HOUSTON, May 18, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- SYSCO Corporation (NYSE:SYY) today announced it posted a third record sales week in its fourth fiscal quarter. The new record amount, $695.9 million, occurred during the week leading up to Mother's Day that ended May 13.
"SYSCO began reporting record sales weeks in fiscal 1979," said Richard J. Schnieders, SYSCO's chairman, chief executive officer and president, "and on every Mother's Day since then, or for 28 consecutive years, we have set a new record sales amount during the week leading up to Mother's Day. I can think of no better way to thank and honor these mothers and other special women in our lives than to have treated them to a wonderful meal at their favorite restaurant, surrounded by the many loved ones in their lives. We consider ourselves fortunate to have been a small part of their special day."
Mr. Schnieders added that, through the first six weeks of the fourth quarter, SYSCO has posted three record sales weeks. He also stated that, for the same period, sales have increased 7.6 percent compared to the same period last year and food cost deflation, as measured by the price of SYSCO's cost of goods, was -0.2 percent.
"This is the first time since fiscal 2003 that SYSCO has posted back-to-back record sales weeks," Mr. Schnieders added, "and it is the first time since fiscal 2004 that we had three record weeks in the same quarter. This performance is a testament to the strength of our industry, the soundness of our business strategies and the skills of our valued associates who execute those strategies."
SYSCO is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. For calendar year 2005 the company generated $31.4 billion in sales. For more information about SYSCO visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.
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