Sodexho Full-Year Sales 4.6% Higher, Raises Guidance

French contract catering and services group Sodexho Alliance said on Wednesday full-year sales rose 4.6% and raised its guidance for operating profit.

Sodexho said sales rose to 13.385 billion euros ($18.963 billion) from 12.798 billion a year earlier, which it said represented an underlying increase of 8.4% excluding exchange rate moves.

"Operating profit for fiscal 2007 (excluding the currency impact) should rise between 12 and 15%," Chief Executive Michel Landel said in a statement.

The company said in July it expected underlying sales to rise more than 7% and operating profit growth of around 12%.

According to Reuters Estimates, 10 analysts on average forecast Sodexho full-year revenues to rise to 13.256 billion euros. Forecasts ranged from 13.039 billion euros to 13.378 billion.