8-K

                                UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                _______________

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 9, 2004


                         THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 Delaware                             1-14893               13-4038356
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission           (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                   File Number)          Identification No.)

                         One Pepsi Way, Somers, NY 10589
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (914) 767-6000

                                      N/A
                                    -------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously satisfy the filing  obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[]   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[]   Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12  under the  Exchange  Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[]   Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[]   Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


                       Section 2 - Financial Information

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On September 9, 2004, The Pepsi  Bottling  Group,  Inc.  affirmed its third
quarter 2004  earnings  guidance,  as described in the press  release  furnished
hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

                  Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)  Not Applicable.

(b)  Not Applicable.

(c)  Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated September 9, 2004 which is being furnished
     hereto pursuant to Item 2.02.




                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP, INC.
                                            (Registrant)
Date: September 9, 2004                 /s/ Steven M. Rapp
      -----------------                     --------------
                                            (Signature)
                                       Steven M. Rapp, Vice President,
                                       Senior Deputy General Counsel and
                                       Assistant Secretary

EX-99

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1




Contact:          Kelly McAndrew                              Mary Winn Settino
                  Public Relations                            Investor Relations
                  (914) 767-7690                              (914) 767-7216



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                           ---------------------


                        THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP AFFIRMS
                      THIRD QUARTER 2004 EARNINGS GUIDANCE

     SOMERS,  N.Y.,  September 9, 2004 - The Pepsi Bottling  Group,  Inc. (NYSE:
PBG) today affirmed its earnings guidance for the third quarter 2004 of $0.67 to
$0.71 per share and full year 2004 of $1.68 to $1.74 per share.
     During the third quarter, which ended September 4, 2004, worldwide physical
case volume grew two percent on a constant territory basis. Physical case volume
grew one percent in the U.S.  and five  percent in Europe.  In Mexico,  physical
case volume grew three percent driven by a three percent  increase in carbonated
soft drinks,  18 percent increase in bottled water and two percent growth in jug
water.
     In the U.S.,  net revenue per case is  forecasted  to increase two to three
percent, consistent with the Company's previous guidance.
     PBG Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer John T. Cahill said,  "Despite a
soft retail environment in the U.S. during the third quarter, we were pleased to
achieve volume growth,  while at the same time generating another quarter of net
revenue per case improvement."
     PBG plans to  release  its  complete  third  quarter  results  on  Tuesday,
September 28, 2004.
     The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer,  seller
and  distributor of Pepsi-Cola  beverages with  operations in the U.S.,  Canada,
Greece,  Mexico,  Russia, Spain and Turkey. To receive press releases by e-mail,
please visit http://www.pbg.com.



                                      # # #


Statements  made in this press  release  that  relate to future  performance  or
financial  results of the Company are  forward-looking  statements which involve
uncertainties  that could  cause  actual  performance  or results to  materially
differ. PBG undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements.  Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these  forward-looking  statements,
which  speak  only  as to the  date  hereof.  Accordingly,  any  forward-looking
statement  should be read in conjunction with the additional  information  about
risks and  uncertainties  set forth in PBG's Securities and Exchange  Commission
reports,  including its annual  report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
27, 2003.