Sept 25 (Reuters) - French food catering firm Sodexo

is exploring a potential acquisition of its U.S. rival

Aramark ( ARMK ), Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.

Sodexo has been periodically discussing the deal with food

and facilities management provider Aramark ( ARMK ) in recent months, the

report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

However, there is no guarantee that the talks will lead to a

deal and, in any case, a potential deal could face antitrust

scrutiny. Sodexo would also need to secure the funds for such a

sizeable acquisition, the report added.

Philadelphia-headquarterd Aramark ( ARMK ), which provides services

across 15 countries, has a market capitalization of over $9.8

billion, as per LSEG data.

Aramark ( ARMK ) declined to comment on the report. Sodexo did not

immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment late on

Wednesday.

Sodexo, which provided catering for the Paris Olympic Games

and the Paralympics this summer and spun off its voucher

business Pluxee at the start of February, is still

raising prices to cushion the impact of high inflation, though

at a slower pace.