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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-12</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001076552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TILGHMAN RICHARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>919 E MAIN ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>6950.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1950.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>Wife</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Non-Emp Dir Stk Opt (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>32.3000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-12</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </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>2013-09-11</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">Grants were made on September 12, 2003, but have not yet been received.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">One-fifth (1/5) of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 7/3/2004, 7/2/2005, 7/1/2006, 6/30/2007 and 6/28/2
008, respectively.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Richard G. Tilghman</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-09-12
0
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001076552
TILGHMAN RICHARD G
919 E MAIN ST
RICHMOND
VA
23219
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
6950.0000
D
Common Stock
1950.0000
I
Wife
Non-Emp Dir Stk Opt (Right to Buy)
32.3000
2003-09-12
4
A
0
8000.0000
0
A
2013-09-11
Common Stock
8000.0000
8000.0000
D
Grants were made on September 12, 2003, but have not yet been received.
One-fifth (1/5) of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 7/3/2004, 7/2/2005, 7/1/2006, 6/30/2007 and 6/28/2
008, respectively.
Richard G. Tilghman
2003-09-12