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Sysco is an American multinational corporation that sells, markets, and distributes food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, sports stadiums, and other venues that serve food. It also sells foodservice supplies and equipment. The company is headquartered in the Energy Corridor district of Houston, Texas.
Sysco was founded in 1969 by Herbert Irving, John F. Baugh, and Harry Rosenthal. The company became public on March 3, 1970.
Sysco is the world's largest broadline food distributor. As of June 2024, the company has approximately 76,000 employees and serves 730,000 customer locations. It operates 340 distribution centers in 10 countries. In 2019 Sysco entered the UK market by purchasing Brakes and forming Sysco GB. Fortune magazine has consistently included Sysco in its annual Fortune 500 rankings of the largest companies in the United States based on total revenue. In 2024, Sysco placed 54th in these rankings.
Sysco made its first acquisition in 1970, purchasing Arrow Foods Distributor. Between 1970 and 1980, the company continued to grow through the acquisition of 25 small food distributors. It also expanded its trucking fleet and constructed refrigerated warehouses for food storage.
In 1980, Sysco recorded $1.2 billion in annual revenue. The following year, it moved its stock from the NYSE American to the New York Stock Exchange. In 1985, Sysco was described in a New York Times report as "the nation's leading food service marketing and distribution company."
On December 9, 2013, Sysco announced they were planning to acquire US Foods, their closest competitor, for a total of $3.5 billion. However, on June 24, 2015, US Federal Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the combined Sysco-US Foods would control 75% of the U.S. food service industry and would stifle competition. As a result, on June 29, 2015, Sysco terminated its merger with US Foods.
In February 2016, Sysco announced that it was purchasing the Brake Bros for $3.1 billion. At the time, Brakes was serving about 50,000 restaurants, hotels, and schools across Europe. In October 2017, Sysco acquired HFM FoodService, and later changed its name to Sysco Hawai'i in 2019.
In February 2018, Sysco acquired Doerle Food Services, a Louisiana-based foodservice. In March 2018, Sysco acquired Kent Frozen Foods. In 2020, Sysco acquired a 50% stake in Pacific Star Foodservice.
In May 2021, Sysco acquired Greco and Sons, a distributor of Italian specialty food products. In the September the same year, Sysco acquired Medina Foodservice. In November 2021, FreshPoint, a division of Sysco, acquired Paragon Foods. Later that year, Sysco purchased the fresh produce distributor The Coastal Companies for the purpose of supplementing both its fleet and its specialty produce business. In October 2023, Sysco announced that it was purchasing Edward Don & Company, a food service supplies and equipment distributor. This acquisition gave the company additional office and distribution space, as well as the ability to design and build kitchens for its customers.
In December 2023, Sysco Ireland announced plans to acquire Ready Chef Ltd.
In October 2024, Sysco acquired Scotland-based meat and fish supplier, Cambell's Prime Meat.]]
Within its broader business, Sysco provides customers goods and expertise through its specialty divisions. For example, its FreshPoint division supplies produce to customers. In 2021, Sysco acquired Greco & Sons, an importer and distributor of Italian food products. Greco & Sons operates as an independent division within the company. Sysco offers custom kitchen building for its restaurant customers. The company also aids these customers with tasks such as menu design and the development of marketing campaigns.
Sysco owns Sygma, a subsidiary it founded in January 1984. Sygma is a food service supplier specializing in large chain restaurants. As of February 2023, Sygma was operating 15 distribution centers and delivering goods to 13,000 chain franchises throughout the United States.
Since 2009, Sysco has worked with the World Wildlife Fund to set targets on the volume of seafood it procures from sustainable fisheries. In January 2021, Sysco announced plans to increase purchases of sustainable seafood, particularly from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Sysco's "One Planet. One Table." assortment of products, which includes approximately 3,000 food items backed by at least one of 20 sustainability certifications and standards, launched in November 2023.
In 2016, Sysco committed to a 10-year plan to use 100% cage-free eggs in its US supply chain by 2026.
In December 2021, Sysco announced its intention to cut its carbon footprint by 27.5% by 2030. In May 2022, Sysco committed to the purchase of 800 Freightliner eCascadia . The first vehicles in this order were delivered in November 2022. In August 2022, Sysco's UK division launched its first electric delivery truck. In April 2023, the company announced the construction of an electric vehicle hub in Riverside, California. As of September 2024, the company operates 130 heavy-duty electric tractors across the US, Canada, Sweden, and the UK.
In February 2024, the company's UK division partnered with the foodservice technology firm Nutritics to develop a system that helps food businesses quantify the carbon footprint of the food they serve.
In the food world, Sysco is universally known for being cheap and for having the lowest quality. As one chef remarked, “When I see a Sysco truck delivering to a restaurant, I assume that they’re not trying very hard to be any good.” It’s why you hear the phrase “tonight’s dinner fell off the Sysco truck.” Sysco sells the cheapest option possible, which naturally means a downward spiral for quality. This race to the bottom is best seen in seafood.The Nation (2025-09-15). " Tonight’s Dinner Fell Off the Sysco Truck". Retrieved 2025-10-27. The Outlaw Ocean Project published a report in October 2023 alleging China's use of North Korean labor, with accounts of rampant sexual abuse. Following this, in January 2024 Sysco published a statement noting the suspension of all contracts with Dalian Haiquing Foods citing "human and labor rights abuses". An investigation by the St. Petersburg Times found that the company was selling mislabeled fish (grouper in this instance). Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the company sold shrimp from India processed in grueling labor conditions. The company does not generally audit its US suppliers.The Nation (2025-09-15). " Tonight’s Dinner Fell Off the Sysco Truck". Retrieved 2025-10-27.
Labor disputes and corporate practices
In early April 2023, Teamsters members at Sysco locations in Louisville and Indianapolis went on strike for higher wages and to end "barbaric" work schedules. In a Department Of Labor review in 2024, Sysco agreed to pay to settle an allegation regarding hiring discrimination against female employees. In October 2025, Teamsters at Sysco San Francisco and Portland authorized a strike for Sysco failing to produce a fair contract.
External links
Categories: Official Website, Catering And Food Service Companies Of The United States, Multinational Companies Headquartered In The United States, Food And Drink Companies Based In Houston, Food And Drink Companies Established In 1969, 1969 Establishments In Texas, Companies Listed On The New York Stock Exchange, Companies In The S&p 500 Dividend Aristocrats, 1970s Initial Public Offerings, Wholesalers Of The United States
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