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Sodexo Australia named Supply Nation Corporate Member of the Year

Published on Aug. 31, 2026

Recognition reflects growing Indigenous business partnerships and measurable progress in supplier diversity

Sodexo Australia has been named Corporate Member of the Year at the 2026 Supply Nation Supplier Diversity Awards, recognising its work to create meaningful commercial opportunities for Indigenous businesses.

The award reflects more than growth in procurement spend. It recognises the partnerships behind that progress and the role supplier diversity can play in supporting jobs, skills, business capability and economic opportunity in the communities where Sodexo operates.

In 2025, Sodexo Australia spent $34.3 million with Supply Nation Indigenous suppliers, up from $16.9 million in 2024 — an increase of 103%. Indigenous supplier spend also increased from 4.52% to 6.33% of Sodexo Australia's overall procurement spend.

Sodexo worked with 37 Supply Nation Indigenous suppliers during the year, while introducing 10 new supplier relationships.

Building supplier diversity into everyday business

In 2024, Sodexo Australia formalised its Indigenous Procurement Policy and Strategy, setting measurable targets and a clear approach to engaging Indigenous businesses.

The approach focuses on making Indigenous procurement part of everyday business decisions rather than treating it as a separate initiative. Real-time spend dashboards give regional managers and site leaders greater visibility of performance against targets, while executive sponsorship helps maintain accountability across the business.

Sodexo has also embedded Indigenous procurement targets into new and existing client contracts.

Its September 2025–August 2028 Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan further formalises targets and governance to support the long-term growth of diverse supply chains. Growing Diverse Supply Chains is one of the RAP's four key enablers, alongside Thriving Together, Responding Together and Strengthening Food Security.

Supporting businesses to grow

For Sodexo, supplier diversity is not only about where procurement dollars are spent. It is also about building relationships that can grow over time.

The company provides Indigenous suppliers with 14-day payment terms to support cash flow and works with businesses on performance, capability and shared safety knowledge. Where appropriate, suppliers can begin with manageable scopes before expanding as their capability and capacity grow.

Several partnerships demonstrate what this can look like in practice.

Sodexo maintained its partnership with Djinda Produce during a challenging period for the business and continued supporting founder Phil Matera's vision for 100% Aboriginal ownership. The partnership has since grown by 125% across 21 Western Australian Energy & Resources sites.

AAC's Yurrama Water has grown its business with Sodexo by 500%, while Jatu Clothing has expanded from supplying PPE in the Pilbara to becoming a national distributor supporting more than 80 sites.

Indigenous suppliers are also being positioned as preferred or sole providers in selected national categories, including uniforms, laundry consumables and coffee supply.

Creating opportunity through partnership

Sodexo Australia Managing Director Keith Weston said the recognition reflected the progress made through long-term partnerships with Indigenous businesses.

“Stronger Indigenous businesses can mean more jobs, more skills and more economic opportunity in the communities where we work,” Mr Weston said.

“This award recognises the progress we have made alongside our supplier partners. The most important measure is not the award itself, but the opportunities created when Indigenous businesses are supported to participate, grow and succeed.”

The award also builds on Sodexo Australia's broader commitment to reconciliation and local economic participation across the Energy & Resources sector.

As one of Australia's largest providers of village services, Sodexo operates across regional and remote locations where the strength of local and Indigenous businesses can have a direct impact on communities. The company’s approach is focused on creating commercial relationships that are sustainable for both Sodexo and its supplier partners.

Progress worth building on

Being named Supply Nation's Corporate Member of the Year is a significant milestone, but Sodexo sees it as part of an ongoing journey.

The focus remains on finding new opportunities for Indigenous businesses, strengthening existing partnerships and continuing to remove barriers that can limit participation in supply chains.

Sodexo Australia thanks its Indigenous supplier partners for their trust and partnership, as well as the teams across Procurement, Indigenous Affairs, Operations and site leadership who continue to turn commitments into practical opportunities.

Because meaningful supplier diversity is built through what happens after the contract is signed: strong relationships, shared growth and opportunities that create lasting value.