Contract caterers Aramark and hotel group Rezidor are among the new entries on a list of the most ethical businesses in the world according to international think-tank the Ethisphere Institute.
The American caterer joins French rival Sodexo which first featured on the list in 2009, becoming only the second foodservice business to be recognised on the list since it began in 2007.
In addition to Rezidor, Wyndham Worldwide was featured in the hotel category, and Starbucks Coffee Company appeared in the restaurant and café class.
Hotel chains Accor and Marriott International and fast-food chain McDonald’s all failed to make the shortlist despite featuring for the last three years.
Joseph Neubauer, chairman and chief executive officer of Aramark, said the honour is a testament to commitment and conduct of all his teams globally.
“Operating with integrity has been a part of our company’s mission and culture for nearly 75 years,” he added. “Our history of growth and success demonstrates that by conducting our business in an ethical and responsible manner, we deliver real value for our clients, our customers, our communities, and our stakeholders.”
Thomas Jelley, Sodexo corporate citizenship manager, said: "We are delighted to be listed as one of the world's most ethical and socially responsible companies for a second consecutive year. These standards, and our commitment to sustainable development via our Better Tomorrow Plan, enables us to gain the trust of our clients and strengthen employee motivation, as well as help to serve the communities that we operate in."
In addition property agent Jones Lang LaSalle, which conducts a lot of business in the leisure and hotels sectors, was once again featured. It was first recognised as an ethical company in 2008.
The 2010 list features 100 companies, of which 26 were new entries and 24 companies dropped off from the 2009 list. Ethisphere says the “drop offs” generally occurred because of litigation and ethics violations, as well as increased competition from within their industry.
Ethisphere also provides evidence to suggest that it pays to be ethical. The below graph compares the “WME Index,” or all publicly traded 2010 World’s Most Ethical Company honorees, against the S&P 500 and FTSE since 2005.
By Janie stamford
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