
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| Company type | private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Managed Services |
| Founded | 1959 (as Automatic Retailers of America) |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Key people | Davre Davidson, founder Joseph Neubauer, CEO |
| Products | Managed Services |
| Revenue |  $11.33 Billion USD (2005) |
| $314.69 Million USD (2005) | |
Number of employees | 150,000 (full-time) |
| Website | www.aramark.com |
Aramark Corporation is a private company that is a professional services organization, providing food services, facilities management, hospitality services, uniforms and career apparel to large public and private institutions worldwide. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Aramark has approximately 242,500 employees working in 20 countries.
History Highlights
- In 1936, Davre Davidson begins the Los Angeles company that will eventually become ARAMARK.
- In 1959, the company becomes ARA (Automatic Retailers of America)
- In 1969, ARA officially becomes ARA Services, to reflect its growing range of businesses.
- In 1983, Joseph Neubauer is elected CEO of ARA Services.
- In 1994, ARA Services evolves into ARAMARK to reflect the change in its business relationships and its commitment to customers.
- In 2001, ARAMARK returns to the New York Stock Exchange as a public company under the RMK ticker.
- In 2006, a group of investors led by Neubauer proposed the acquisition of all outstanding shares of the company, a move shareholders overwhelmingly voted to approve. In January 2007, the merger is completed.
ARAMARK has ranked in the Forbes Magazine Most Admired Companies from 2001-2007. ARAMARK has also contributed to many charity organizations including Hurricane Katrina relief. In the aftermath of Huricane Katrina, ARAMARK set up feeding for refugees in the Houston Astrodome and other venues within 26 hours of the storm.
Corporate malfeasance
The following accusations do not contain any legal documentation
Part of Aramark's business involves prison catering and prison shops. The Campaign Against Prison Slavery alleges while serving this "captive market", Aramark billed Ohio's prisons as if had served 4,462,649 meals instead of the 2,803,722 meals actually served. The difference could represent an over-billing of some $2.08 million. Aramark subsequently lost the contract in 2000 when State employees put in a bid that was one million dollars lower than the company's bid.[1]
In January of 2004, Aramark agreed to pay more than $29,000 in gratuities to employees of the Southbridge Conference Center in Boston, Massachusetts after several employees filed complaints that the company was withholding their tips. According to the complaints, the tips were withheld from January of 2002 to August of 2003. (Boston Globe, Jan. 28, 2004.) Since Aramark's 2003 acquisition of the environmental services at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas, the company has been under fire for alleged malfeasance, breach of contract, incompetence and rampant workplace bullying. While the hospital's board members have profusely praised the company, most other staff members have been extremely critical of Aramark's managers, of its treatment of its employees and of the quality of the services provided.[who?] Several former Scott & White employees have successfully sued the company, while others have settled out of court.[who?] Scott & White, a major medical center with satellite clinics throughout central Texas, is one of Aramark's largest customers.[citation needed]
Leadership
- Joseph Neubauer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- L. Frederick Sutherland, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- Bart J. Colli, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
- Timothy P. Cost, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs
- Lynn B. McKee, Executive Vice President, Human Resources
- Andrew Kerin, President, Aramark Domestic Food, Hospitality, and Facilities
- Ravi K. Saligram, President, Aramark International
- Thomas J. Vozzo, President, Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel Inc.
- Daryll T. Campbell, President, ARAMARK Correctional Services
Corporate governance
Current members of the board of directors of Aramark are: Lawrence Babbio, Patricia Barron, Leonard Coleman, Ronald Davenport, Thomas Kean, James Ksansnak, Joseph Neubauer, James E. Preston, Ronald Sargent, and Karl von der Heyden.
References