<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.5


[LEGEND FOR INCLUSION IN GLOBAL SECURITY -- THIS [NOTE/DEBENTURE] IS A GLOBAL
SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS
[NOTE/DEBENTURE] IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR [NOTES/DEBENTURES] REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND, UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED
IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR [NOTES/DEBENTURES] IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS
[NOTE/DEBENTURE] MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.]

[LEGEND FOR INCLUSION IN GLOBAL SECURITY -- UNLESS THIS [NOTE/DEBENTURE] IS
PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW
YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY [NOTE/DEBENTURE] ISSUED
IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO
SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON
IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST
HEREIN.]

C____________
No.:
CUSIP No.:      [FOR INCLUSION IN CERTIFICATED SECURITIES--Principal Amount: $!]


                         PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY

                           !% [Notes/Debentures] due !

         Performance Food Group Company, a Tennessee corporation (hereinafter
called the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the
Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to !,
or registered assigns, the principal sum of [FOR INCLUSION IN GLOBAL
SECURITIES -- indicated on Schedule A hereto] [FOR INCLUSION IN CERTIFICATED
SECURITIES -- ! DOLLARS ($!)] on !, and to pay interest thereon from !, ! or
from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
semiannually in arrears on ! and ! of each year (each, an "Interest Payment
Date"), commencing !, !, and at Maturity, at the rate of !% per annum, until the
principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment. Interest on this
[Note/Debenture] shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day months. The interest so payable and punctually paid or duly
provided for on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture,
be paid to the Person in whose name this [Note/Debenture] (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest, which shall be the ! or ! (whether or not a
Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Any such interest which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided
for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the
registered Person who was the Holder hereof on the relevant Regular Record Date
by virtue of having been such Holder, and may be paid to the Person in whose
name this [Note/Debenture] (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered
at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to
the Holder of this [Note/Debenture] not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
[Notes/Debentures] may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by
such exchange, all as more fully provided in such Indenture.


<PAGE>   2

         Payment of the principal of and [premium, if any, and] the interest on
this [Note/Debenture] will be made at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York
and !, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided,
however, that, at the option of the Company, interest may be paid by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the
payee with a bank located in the United States.

         This [Note/Debenture] is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities
of the Company (herein called the ["Notes/Debentures"]) issued and to be issued
in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of ! (herein called, together
with all indentures supplemental thereto, the "Indenture") between the Company
and !, as trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any
successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective
rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company,
the Trustee and the Holders of the [Notes/Debentures], and the terms upon which
the [Notes/Debentures] are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This
[Note/Debenture] is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited
(subject to exceptions provided in the Indenture and subject to the right of the
Company to reopen such series for issuances of additional Securities of such
series on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the Indenture) in
aggregate principal amount to $!,000,000.

         [INCLUDE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES -- Subject to Section ! of the
Indenture, the payment of the indebtedness evidenced by this [Note/Debenture]
is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture, expressly
subordinated to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. This [Note/Debenture] is
issued subject to such provisions of the Indenture, and each Holder of this
[Note/Debenture], by accepting the same, agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions and authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf, as between the
Holders of the [Notes/Debentures] and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, to
take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate such
subordination as provided in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee his
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.]

         [INCLUDE IF SECURITIES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION PRIOR TO
MATURITY -- The [Notes/Debentures] are not subject to redemption prior to the
Stated Maturity of the principal thereof.]

         [INCLUDE IF SECURITIES ARE REDEEMABLE PRIOR TO MATURITY OR ADD OTHER
APPROPRIATE REDEMPTION provisions -- The [Notes/Debentures] shall not be subject
to redemption prior to !. The Company shall have the right to redeem the
[Notes/Debentures], in whole or in part from time to time, on or after !, upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the following prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount of the [Notes/Debentures] to
be redeemed) together (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture) with
accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, if redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning ! of the years set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Redemption
   Year                                                          Price
   ----                                                          -----
<S>                                                           <C>
    !      .....................................................   !%
    !      .....................................................   !
    !      .....................................................   !
    !      .....................................................   !
    !      .....................................................   !
</TABLE>

and 100% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed on or after ! [CONFORM THE
FOLLOWING TO THE INDENTURE AS APPROPRIATE --; provided, however, that
installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to a Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of the [Notes/Debentures] (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) registered as such at the close of business on the
relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of the
Indenture.]




                                       2
<PAGE>   3

         If an Event of Default with respect to the [Notes/Debentures] shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the
[Notes/Debentures] may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the
effect provided in the Indenture.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series issued
under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent
of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities at the time Outstanding of each series affected thereby. The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified
percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the
time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to
waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and
certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this [Note/Debenture] shall be conclusive and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this [Note/Debenture]
and of any [Notes/Debentures] issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or
in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent
or waiver is made upon this [Note/Debenture].

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
[Note/Debenture] or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and
[premium, if any, and] interest on this [Note/Debenture], at the time, place and
rate, and in the coin or currency, herein and in the Indenture prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set
forth therein, the transfer of this [Note/Debenture] may be registered on the
Security Register upon surrender of this [Note/Debenture] for registration of
transfer at the Office or Agency of the Company maintained for the purpose in
any place where the principal of and interest on this [Note/Debenture] are
payable, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the
Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one
or more new [Notes/Debentures], of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

         The [Notes/Debentures] are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in the denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein,
the [Notes/Debentures] are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of
[Notes/Debentures] of authorized denominations as requested by the Holders
surrendering the same.

         No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, other than
in certain cases provided in the Indenture.

         Prior to due presentment of this [Note/Debenture] for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Person in whose name this [Note/Debenture] is registered as the
owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this [Note/Debenture] shall be
overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

         The Indenture contains provisions whereby (i) the Company may be
discharged from its obligations with respect to the [Notes/Debentures] (subject
to certain exceptions) or (ii) the Company may be released from its obligations
under specified covenants and agreements in the Indenture, in each case if the
Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee money or Government Obligations
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all
[Notes/Debentures], and satisfies certain other conditions, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture. In addition, the Indenture shall cease to be of
further effect (subject to certain exceptions) with respect to the
[Notes/Debentures] when (1) either (A) all [Notes/Debentures] previously
authenticated and delivered have been delivered (subject to certain exceptions)
to the Trustee for cancellation, or (B) all [Notes/Debentures] (i) have become
due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
within one year or [(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year] and,
in the case of (i), (ii) [or (iii)] above, the Company has irrevocably deposited
with the Trustee money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire
indebtedness on all such




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<PAGE>   4

[Notes/Debentures] not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
and (2) the Company satisfies certain other conditions, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture.

         This [Note/Debenture] shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used in this [Note/Debenture] which are defined in the
Indenture [and not defined herein] shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture.

         Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or
on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of
its authorized signatories, this [Note/Debenture] shall not be entitled to any
benefits under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


















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<PAGE>   5

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.


Dated:  !




[Seal]                                  !




Attest:                                 By:
        ---------------------------         ------------------------------------
        Name:                               Name:
        Title:                              Title:

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities
of the series designated
therein referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.


!, as Trustee




By:
    --------------------------------
          Authorized Signatory









                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                                  ABBREVIATIONS

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>                   <C>
TEN COM--as tenants in common               UNIF GIFT MIN ACT --               Custodian
                                                                  --------------         -----------------
TEN ENT--as tenants by the entireties                                 (Cust)                   (Minor)
JT TEN--as joint tenants with right of survivorship               Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
and not as tenants in common
                                                                  ------------------------------------
                                                                                     (State)
</TABLE>

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

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


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned registered holder hereby sell(s), assign(s)
and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

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


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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE



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the within security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting
and appointing

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Attorney
to transfer said security on the books of the Company with full power
of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                              Signed:
      ---------------------                 ------------------------------------

               Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the
        name as it appears upon the face of the within security in every
        particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.





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<PAGE>   7

                      [FOR INCLUSION IN GLOBAL SECURITIES]


                                   SCHEDULE A

      The initial principal amount of this Global Security is ! Dollars ($!).
The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Global
Security have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================================================
                         Amount of increase      Amount of decrease     Principal amount of     Signature of
                         in principal amount     in principal amount    this Global Security    authorized
                         of this Global          of this Global         following such          signatory
Date made                Security                Security               decrease or increase    of Trustee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>                     <C>                    <C>                     <C>

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</TABLE>








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