<PAGE>   1

              As Filed With the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                 on May 9, 2001
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                TENNESSEE                                       54-0402940
     (State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)


      6800 PARAGON PLACE, SUITE 500                               23230
           RICHMOND, VIRGINIA                                   (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


        PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY 1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
               PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 ROGER L. BOEVE
                          6800 PARAGON PLACE, SUITE 500
                            RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23230
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (804) 285-7340
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Title of securities      Amount to be       Proposed maximum    Proposed maximum     Amount of
   to be registered        registered       offering price per  aggregate offering  registration
                                                  share                price             fee
=================================================================================================

<S>                    <C>                   <C>                <C>                 <C>
Common Stock (1)       57,024 shares              $23.57            $ 1,344,056          $   336
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock (2)       149,268 shares             $17.35            $ 2,589,800          $   647
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock (3)       2,693,708 shares           $27.14(4)         $73,109,235(4)       $18,277
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total                  2,900,000 shares                             $77,043,091          $19,261
=================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Represents shares reserved for issuance at $23.57 per share under the
         Company's 1993 Employee Stock Incentive Plan.
(2)      Represents shares reserved for issuance at $17.35 per share under the
         Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(3)      Represents 2,342,976 and 350,732 shares reserved for issuance pursuant
         to future grants under the Company's 1993 Employee Stock Incentive Plan
         and Employee Stock Purchase Plan, respectively.
(4)      Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the
         registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of
         1933, as amended.


<PAGE>   2
                      REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

         This Registration Statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction E
of Form S-8 for the purpose of registering additional shares of common stock,
$.01 par value, of Performance Food Group Company, a Tennessee corporation (the
"Registrant"), for the Registrant's 1993 Employee Stock Incentive Plan and
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, each as amended.

          INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF EARLIER REGISTRATION STATEMENTS

         The Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration Nos. 33-72400,
333-12223 and 333-78229) previously filed by the Registrant with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1993, September 18, 1996, and May 11,
1999, respectively, are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 8.  Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Exhibit Number                        Description
       --------------   ---------------------------------------------------------

<S>                     <C>
             5          Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

            23.1        Consent of KPMG LLP

            23.2        Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5)

             24         Power of Attorney (included on page II-3)
</TABLE>



                                      II-2
<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, on this 9th day
of May, 2001.


                                    PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY



                                    By: /s/ Robert C. Sledd
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Robert C. Sledd
                                        Chairman of the Board and
                                        Chief Executive Officer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert C. Sledd and Roger L. Boeve, and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                 Title                                      Date
---------                                 -----                                      ----

<S>                                       <C>                                        <C>
/s/ Robert C. Sledd                       Chairman of the Board,                     May 9, 2001
------------------------------------         Chief Executive Officer and
Robert C. Sledd                              Director (Principal Executive
                                             Officer)

/s/ C. Michael Gray                       President, Chief Operating Officer         May 9, 2001
------------------------------------         and Director
C. Michael Gray


/s/ Roger L. Boeve                        Executive Vice President and Chief         May 9, 2001
------------------------------------         Financial Officer (Principal
Roger L. Boeve                               Financial and Accounting Officer)


/s/ Charles E. Adair                      Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
Charles E. Adair
</TABLE>




                                      II-3
<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                 Title                                      Date
---------                                 -----                                      ----

<S>                                       <C>                                        <C>
/s/ Fred C. Goad, Jr.                     Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
Fred C. Goad, Jr.


/s/ Timothy M. Graven                     Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
Timothy M. Graven


/s/ H. Allen Ryan                         Director                                   May 9, 2001
---------------------------
H. Allen Ryan


/s/ John E. Stokely                       Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
John E. Stokely
</TABLE>






                                      II-4
<PAGE>   5



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Exhibit Number                        Description
       --------------   ---------------------------------------------------------

<S>                     <C>
             5          Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

            23.1        Consent of KPMG LLP

            23.2        Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5)

             24         Power of Attorney (included on page II-3)
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "g69126s-8.txt", "description": "PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9726}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP CO", "cik": "0000908254", "assigned-sic": "5141", "irs-number": "540402940", "state-of-incorporation": "TN", "fiscal-year-end": "0101"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-60528", "film-number": "1627006"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6800 PARAGON PL", "street2": "STE 500", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23230", "phone": "8042857340"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6800 PARAGON PL", "street2": "STE 500", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23230"}}
1

              As Filed With the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                 on May 9, 2001
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                TENNESSEE                                       54-0402940
     (State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

      6800 PARAGON PLACE, SUITE 500                               23230
           RICHMOND, VIRGINIA                                   (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

        PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY 1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
               PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 ROGER L. BOEVE
                          6800 PARAGON PLACE, SUITE 500
                            RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23230
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (804) 285-7340
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Title of securities      Amount to be       Proposed maximum    Proposed maximum     Amount of
   to be registered        registered       offering price per  aggregate offering  registration
                                                  share                price             fee
=================================================================================================
Common Stock (1)       57,024 shares              $23.57            $ 1,344,056          $   336
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock (2)       149,268 shares             $17.35            $ 2,589,800          $   647
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock (3)       2,693,708 shares           $27.14(4)         $73,109,235(4)       $18,277
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total                  2,900,000 shares                             $77,043,091          $19,261
=================================================================================================
(1)      Represents shares reserved for issuance at $23.57 per share under the
         Company's 1993 Employee Stock Incentive Plan.
(2)      Represents shares reserved for issuance at $17.35 per share under the
         Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(3)      Represents 2,342,976 and 350,732 shares reserved for issuance pursuant
         to future grants under the Company's 1993 Employee Stock Incentive Plan
         and Employee Stock Purchase Plan, respectively.
(4)      Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the
         registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of
         1933, as amended.
2
                      REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

         This Registration Statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction E
of Form S-8 for the purpose of registering additional shares of common stock,
$.01 par value, of Performance Food Group Company, a Tennessee corporation (the
"Registrant"), for the Registrant's 1993 Employee Stock Incentive Plan and
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, each as amended.

          INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF EARLIER REGISTRATION STATEMENTS

         The Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration Nos. 33-72400,
333-12223 and 333-78229) previously filed by the Registrant with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1993, September 18, 1996, and May 11,
1999, respectively, are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 8.  Exhibits
Exhibit Number                        Description
       --------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
5          Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

            23.1        Consent of KPMG LLP

            23.2        Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5)

             24         Power of Attorney (included on page II-3)
II-2
3

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, on this 9th day
of May, 2001.

                                    PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY

                                    By: /s/ Robert C. Sledd
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Robert C. Sledd
                                        Chairman of the Board and
                                        Chief Executive Officer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert C. Sledd and Roger L. Boeve, and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                 Title                                      Date
---------                                 -----                                      ----
/s/ Robert C. Sledd                       Chairman of the Board,                     May 9, 2001
------------------------------------         Chief Executive Officer and
Robert C. Sledd                              Director (Principal Executive
                                             Officer)

/s/ C. Michael Gray                       President, Chief Operating Officer         May 9, 2001
------------------------------------         and Director
C. Michael Gray

/s/ Roger L. Boeve                        Executive Vice President and Chief         May 9, 2001
------------------------------------         Financial Officer (Principal
Roger L. Boeve                               Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Charles E. Adair                      Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
Charles E. Adair
II-3
4
Signature                                 Title                                      Date
---------                                 -----                                      ----
/s/ Fred C. Goad, Jr.                     Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
Fred C. Goad, Jr.

/s/ Timothy M. Graven                     Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
Timothy M. Graven

/s/ H. Allen Ryan                         Director                                   May 9, 2001
---------------------------
H. Allen Ryan

/s/ John E. Stokely                       Director                                   May 9, 2001
------------------------------------
John E. Stokely
II-4
5

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number                        Description
       --------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
5          Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

            23.1        Consent of KPMG LLP

            23.2        Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5)

             24         Power of Attorney (included on page II-3)