8-K

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): March 13, 2003

THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Commission File No. 1-9973

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)

1400 Toastmaster Drive, Elgin, Illinois
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


Registrant's Telephone No., including Area Code 36-3352497
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


60120
(Zip Code)


(847) 741-3300

Item 5. Other Events

On March 13, 2003, The Middleby Corporation (“the company”) issued a press release announcing the company’s participation in an institutional investor conference to be held in Dana Point, California on March 18, 2003.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Press release dated March 13, 2003 of The Middleby Corporation.

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

Date March 14, 2003 THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
(Registrant)


By:/s/ David B. Baker
     ——————————————
          David B. Baker
          Vice President,
          Chief Financial Officer
          and Secretary

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

[LETTERHEAD OF THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION]

THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION SCHEDULES

PRESENTATION TO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS

Elgin, IL, March 13, 2003 – The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD), a global supplier of equipment to the foodservice industry, today announced that company management will make a presentation to institutional investors at the 15^th Annual Roth Capital Partners Growth Stock Conference in Dana Point, CA on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 at 10:00 AM Pacific time.

Investors may access an Internet webcast of the presentation at:

   http://www.twst.com/econf/mm/roth2/midd.html

The webcast will also be available at www.middleby.com.

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^®, Blodgett Combi^®, CTX^®, MagiKitch’n^®, Middleby Marshall^®, Pitco Frialator^®, Southbend^®, and Toastmaster^®. 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: Selim A. Bassoul, Chief Executive Officer – 847- 429-7788
David B. Baker, Chief Financial Officer – 847- 429-7915
Timothy J. FitzGerald, Corporate Controller –847-429-7744