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 19, 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: Press Release






                               EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit           Description

99.1     Press Release






                                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 19, 2004




This press release 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 REQUESTS THE AMF
                               TO OPEN AN ENQUIRY

Paris,  January 12, 2004 - Following various rumours at the opening of the stock
market and the spread of incorrect information originating from a summary report
made by Smith Barney, Sodexho Alliance insists on clarifying certain information
which  could lead to the belief that the group has not been  transparent  in its
communication,  particularly  as regards its receivables  securitization  in the
United Kingdom.

Sodexho  Alliance  notes that the 100 million euros of cash flow  generated,  in
Fiscal 2002-2003,  by working capital from operations does not in anyway include
the impact of receivables securitization in the United Kingdom.

This  securitization  program has been in place since 1999 as a financing source
and since this date is disclosed in the accounts of our subsidiary, according to
local accounting  principles.  In addition and following the new recommendations
dated  January  2003 of the AMF,  this  information  is published in the Group's
Annual  Report  filed on 28 November  2003 with the AMF; it is  available on our
website.

Considering  that this  erroneous  information  prejudices  the  company and its
shareholders, Sodexho Alliance reserves its right to seek appropriate redress.

Following a downwards  movement in its share price of nearly 8% over a few hours
and volumes  exchanged  on 12 January of more than 2.7 million  shares,  Sodexho
Alliance  questions the  speculative  nature of these movements and requests the
AMF to open an enquiry.


About Sodexho Alliance

Founded in  Marseille  in 1966 by Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer  Pierre
Bellon,  Sodexho Alliance is the world's leading provider of food and management
services.  With more than 308,000  employees  on 23,900  sites in 76  countries,
Sodexho  Alliance  reported  consolidated  sales of 11.7  billion  euros for the
fiscal year that ended on August 31, 2003.  The Sodexho  Alliance share has been
listed since 1983 on the Euronext  Paris  Bourse,  where its market value totals
3.9 billion  euros.  The Sodexho  Alliance  share has been listed since April 3,
2002, on the New York Stock Exchange.


Media Relations: Jerome Chambin
Tel: +33 130 85 74 18
Fax: +33 130 85 52 32
E-mail:  jerome.chambin@sodexhoalliance.com

Investor Relations: Jean-Jacques Vironda
Tel: +33 130 85 29 39
Fax +33 130 85 51 81
E-mail: jeanjacques.vironda@sodexhoalliance.com