Aramark Corporation, known commonly as Aramark, is an American foodservice, facilities, and clothing provider supplying businesses, educational institutions, sports facilities, federal and state prisons, and health care institutions. It is headquartered at the Aramark Tower in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Aramark’s revenues reached $12.3 billion USD in 2009 and was listed as the 189th largest employer on the Fortune 500.

Aramark was founded as Davidson Brothers in 1936 by Davre and Henry Davidson, who began providing vending services to plant employees in the aviation industry in Southern California. In 1959, Davre Davidson partnered with William Fishman to establish ARA (Automatic Retailers of America), which became publicly traded a year later in 1960.

In 1968, ARA provided services at the Mexico City Olympic Games, the first of 14 Games they have serviced, including Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.

In 1969, ARA officially became ARA Services, to reflect its growing range of businesses.