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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VGTqvaGV8r7Dw2fyKYRIxr9nfMSMPQlurUJM8bpfD3V5/VwN5rv5SaASWwI3jkS4
 pcY64H/vSr+cTcwDP6nNIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-012314.txt : 20030717
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-012314.hdr.sgml : 20030717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030717172236
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-012314
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030717

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MENNEL DONALD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001220221

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20557
		FILM NUMBER:		03791811

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 119
		CITY:			MAUMEE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43537
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4198437357

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANDERSONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000821026
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-FARM PRODUCT RAW MATERIALS [5150]
		IRS NUMBER:				341562374
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		480 W DUSSEL DR
		CITY:			MAUMEE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43537
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4198935050

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		480 W DUSSEL DR
		CITY:			MAUMEE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43537

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ANDERSONS MANAGEMENT CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931119
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000821026</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANDERSONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ANDE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MENNEL DONALD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>11.5625</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7173</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecuri
ty><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.5625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>11.5625</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFo
llowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Table II - Derivatives Owned
Stock Option, conv/ex price $8.625, exp date 01/01/2006, common stock 1,620 D
Stock Option, conv/ex price $8.25, exp. date 01/01/2005, common stock 1,650 D
Stock Option, conv/ex price $10.00, exp. date 01/01/2007, common stock 1,380 D
Stock Option, conv/ex price $12.70, exp. date 01/01/2008, common stock 2,100 D</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Donald L. Mennel by Gary Smith, Limited Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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