Arnall Golden & Gregory, LLP
                            2800 One Atlantic Center
                           1201 West Peachtree Street
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3450


                                                            Phone (404) 873-8500

                                                              Fax (404) 873-8501

                                January 10, 2001

SYSCO CORPORATION
1390 Enclave Parkway
Houston, Texas  77077-2027


         Re:      SYSCO Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We refer  to the  registration  statement  on Form  S-4  referenced  above,
including  amendments and exhibits thereto (the "Registration  Statement") filed
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  by SYSCO
Corporation,  a Delaware corporation ("SYSCO"),  with respect to the issuance by
SYSCO of up to 1,100,000  shares (the  "Shares") of its common stock,  $1.00 par
value  per  share,  for  offering  from  time  to time in  connection  with  the
acquisition  of  businesses  and  properties by SYSCO and is  subsidiaries.  The
Shares  may be  presently  authorized  but  unissued  shares or  shares  held as
treasury shares at the time of their  delivery.  In this connection we have made
such  investigation  and reviewed  such  documents  as we deem  necessary in the
circumstances to render the following opinion.

     We have  examined  the  originals  or  certified  copies of such  corporate
records,  certificates  of officers of SYSCO and/or  public  officials  and such
other documents,  and have made such other factual and legal investigations,  as
we have deemed  relevant  and  necessary as the basis for the opinions set forth
below. In such  examination,  we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents  submitted to us as originals,  the conformity
to  original  documents  of  all  documents  submitted  to  us as  conformed  or
photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies.

     Based on our examination described above, subject to the assumptions stated
above and relying on the  statements of fact  contained in the documents that we
have examined,  we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly  authorized
for  issue,  and  when  sold,  paid  for  and  issued  as  contemplated  in  the
Registration  Statement,  of such Shares will be legally issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable.

     This  opinion is limited to the  general  corporation  laws of the State of
Delaware and the laws of the United  States of America and we express no opinion
herein as to the effect of any other laws.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the caption "Legal
Matters"  contained  therein and elsewhere in the Registration  Statement.  This
consent is not to be construed as an admission that we are a party whose consent
is required to be filed with the Registration  Statement under the provisions of
the Securities Act.

                                   Very truly yours,


                                   /s/ ARNALL GOLDEN & GREGORY, LLP
                                        ARNALL GOLDEN & GREGORY, LLP