Sysco history

Cotros, who had been the firm's president, had joined SYSCO in 1974.

In 1976 SYSCO acquired Mid-Central Fish and Frozen Foods Inc., expanding the company's distribution capabilities around the nation.

"Great Distributor Organization Study: SYSCO Corporation," Institutional Distribution, June 1980.

1981: SYSCO becomes the largest United States foodservice distribution company.

Geelhoed, E. Bruce, The Thrill of Success: The Story of SYSCO/Frost-Pack Food Services, Incorporated, Muncie, Ind.: Bureau of Business Research, College of Business and Department of History, Ball State University, 1983.

In 1984 the Sysco Corporation continued its policy of acquiring its competitors when it purchased three operations of PYA Monarch, then a division of Sara Lee.

In 1985, Major-Hoskings acquired and integrated a fresh produce business into the foodservice operation.

Sysco Corporation acquired Major-Hoskings in 1987, and a new name was adopted, Major-Sysco.

SYSCO's largest acquisition to date occurred in 1988, when the company paid $750 million for CFS Continental, at that time the third largest food distributor in the country, which added 4,500 employees and increased the number of markets SYSCO served to 148 out of the top 150 markets.

Civin, Robert, “Sysco: Distribution’s $7-Billion Entrepreneur,” Institutional Distribution, April 1990.

In 1991 SYSCO created a subsidiary called The SYGMA Network, Inc. to consolidate its chain restaurant distribution systems and improve its service to chain restaurants.

Beginning in 1995, however, SYSCO added a "fold-out" expansion strategy as an additional method of growth.

In 1996 Sysco was the third largest company in Houston.

By 1997 SYGMA consisted of 11 distribution centers serving customers in 37 states, and posted sales of $1.3 billion.

Hassell, Greg, "The Sage of Sysco: Retired Founder Still at Work," Houston Chronicle, July 10, 1998.

In 1999 Sysco acquired Newport Meat Company, which generated a yearly revenue of $100 million supplying meat to over 1,000 restaurants.

One of Cotros's first tasks was shepherding thr ough one of the company's largest deals, the 2000 purchase of FreshPo int Holdings, one of the biggest distributors of wholesale produce in the United States.

Early in 2001 SYSCO acquired a group of specialty meat supply operati ons in Texas, doing business under the names Freedman Food Service an d Texas Meat Purveyors, that specialized in supplying fresh meat to u pscale restaurants.

In May 2002 the company opened its first niche fold-out: a Buckhead Beef branch that began providing fresh-cut meat to the Ne w York metropolitan area.

International Food reported 2003 revenues of $77.8 million.

SYSCO managed to achieve gains in both sal es and earnings for the 29th straight year in fiscal 2005, but the ga ins were very small, 6 percent for earnings, which totaled $961.5 million, and just 3.2 percent for revenues, which nevertheless passe d the $30 billion mark for the first time.

In 2009, Sysco acquired Pallas Foods, the largest food distributor in Ireland.

Continuing the expansion of their Irish offerings, in 2012, Sysco purchased Crossgar Foodservice for an undisclosed amount.

On December 9, 2013, Sysco announced they would acquire US Foods for a total of $3.5 billion.

On June 29, 2015, Sysco terminated its merger with US Foods.