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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23



                       SYSCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                     INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
report included in this Form 10-K for the year ended July 1, 2000, into the
company's previously filed (i) Registration Statement of Sysco Corporation
relating to the Sysco Corporation 1974 Employees' Stock Purchase Plan
(Registration No. 33-10906), (ii) Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement relating to the offering of Sysco Common Stock under the
Sysco Corporation Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan (Registration No.
2-76096), (iii) Registration Statement of Sysco Corporation relating to the
offering of shares of Sysco Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation 1995
Management Incentive Plan (Registration No. 33-45804), (iv) Registration
Statement of Sysco Corporation relating to the offering of Sysco Common Stock
under the Sysco Corporation 1991 Stock Option Plan (Registration No. 33-45820),
(v) 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), (vi) 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),
(vii) 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), (viii) Registration
Statement of Sysco Corporation relating to the offering of additional shares of
Sysco Common Stock under the Sysco Corporation 1974 Employees' Stock Purchase
Plan (Registration No. 333-27405), (ix) Registration Statement of Sysco
Corporation relating to the offering of Sysco Debt Securities (Registration No.
333-52897), (x) Registration Statement of Sysco Corporation relating to the
offering of shares of SYSCO Common Stock under the Non-Employee Directors Stock
Plan (Registration No. 333-66987) and (xi) Registration Statement of Sysco
Corporation relating to the offering from time to time of shares of SYSCO common
stock in connection with potential acquisitions (Registration No. 333-30050)
under the Securities Act of 1933.



/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Arthur Andersen LLP
Houston, Texas
September 27, 2000