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                                                                    EXHIBIT # 23


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                       SYSCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                    INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT

                                   EXHIBIT 23


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our report included in this Form 10-K for the year ended June 28, 1997, into
the Company's previously filed (i) Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus of Sysco Corporation relating to the
offering of Sysco Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation Management Incentive
Plan (Registration No. 2-73392), (ii) Registration Statement and Prospectus of
Sysco Corporation relating to the Sysco Corporation 1974 Employee's Stock
Purchase Plan (Registration No. 33-10906), (iii) Post-Effective Amendment No. 1
of the Registration Statement and Prospectus relating to the offering of Sysco
Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan
(Registration No. 2-76096), (iv) Registration Statement and Prospectus of Sysco
Corporation relating to the offering of additional shares of Sysco Common Stock
under the Sysco Corporation 1995 Management Incentive Plan (Registration No.
33-45804), (v) Registration Statement and Prospectus of Sysco Corporation
relating to the offering of Sysco Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation 1991
Stock Option Plan (Registration No. 33-45820), (vi) Registration Statement of
Sysco Corporation relating to the offering of Sysco Common Stock under the
Sysco Corporation Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (Registration No.
333-1259), (vii) Registration Statement of Sysco Corporation relating to the
offering of additional shares of Sysco Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation
1991 Stock Option Plan (Registration No. 333-1255), and (viii) Registration
Statement of Sysco Corporation relating to the offering of additional shares of
Sysco Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation 1995 Management Incentive Plan
(Registration No. 333-1257).



/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Arthur Andersen LLP
Houston, Texas
September 24, 1997