Exhibit 32(a)

                  CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
                           SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


I, Richard J. Schnieders, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sysco
Corporation (the "company"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the
best of my knowledge:

1.       The company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
         ended December 27, 2003 ("Quarterly Report") fully complies with the
         requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
         and

2.       All of the information contained in the Quarterly Report fairly
         presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results
         of operations of the company.

Date: February 9, 2004


                                            /s/ RICHARD J. SCHNIEDERS
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Richard J. Schnieders
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer