<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>sysco8k1002ex99.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

SYSCO Corporation                                                   NEWS RELEASE
1390 Enclave Parkway                                                ------------
Houston, Texas 77077-2099
(281) 584-1390
                                                           FOR MORE INFORMATION
                                                CONTACT:   John Palizza
                                                           Assistant Treasurer
                                                           281-584-1308


         SYSCO'S FIRST QUARTER EPS RISE 16.7% ON SALES INCREASE OF 10.2%

     HOUSTON, October 25, 2002 -- SYSCO Corporation (NYSE: SYY), North America's
leading  foodservice  marketer and distributor,  today announced results for its
first quarter of fiscal year 2003 ended September 28, 2002.

First Quarter Highlights:
------------------------
o    Diluted  earnings  per share rose 16.7% to $0.28  compared  to $0.24 in the
     same period last year
o    Net earnings  climbed 11.4% to $183 million vs. $164 million in last year's
     first quarter
o    Sales increased 10.2% to $6.4 billion vs. $5.8 billion in last year's first
     quarter
o    Real sales growth was 7.0% compared to last year's first quarter
o    Marketing  associate-served  sales as a percentage of traditional broadline
     sales increased to 57.2% from 56.2%
o    SYSCO Brand items accounted for 56.7% of marketing  associate-served  sales
     and 48.9% of all traditional broadline company sales

     Charles H. Cotros, SYSCO's chairman and chief executive officer, said, "The
first  quarter's  accomplishments  were a direct  result  of our  commitment  to
supreme  customer  service and the unflagging  dedication of our associates in a
soft economic  environment.  Our exceptional  performance was a testimony to our
ability to maintain  appropriate  customer mix,  focus on expense  reduction and
provide value-added products and services.

     "For the first  time in the past  eight  quarters  we  achieved  our stated
long-term growth objective of high  single-digit  real sales growth.  Real sales
growth continued an upward trend,  accelerating in the final weeks of the period
to produce a solid 7.0 percent gain," he said.

     Mr. Cotros also noted that  acquisitions  contributed  5.4 percent to sales
growth while food cost  deflation,  primarily in the categories of dairy,  fresh
and frozen meat, seafood and poultry, was 2.2 percent.

     "Our broadline operating companies generated good gross margin performance,
which was slightly  offset by the gross margins of the SERCA  operations,  which
have a higher mix of multi-unit type accounts," added Mr. Cotros.  "Coupled with
the  performance of our SYGMA and Other  segments,  overall gross profit margins
increased 12 basis points for the quarter."

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                                       5
<PAGE>

     Mr. Cotros concluded his remarks by noting that SYSCO's operating companies
exhibited good expense control during the first quarter.  Total expenses for the
quarter increased as a percent to sales from the same quarter last year due to a
$15.5 million  expense  required to reflect a decline in the value of the equity
component of investments  which are maintained to meet  obligations  for certain
non-qualified retirement programs.

     Richard J. Schnieders,  SYSCO's president and chief operating officer, also
commented that The SYGMA Network,  Inc.,  SYSCO's chain restaurant  distribution
subsidiary,  generated  $710  million  in sales for the  quarter,  a gain of 9.1
percent  compared  against  the same  period  last  year,  while  the  company's
specialty meat, produce and hotel supply operations combined for $394 million in
sales, a gain of 4.8 percent.

     "The  performance of recent broadline  fold-out  companies in Las Vegas and
Columbia, South Carolina is in line with our expectations, and just this week we
began delivering products from our first-ever specialty meat company fold-out in
Chicago," continued Mr. Schnieders.  "In addition,  the integration of the SERCA
foodservice  operations  in Canada is going as planned,  and our  strategies  of
focusing on  marketing  associate-served  customers  and success in  introducing
SYSCO Branded products are generating positive results.

     "Our sales  momentum has continued into the second quarter of fiscal 2003,"
Mr.  Schnieders  said.  "We remain  positioned to continue  gaining market share
while adding value to our  employees,  customers,  shareholders  and  suppliers.
SYSCO operates in an industry that is somewhat resilient to economic conditions,
an industry  that is supported by consumers'  desire,  and often  necessity,  to
enjoy meals  prepared  away from home. By focusing on common goals we have again
been able to provide value to our shareholders, customers and suppliers alike."

     SYSCO is the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in
North America, providing food and related products and services to approximately
415,000   restaurants,    healthcare   and   educational   facilities,   lodging
establishments and other foodservice  customers.  SYSCO's operations are located
throughout  the  United  States  and Canada  and  include  broadline  companies,
specialty  produce,  meat and hotel supply  operations and SYGMA,  the company's
chain restaurant distribution subsidiary. For more information about SYSCO visit
the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
     Certain  statements made herein are  forward-looking  statements  under the
Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995.  They  include  statements
regarding  SYSCO's  ability to continue to profitably  grow its  business,  gain
market share and achieve real sales growth..  These statements involve risks and
uncertainties and are based on management's  current expectations and estimates;
actual results may differ  materially.  Those risks and uncertainties that could
impact  these   statements   include  the  risks  relating  to  the  foodservice
distribution industry's relatively low profit margins and sensitivity to general
economic  conditions,   including  the  current  economic  environment;  SYSCO's
leverage  and  debt  risks;  the  successful   completion  of  acquisitions  and
integration of acquired  companies;  the risk of interruption of supplies due to
lack of long-term contracts,  severe weather,  work stoppages or otherwise;  and
internal  factors such as the ability to control  expenses.  For a discussion of
additional  factors  that  could  cause  actual  results  to differ  from  those
described in the forward-looking  statements, see the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29,  2002 as filed with the  Securities
and Exchange Commission.

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                                       6
<PAGE>


                                SYSCO CORPORATION
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
                      (In Thousands Except for Share Data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                          <C>                          <C>
                                                                     For the 13-Week Period Ended
                                                             -----------------------------------------------
                                                             September 28, 2002           September 29, 2001
                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Sales                                                         $     6,424,422              $      5,828,678
Costs and expenses
    Cost of sales                                                   5,154,704                     4,683,617
    Operating expenses                                                960,635                       864,456
    Interest expense                                                   16,828                        15,864
    Other, net                                                         (3,412)                         (769)
                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Total costs and expenses                                            6,128,755                     5,563,168
                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Earnings before income taxes                                          295,667                       265,510
Income taxes                                                          113,093                       101,558
                                                             ------------------           ------------------

Net earnings                                                  $       182,574              $        163,952
                                                             ==================           ==================
Basic earnings per share                                      $          0.28              $           0.25
                                                             ==================           ==================
Diluted earnings per share                                    $          0.28              $           0.24
                                                             ==================           ==================

Average shares outstanding                                        654,176,221                   666,765,148
                                                             ==================           ==================
Diluted average shares outstanding                                663,542,498                   677,916,766
                                                             ==================           ==================
</TABLE>

The  comparative  segment  sales data for the first quarter of fiscal years 2003
and 2002 are summarized below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                          <C>                          <C>

                                                                For the 13-Week Period Ended (Unaudited)
                                                             -----------------------------------------------
                                                             September 28, 2002           September 29, 2001
                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Sales                                                                        (In Thousands)
    Broadline                                                 $     5,321,257              $      4,802,933
    SYGMA                                                             709,584                       650,298
    Other                                                             393,581                       375,447
                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Total sales                                                   $     6,424,422              $      5,828,678
                                                             ==================           ==================
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>
                                SYSCO CORPORATION
                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
                                 (In Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                <C>                        <C>
                                                                    September 28, 2002         September 29, 2001
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
Current assets
   Cash                                                              $        163,189           $        123,586
   Receivables                                                              1,869,128                  1,684,672
   Inventories                                                              1,226,885                  1,119,856
   Deferred taxes                                                              41,699                     94,657
   Prepaid expenses                                                            73,030                     65,439
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
     Total current assets                                                   3,373,931                  3,088,210

Plant and equipment at cost, less depreciation                              1,718,941                  1,554,193

Other assets
   Goodwill and intangibles                                                   922,491                    781,727
   Restricted cash                                                             57,000                          -
   Other                                                                      173,094                    183,758
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
      Total other assets                                                    1,152,585                    965,485
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
Total assets                                                         $      6,245,457           $      5,607,888
                                                                    ==================         ==================

Current liabilities
   Notes payable                                                     $         50,016           $        108,671
   Accounts payable                                                         1,420,276                  1,292,984
   Accrued expenses                                                           709,137                    574,406
   Accrued income taxes                                                        38,241                    130,676
   Current maturities of long-term debt                                        13,474                     22,665
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
     Total current liabilities                                              2,231,144                  2,129,402

Other liabilities
   Long-term debt                                                           1,265,938                  1,081,305
   Deferred taxes                                                             554,690                    263,521
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
     Total other liabilities                                                1,820,628                  1,344,826

Shareholders' equity
   Common stock, par $l per share                                             765,175                    765,175
   Paid-in capital                                                            233,727                    210,148
   Retained earnings                                                        2,992,849                  2,532,458
   Other comprehensive loss                                                   (65,435)                    (5,624)
   Treasury stock                                                          (1,732,631)                (1,368,497)
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
   Total shareholders' equity                                               2,193,685                  2,133,660
                                                                    ------------------         ------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                           $      6,245,457           $      5,607,888
                                                                    ==================         ==================

</TABLE>


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                                       8
<PAGE>


                                SYSCO CORPORATION
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
                                 (In Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                     <C>                        <C>
                                                                              For the 13-Week Period Ended
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------
                                                                        September 28, 2002         September 29, 2001
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:

  Net earnings                                                           $        182,574           $        163,952
  Add non-cash items:
      Depreciation and amortization                                                65,796                     66,615
      Deferred tax provision (benefit)                                            105,609                    (12,075)
      Provision for bad debts                                                       7,546                      7,371
  Additional investment in certain assets and liabilities,
      net of effect of businesses acquired:
      (Increase) in receivables                                                  (115,847)                   (37,823)
      (Increase) in inventories                                                  (109,016)                   (74,304)
      (Increase) in prepaid expenses                                              (31,064)                   (24,954)
       Increase in accounts payable                                                70,946                     19,516
      (Decrease) in accrued expenses                                              (59,082)                   (79,893)
       Increase in accrued income taxes                                             2,342                      7,304
       Decrease in other assets                                                     7,433                      4,985
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
    Net cash provided by operating activities                                     127,237                     40,694
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Additions to plant and equipment                                                (88,025)                   (88,301)
  Proceeds from sales of plant and equipment                                        4,782                      1,716
  Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                                     (48)                   (11,232)
  Increase in restricted cash                                                     (25,000)                         -
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
    Net cash used for investing activities                                       (108,291)                   (97,817)
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Bank and commercial paper borrowings                                             75,509                    197,452
  Other debt repayments                                                            (2,502)                      (140)
  Common stock reissued from treasury                                              41,936                     35,619
  Treasury stock purchases                                                       (109,899)                  (140,979)
  Dividends paid                                                                  (59,240)                   (46,986)
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
    Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities                          (54,196)                    44,966
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
Net decrease in cash                                                              (35,250)                   (12,157)
Cash at beginning of period                                                       198,439                    135,743
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
Cash at end of period                                                    $        163,189           $        123,586
                                                                        ------------------         ------------------
Cash paid during the period for:
  Interest                                                               $          7,938           $         10,170
  Income taxes                                                                      8,268                    108,910
</TABLE>

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