FORMERLY PE OWNED
Aramark
Food Service / Facilities · Philadelphia, PA
- PE Firm
- GS Capital Partners / CCMP Capital
- Year Acquired
- 2007
A Goldman Sachs-led group took the school-and-prison food giant private, piled on debt, and cashed out in six years.
What Happened
- A consortium led by GS Capital Partners (Goldman Sachs) took Aramark private in 2007 in an $8.3 billion deal.
- The company serves roughly 500 million meals a year at schools, hospitals, prisons, and stadiums across the US.
- Re-IPO'd in 2013, letting the PE owners cash out after six years of debt-loaded operation.
The Damage Done
- Prison food contracts drew scrutiny for maggots in food, understaffing, and calorie-deficient meals.
- A December 2025 lawsuit claims Aramark shrinks prison meals so people inside are forced to buy overpriced commissary food — sold by the same company.
Sources
- Aramark Food Quality Complaints in Prisons(2018-08-20)
- ARAMARK Completes Merger (SEC filing, January 26, 2007)(2007-01-26)
- Bugs, mold on menu at K.C. stadiums(2014-11-10)
- Aramark Cuts Free Prison Meals to Boost Profits, New Suit Claims(2025-12-06)
- Michigan ends prison food contract with Aramark(2015-07-13)
- Prisoners Sue Aramark, Contractor for Both Kitchen Service and Commissary(2025-12)