EXHIBIT 99.1



                                              SYSCO            [COMPANY LOGO]


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



             THOMAS E. LANKFORD RETIRES AS PRESIDENT & COO OF SYSCO
         Chairman & CEO Richard J. Schnieders to Assume Additional Role


     HOUSTON, JUNE 15, 2005 - SYSCO Corporation (NYSE: SYY) announced today that
Thomas E. Lankford is retiring as president and chief operating  officer after a
distinguished  41-year  career in the  foodservice  distribution  industry.  Mr.
Lankford  also  will  resign  from  SYSCO's  Board  of  Directors.   Richard  J.
Schnieders,  SYSCO's  chairman  and chief  executive  officer,  will  assume the
additional role of president. The changes are effective July 2, 2005, the end of
SYSCO's fiscal year 2005.

     Mr.  Lankford,  57,  began his career in  foodservice  distribution  at the
founding in 1964 of his family's business,  S.E. Lankford,  Jr. Produce Company,
the  predecessor  to  SYSCO's  Pocomoke  City,  MD,  operating  company.   After
graduating  from the  University  of Maryland in 1969 with a bachelor of science
degree in agricultural economics, he was named vice president, then was promoted
to president of  Lankford-Sysco  Food Services,  Inc., when S.E.  Lankford,  Jr.
Produce  Company  merged  with  SYSCO in 1981.  He also  subsequently  served as
chairman of three other SYSCO  subsidiaries  between 1987 and 1994. In 1995, Mr.
Lankford   was  elected   senior  vice   president,   Northeast   Region,   with
responsibilities  for 15  companies  located in eight  states as well as SYSCO's
operation in Ontario, Canada.

     In 1999, Mr. Lankford  relocated to SYSCO's  corporate office in Houston to
serve as senior vice president of  merchandising  and multi-unit  sales,  and he
progressed to executive vice president of merchandising  services and multi-unit
sales  later that same year.  In May 2000,  he was  elected to SYSCO's  Board of
Directors,  and in July 2000 was named  executive  vice  president,  foodservice
operations. In January 2002, he assumed additional responsibilities as president
of SYSCO's North American foodservice operations, and in January 2003 he assumed
his current role as president and chief operating officer.

     Mr. Lankford stated,  "I've spent 41 very fulfilling years participating in
the rapid growth of the foodservice  marketplace.  Strategically,  I'm confident
that SYSCO is poised for continued growth as the leader in our dynamic industry.
SYSCO is blessed with a great pool of management  talent that is being  prepared
for executive-level  responsibilities,  which gives me great comfort in stepping





down. My only regret will be missing the daily  interaction with our presidents,
management and associates at our distribution  centers all across North America,
as well as our corporate staff."

     Mr. Schnieders  commented,  "We deeply appreciate Tom Lankford's leadership
at SYSCO.  His commitment to our  associates and his focus on SYSCO's  customers
has been an  inspiration  to all of us.  Further,  his  efforts on behalf of the
foodservice  industry and his  involvement in resolving  various key issues have
been  exemplary.  Tom's  legacy will be the  significant  number of  outstanding
leaders he has motivated and developed, and his career-long emphasis on ensuring
premier service and attention to our customers."

     SYSCO, the largest foodservice  marketing and distribution  organization in
North America,  provides food and related products and services to approximately
400,000   restaurants,    healthcare   and   educational   facilities,   lodging
establishments  and  other  foodservice  customers,  generating  sales  of $30.0
billion for calendar year 2004. SYSCO's  operations,  supported by approximately
46,000  associates,  are  located  throughout  the United  States and Canada and
include  broadline  foodservice  distribution  companies,  specialty produce and
custom-cut meat operations, Asian cuisine foodservice distributors, hotel supply
operations and chain restaurant distribution subsidiaries.  For more information
about SYSCO visit the company's home page at www.sysco.com.

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