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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-20</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001128600</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARRIG KENNETH J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SYSCO CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1390 ENCLAVE PKWY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Administration</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-08-20</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>20873.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>29.55</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>40954.8658</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Reporting person elected to receive these shares under the Sysco Corporation 2000 Management Incentive Plan ("MIP").</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Kenneth J. Carrig</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-08-20
0
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001128600
CARRIG KENNETH J
C/O SYSCO CORP
1390 ENCLAVE PKWY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
Sr VP, Administration
Common Stock
2003-08-20
4
A
0
20873.0000
29.55
A
40954.8658
D
Reporting person elected to receive these shares under the Sysco Corporation 2000 Management Incentive Plan ("MIP").
Kenneth J. Carrig
2003-08-21