Exhibit 99.1

The Middleby Corporation Announces Management Changes

    ELGIN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2003--The Middleby
Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) announced today the promotion of David B.
Baker from Chief Financial Officer to the newly created position of
Chief Administrative Officer, and the promotion of Timothy J.
FitzGerald from Controller to Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Baker will
continue to hold the offices of Vice President and Secretary, and Mr.
FitzGerald will continue to hold the office of Vice President.
    In order to fully support the growing importance and complexity of
corporate governance, the Board of Directors has created the position
of Chief Administrative Officer. Mr. Baker, as the new Chief
Administrative Officer, will lead the company's efforts in corporate
governance issues as well as other administrative and strategic
duties. Mr. FitzGerald, up to now the Controller of Middleby, will
become the Chief Financial Officer, the office previously held by Mr.
Baker. These management changes will help strengthen Middleby for
continued growth, profitability and a leadership role in its industry.

    Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to the
company regarding the company's business which are not historical fact
are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The company cautions investors that such statements are estimates of
future performance and are highly dependent upon a variety of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from such statements. Such factors include variability in financing
costs; quarterly variations in operating results; dependence on key
customers; international exposure; foreign exchange and political
risks affecting international sales; changing market conditions; the
impact of competitive products and pricing; the timely development and
market acceptance of the company's products; the availability and cost
of raw materials; and other risks detailed herein and from
time-to-time in the company's SEC filings.

    The Middleby Corporation is a leader in the design, manufacture,
marketing and service of a broad line of equipment used for cooking
and preparation of food in commercial and institutional kitchens and
restaurants throughout the world. The company's leading equipment
brands include Blodgett(R), Blodgett Combi(R), CTX(R), MagiKitch'n(R),
Middleby Marshall(R), Pitco Frialator(R), Southbend(R), and
Toastmaster(R). Middleby's international subsidiary, Middleby
Worldwide, is a leading exporter and distributor of foodservice
equipment in the global marketplace and its international
manufacturing subsidiary, Middleby Philippines Corporation, is a
leading supplier of specialty equipment in the Asian markets.
    For further information about Middleby, visit the company's World
Wide Web site, http://www.middleby.com.

    CONTACT: The Middleby Corporation
             Chief Executive Officer
             Selim A. Bassoul, 847/429-7788
             or
             Chief Administrative Officer
             David B. Baker, 847/429-7915
             or
             Chief Financial Officer
             Timothy J. FitzGerald, 847/429-7744