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
      March 27, 2004 ("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: May 11, 2004

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