Reputable outlets only (Reuters, WSJ, CNBC, Barron's, and peers). More on Google News ↗
What Changed
Risk factors · Aug 28, 2024 → Aug 22, 2025
20 added · 13 removed between the two most recent 10-Ks. The risks a company starts — or stops — disclosing are often the story.
Newly disclosed
For example, in March 2023, Sysco became aware of a cybersecurity event perpetrated by a threat actor believed to have begun earlier that year.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued executive orders that the OECD Global Tax Deal has no force and effect in the U.S., and to investigate foreign countries’ compliance with tax treaties and to prepare a list of options for protective measures the U.S. should adopt in response.
In the UK and Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR) places stringent requirements on companies when handling personal data and local regulatory guidance continues to evolve.
As a result, hostile takeover attempts that might result in an acquisition of Sysco, which could otherwise have been financially beneficial to our stockholders, could be deterred.
Our analysis is ongoing as the OECD continues to release additional guidance, countries enact legislation, and the potential U.S. response.
- Business and Operational Risks - We may incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations, and we may be subject to substantial fines, penalties, or third-party claims for non-compliance.” Given the regulated nature of some of our operations, we routinely incur compliance-related costs, both direct and indirect.
In addition, recent U.S. tariffs imposed or threatened to be imposed on other countries, any retaliatory actions taken by such countries and general political uncertainty surrounding trade relations and policies could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition as well as consumer confidence and spending.
We also risk damage to our reputation if we fail to act responsibly in a number of other areas such as worker safety and welfare, human capital management, inclusion, environmental stewardship, support for local communities, and corporate governance and transparency.
We expect to fund the repayment of this debt using a combination of cash flows from operations and the proceeds from issuances of commercial paper and long-term debt, however there can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance this indebtedness on terms that are favorable to the company, or at all, due to market conditions, our operating performance, investor sentiment, and risks impacting financial institutions and the credit markets more broadly.
We cannot predict with certainty the extent to which our operations may be impacted in the future by the effects of public health crises, pandemics, or epidemics on us or on our business partners, suppliers and customers.
To the extent additional legislative changes take place in the countries in which we operate, it is possible that these changes may yield an adverse impact on our effective tax rate, financial results. and cash flows.
General We have numerous trademarks that are of significant importance, including the SYSCO® and Brakes® trademarks, in addition to our privately branded product trademarks that include these trademarks.
No longer disclosed
For example, as disclosed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our third quarter of fiscal 2023, in March 2023, Sysco became aware of a cybersecurity event perpetrated by a threat actor believed to have begun in January 2023.
For example, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic adversely impacted our business, results of operations and financial condition directly and disrupted the operations of our business partners, suppliers and customers.
There continues to be a growing trend of other countries adopting similar laws. 17 Additionally, there continues to be significant uncertainty with respect to the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the CCPA), which went into effect on January 1, 2020, and imposes additional obligations on companies regarding the handling of personal information and provides certain individual privacy rights to persons whose information is collected.
See the discussion under “Human Capital Resources” in Item 1, “Business” for additional information regarding our talent acquisition and talent management efforts in the context of these labor shortages.
In addition, we could incur substantial investigation, remediation or other costs related to environmental conditions at our currently or formerly owned or operated properties.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic generally negatively affected multi-unit customers less than locally managed customers.
In the UK and Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR), which came into effect in 2018, places stringent requirements on companies when handling personal data.
- Business and Operational Risks - We may incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations, and we may be subject to substantial fines, penalties, or third-party claims for non-compliance.” General We have numerous trademarks that are of significant importance, including the SYSCO® and Brakes® trademarks, in addition to our privately branded product trademarks that include these trademarks.
While our operations have generally stabilized since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot predict with certainty the extent to which our operations may be impacted in the future by any similar effects of a more severe variant of COVID-19 or other public health crises, pandemics, or epidemics on us or on our business partners, suppliers and customers.
The loss of one or more of our major customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 12 Our anticipated change to the mix of locally managed customers versus multi-unit customers could reduce our gross and operating margins.
The future outbreak of a public health crisis, pandemic, or epidemic could cause some governmental authorities to reintroduce similar restrictions in the future, which could adversely affect demand in the foodservice industry.
For Sysco, Pillar Two will be effective at the beginning of fiscal 2025.