<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-11-07</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001009295</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAFNER JOSEPH A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>RIVIANA FOODS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2777 ALLEN PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-11-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>4000.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0.</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>4000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Non Emp Dir Stk Opt (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>33.94</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-11-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>8000.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0.</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-11-06</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>8000.0000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>8000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Shares granted as retainer stock awards as part of the Sysco Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">One-fifth (1/5) of the options covered by the grant vest on the last day of each fiscal year of the issuer ending during the five
-year period following the date of grant.  No options may be exercised prior to July 3, 2004.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Joseph A. Hafner, Jr.</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-07
0
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001009295
HAFNER JOSEPH A JR
RIVIANA FOODS INC.
2777 ALLEN PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77019
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-11-07
4
A
0
4000.0000
0.
A
4000.0000
D
Non Emp Dir Stk Opt (Right to Buy)
33.94
2003-11-07
4
A
0
8000.0000
0.
A
2013-11-06
Common Stock
8000.0000
8000.0000
D
Shares granted as retainer stock awards as part of the Sysco Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.
One-fifth (1/5) of the options covered by the grant vest on the last day of each fiscal year of the issuer ending during the five
-year period following the date of grant.  No options may be exercised prior to July 3, 2004.
Joseph A. Hafner, Jr.
2003-11-07