Exhibit 99.1


SYSCO Corporation                                   NEWS RELEASE
1390 Enclave Parkway                                ------------
Houston, Texas 77077-2099
(281) 584-1390
                                    FOR MORE INFORMATION
                                    CONTACT:   Diane Day Sanders
                                               Vice President and Treasurer

     SYSCO's Board of Directors Approves 16-Million-Share Repurchase Program

     Houston,  September  24,  2001  -  SYSCO  Corporation  (NYSE:  SYY),  North
America's largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization, announced
today that the Board of  Directors  has approved  the  repurchase  of 16 million
shares of the  company's  stock.  The Board last  approved the  repurchase of 16
million shares (on a post-split  basis) in November 2000 and  approximately  2.5
million shares are remaining on that  authorization.  The new authorization will
result in a total of 18.5 million shares authorized for repurchase.

     Charles H. Cotros,  chairman and chief executive officer,  said, "SYSCO has
experienced  double-digit  earnings per share  increases for the past six fiscal
years  (before an  accounting  change),  and our sales growth  outperformed  the
industry growth during that same time period.  In addition,  our fiscal year end
long-term debt to total  capitalization  ratio of 31% is the lowest since fiscal
1996.  This  decision by the board  recognizes  our strong  balance  sheet,  our
favorable cash flow position,  and their  confidence in management's  ability to
continue to achieve the market share gains and operating  efficiencies that have
favorably impacted our performance."

     SYSCO is the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in
North America.  Generating  sales of $21.8 billion for the fiscal year 2001 that
ended June 30, 2001, the company provides food and related products and services
to about 370,000 customers,  including  restaurants,  healthcare and educational
institutions, lodging establishments and other foodservice operations. The SYSCO
distribution  network currently extends  throughout the entire contiguous United
States and portions of Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.

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  achieve  market  share  gains  and  favorable   operating
efficiencies.  These statements are based on management's  current  expectations
and  estimates;  actual  results may differ  materially due to certain risks and
uncertainties.  For example, the company's ability to achieve market share gains
and  favorable  operating  efficiencies  may be  affected by  competitive  price
pressures,  availability of supplies, work stoppages,  successful integration of
acquired  companies,  conditions  in the economy,  industry  growth and internal
factors,  such as the  ability  to  control  expenses.  Industry  growth  may be
affected by changes in general  economic  conditions.  For a discussion of these
and other 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,
as amended by Form 10-K/A,  for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2000 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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