Sodexo laying off nearly 500 workers at Grand Canyon University campus

Sodexo is laying off nearly 500 workers after Grand Canyon University didn't renew its contract to manage campus dining concepts.

BY ANGELA GONZALES/SENIOR REPORTER

May 23, 2026, 5:01 AM Updated: May 24, 2026, 12:31 pm

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SDH Education West LLC, doing business as Sodexo, is laying off nearly 500 workers in Phoenix, according to a filing with the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Its contract to manage campus dining concepts at Grand Canyon University’s Phoenix campus expires July 14. After a bidding process, GCU awarded the contract to Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) to provide campus dining, retail, catering and athletics-related hospitality programs.

“Aramark has already expressed their intent to hire employees from Sodexo who are currently employed on GCU’s campus — both full-time and part-time student workers — and we are confident in their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition for those affected,” said Bob Romantic, spokesman for GCU. “Aramark held a meeting on campus with those employees last week and more are scheduled in the coming weeks.”

SDH Education West LLC filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN letter, with Arizona officials on May 14 indicating plans to lay off 489 workers at GCU’s main campus in Phoenix.

It’s not uncommon for WARN letters to be filed when contracts expire.

This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story.