Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sysco reported sales growth of 3.2% on a reported basis and 3.8% excluding the divestiture of Mexico, with gross profit growing by 3.9% and adjusted EPS increasing by 5.5% [6][19][21] - The company achieved gross margin expansion of 13 basis points year over year, reflecting structural improvements [21][28] - Operating cash flow increased by 62% year over year to approximately $86 million, while free cash flow was negative $50 million due to typical seasonality [29][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sysco's U.S. Broadline local business experienced a positive inflection with volume growth of 0.4%, significantly outpacing the overall industry traffic improvement [7][24] - The international segment delivered sales growth of 4.5% on a reported basis and 7.9% excluding the divestiture of Mexico, with local case volume growth of approximately 5% [9][10] - Sigma segment reported 4% sales growth and 39% operating income growth, although more moderate results are expected for the remainder of the year [26][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. food service volume reporting included a negative impact from an intentional business exit within the FreshPoint business, which negatively affected total local performance by over 50 basis points [9][24] - Restaurant traffic improved by 60 basis points in Q1, with Sysco's local volume improvement being more than double the overall industry rate [8][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Sysco aims to deliver profitable growth across U.S. Food Service, international, and Sigma segments, focusing on local business momentum and strategic sourcing [4][19] - The company is leveraging technology initiatives like AI 360 and customer loyalty programs such as Perks 2.0 to enhance sales productivity and customer retention [14][16] - Sysco's strategy includes expanding its specialty capabilities through acquisitions, such as Fairfax Meadow, to unlock incremental growth [22][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering full-year financial guidance despite a challenging macro backdrop, citing strong operational momentum and improved retention rates [4][20][22] - The company anticipates continued sequential improvement in local business volume, projecting at least an additional 100 basis points improvement in Q2 versus Q1 [8][32] - Sysco's diversified business model and strong international segment performance are expected to provide resilience and growth opportunities [37] Other Important Information - Sysco's investment-grade balance sheet remains robust, with total liquidity of $3.5 billion and a net debt leverage ratio of 2.9 times [29][30] - The company plans to return approximately $1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in FY26 [32][33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Local Salesforce productivity metrics and correlation to case growth - Management highlighted a 130 basis points improvement in local volume, with retention of sales colleagues exceeding targets, contributing to positive momentum [41][42] Question: Guidance for the back half of the year - Management expressed confidence in guidance, citing strong momentum and operational improvements, with expectations for continued growth in national sales [47][48] Question: Case volumes and customer type performance - Management noted that every month in Q1 showed improvement, with strong retention in national sales and growth in non-commercial segments [55][56] Question: Food cost and inflation trends - Management clarified that while inflation was higher in Q1, it is expected to normalize around 2% for the full year, with ongoing improvements in gross profit margins [72][74] Question: Drivers of industry weakness - Management acknowledged that while the overall restaurant industry showed weakness, Sysco's performance improved due to internal initiatives and workforce stability [79]