FILER:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SODEXHO ALLIANCE SA
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001169715
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MANAGEMENT SERVICES [8741]
IRS NUMBER: 000000000
FISCAL YEAR END: 0831
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: 6-K
SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC
FILE NUMBER:
FILM NUMBER:
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 3 AVENUE NEWTON
STREET 2: 78180 MONTIGNY-LE-BRETONNEUX
CITY: FRANCE
STATE:
ZIP: 00000
BUSINESS PHONE: 0113313085
6-K
FORM 6-K
                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                      Washington D.C. 20549

                                             FORM 6-K

                                 REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                             PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF THE
                                  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                         January 26, 2004

                                        SODEXHO ALLIANCE SA
                                         3, avenue Newton
                                   78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux
                                              France
                             (Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                         Form 20-F         X                 Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                         Yes                                 No       X

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

Contents: COB Filing






                               EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit           Description

99.1     COB Filing






                                SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SODEXHO ALLIANCE SA
By: /s/ Sian Herbert-Jones
-------------------------------
Name:    Sian Herbert-Jones
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Date: January 26, 2004



This summary of the information memorandum contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding anticipated
future  events  and  financial  performance  with  respect  to  our  operations.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate
strictly  to  historical  or  current  facts.  They  often  include  words  like
"believe,"  "expect,"  "anticipate,"  "estimated"  ,  "project  " , "plan"  "pro
forma," and "intend" or future or conditional  verbs such as "will," "would," or
"may."  Factors  that  could  cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from
expected  results  include,  but are not  limited  to,  those  set  forth in our
Registration  Statement on Form 20-F, as filed with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission  (SEC), the competitive  environment in which we operate,  changes in
general  economic  conditions and changes in the French,  American and/or global
financial  and/or  capital   markets.   Forward-looking   statements   represent
management 's views as of the date they are made, and we assume no obligation to
update any  forward-looking  statements for actual events  occurring  after that
date.  You are  cautioned  not to place undue  reliance  on our  forward-looking
statements.



SODEXHO ALLIANCE: Summary of the Information Memorandum

Summary of the information memorandum issued in connection with the
authorization to establish a share repurchase program to be requested from
shareholders at the Annual Meeting on February 3, 2004.

Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF):

In applying Article L 621-8 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, on
January 14, 2004, the AMF assigned Visa no. 04-025 to the Information
Memorandum, in conformity with Commission des Operations de Bourse (COB)
Regulation no. 98-02, modified by Regulation no. 2000-06. This document was
prepared by the issuer, and is the responsibility of its signatories. The Visa
does not imply approval of the share repurchase nor does it authenticate the
financial and accounting information presented.

I. COB Visa:

Issue date:  January 14, 2004
Visa number:  04-025


II. Issuer:

Sodexho Alliance, publicly traded on the premier marche of the Paris Bourse -
Euroclear France code ISIN : FR 0000 121220.


III. Share repurchase program:

     1) Stock concerned: Sodexho Alliance shares

     2) Maximum percentage of outstanding shares authorized for repurchase: 10%,
     which today represents 15,902,156 shares

     3) Maximum purchase price per share: 40 euro

     4) Minimum selling price in the context of the  stabilization  of the stock
     price: 15 euro.

     5) Principal goals for the program, in order of priority:

          a) The  granting  of  shares  to  group  employees  to  allow  them to
          participate in the growth of the company,  in stock option programs or
          in the context of an employee stock purchase plan.

          b)  The   stabilization   of  the  stock  price   through   systematic
          intervention against the trend.

          It  should  be noted  that  Sodexho  Alliance  is  following  a growth
          strategy  and  therefore  has no current  plans to cancel  shares that
          would be held.

     6) Duration of the program: 18 months beginning February 3, 2004

     7) Legal standing:  The  establishment of this program will be subject to a
     shareholder vote at the February 3, 2004 shareholders' meeting.

     8) Repurchase terms:

          Purchase is to be made on the open market or  otherwise,  at any time,
          within the limits  authorized by the currently  applicable  regulatory
          considerations, except in any period of an offering to the public. The
          repurchase could notably be made in blocks of shares.

          These purchase,  sale, exchange or transfer  transactions will be able
          to be made in any manner on the exchange or through mutual  agreement,
          including through the use of derivative financial instruments with the
          caveat that these mechanisms do not increase the volatility of Sodexho
          Alliance shares.

     9)  Financing  of the  share  purchase  program  may be  made  through  the
     company's resources or entirely or partially through the incurrence of debt
     if the terms appear to be more advantageous.

     10) The share  repurchase  program is not mainly  intended to decrease  the
     number of shares in circulation by canceling the shares purchased.  Because
     of this,  the program does not have any impact on the financial  statements
     other than the gains and  losses  resulting  from the  changes in the share
     value and carrying costs.

     11) Bellon S.A., the principal  shareholder which holds 38.54% of the share
     capital of Sodexho Alliance and 39.54% of the voting rights does not intend
     to participate in this program.

     On November 28, 2003, a Reference  Document was filed with the Autorite des
     Marches  Financiers which assigned it file number D.03-1493.  This document
     can be accessed on the AMF's website.

     Person responsible for the Information Memorandum:  Pierre Bellon, Chairman
     of the Board

     The  Information  Memorandum  is  available  at no cost upon request of the
     General  Secretary  of  Sodexho  Alliance,  BP 100,  78883 St.  Quentin  en
     Yvelines Cedex.

     Tel: 33 (0)1 30 85 72 55

     Fax: 33 (0)1 30 85 50 05

     e-mail: antoine.benech@sodexhoalliance.com