Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network will use Dallas-based Metz Culinary Management as its food service provider instead of Sodexo, The Morning Call reports.
St. Luke's spokesperson Sam Kennedy said via email the move affects about 400 employees, including part-time and per diem workers. He said less than half are Sodexo employees.
"We'd like to keep the Sodexo employees working at St. Luke's, but of course Sodexo would have to play a role in that kind of transition as well," he wrote in the email.
"None of the food service workers who are employed by St. Luke's will lose their jobs. They'll simply start working under the direction of Metz." said Mr. Kennedy.
France-based Sodexo has nearly 425,000 employees in 80 countries worldwide, according to its website. In a statement to Becker's Hospital Review, the company said it is proud it worked in the St. Luke’s University Health Network community. "We stand ready to serve St. Luke’s University Health Network community in the future should we have the opportunity," the statement continued.
News of the food vendor change comes amid expansion efforts at St. Luke's University Health Network. The network's Anderson Campus, based in Easton, Pa., began construction of a $100 million facility April 13. Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger and St. Luke's University Health Network also recently partnered to build an 80-bed acute care hospital in Orwigsburg, Pa.
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