Chef Gabe Kennedy and Sodexo Seniors Team Up to launch Joyous

A first-of-its-kind branded offer for independent senior living built on deep market research, Joyous reimagines connected spaces and eating well for those 65 and over

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mealtime is better shared, with nearly 80 percent of senior residents in independent living environments seeking more connection over a meal—yet 68 percent of seniors eat alone. Enter Joyous, a transformed dining experience for independent living environments, built on deep insights from Sodexo Seniors, a leading provider in senior living dining and facilities management solutions. Joyous will come alive with culinary inspiration from noted chef and entrepreneur Gabe Kennedy, who shares in Sodexo Seniors’ culinary philosophy of enriching lives through experiences with food that promote wellness, curiosity and community.

“Food can be a transformative, healing part of our lives at any age, and the right experience with others over a meal is fulfilling and memorable,” said Kennedy, the co-founder of Plant People, Chef Partner of Checker Hall Restaurant and who has also appeared on Food Network’s Chopped and HBO’s Selena + Chef. “This partnership with Sodexo and Joyous means crafting dishes that are both familiar and inspiring, helping residents rediscover what it means to connect through food.”

Through extensive research and hundreds of interviews, Sodexo Seniors found that only one-third of residents report feeling extremely satisfied with their mealtimes, despite eating on-site most days. Joyous translates that data into action, centering on connection, comfort, freedom and inspiration to celebrate the joy of living and eating well.

“Joyous is all about a dining experience that nourishes body and spirit, and we considered all the ways food should bring health and happiness to seniors who are craving more than just a delicious meal,” said Brendan Previte, Vice President of Marketing at Sodexo Seniors. “Dining in independent living needs to reflect the emotional needs of our residents who want to feel a sense of belonging and autonomy at this stage of life, and with Joyous, we listened to what residents really want to create an offering that helps residents enjoy their lives on their terms.”

In collaboration with Kennedy, Joyous menus will feature globally inspired dishes such as Fall Vegetable & Walnut White Pizzetta and Chorizo, Potato & Egg Galette all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients that support heart and brain health for a wellness-driven approach. Meals will be served in spaces where residents want to be, with casual dining formats that rank nearly 50 percent higher among residents and feature accessible design and flexible seating that enables larger group gatherings.

In addition to typical dining offerings, Joyous also brings a curated collection of programming and events, all supported by staff who help forge connections through a hospitality-centric “savor the moment” ethos.

Joyous will roll out in Sodexo-operated senior living communities before year end.

Kennedy will join Sodexo leaders to share more about Joyous and the future of senior dining as part of the LeadingAge Annual Meeting, set for Nov. 2-5 in Boston.

About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is a division of Sodexo Group, a global Fortune 500 company operating in 45 countries and a leading provider of sustainable food and integrated facilities management in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. Across the U.S., the company employs over 100,000 people and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs by annually purchasing goods and services from a wide range of small to large businesses. Sodexo North America is committed to meeting the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and to contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all.