If this doesn’t make your blood boil, you might want to check your pulse.

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Revenue up ~50%. Profit up 468%. Diesel down since 2022. Why are food prices still climbing?

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By Sal Notaro, Editor

Sysco Foods—one of America’s largest food suppliers—reported $55.3 billion in revenue for 2024, up from $36.7 billion in 2020. That’s roughly a 50% jump in just five years.

Now look at profit: in 2020, Sysco’s gross profit was $1.9 billion. By 2025, it had soared to $10.8 billion—a 468% increase.

• Revenue: ~$36.7B (2020) → $55.3B (2024) — ~50% increase
• Gross profit: $1.9B (2020) → $10.8B (2025) — ~468% increase

And yet, the cost of food keeps rising. Meanwhile, diesel prices have fallen since their 2022 peak. Make it make sense.

Yeah… they’re not price-gouging. Sure.

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Call Sysco. Ask the obvious questions.

Sysco Headquarters is in Houston, Texas. Main line: 281-584-1390. According to the company, “you can reach the management team and the head office departments here.”

Ask for Kevin Hourican, CEO and Chairman of the Board.

What to ask:

1. Why are food prices still rising while diesel has dropped from 2022 highs?
2. How do you justify a ~50% increase in revenue alongside a 468% surge in profit since 2020?
3. Do your current margin targets rely on sustained price increases to restaurants and consumers?

Note: These figures come from Sysco’s own financial reports. We’ll keep calling out companies whose numbers don’t pass the smell test. You can do something about it. Make the call.

— Sal Notaro, Editor

Disclosure: SpokenFood uses publicly reported company financials for analysis. Readers are encouraged to verify numbers in the company’s annual and quarterly reports.