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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,
 TEMEpY6MzZB9Be8jRrt2twQ8n7K/pr3LTljsMY4xZEqVMKb0rgRWjE2yT0GBccgI
 8+vPBYpA3w0L4VMb2aOQhw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000915862-08-000040.txt : 20080328
<SEC-HEADER>0000915862-08-000040.hdr.sgml : 20080328
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080328141044
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000915862-08-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080327
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080328
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Richter Maria C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001372398

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25813
		FILM NUMBER:		08718423

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124273858

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1185 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10128

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PANTRY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915862
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				561574463
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 DOUGLAS DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1410
		CITY:			SANFORD
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27330
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9197746700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 DOUGLAS DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1410
		CITY:			SANFORD
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27330
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mdr032708_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915862</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PANTRY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTRY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001372398</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Richter Maria C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1185 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10128</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-03-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option vests and becomes exercisable in three equal, annual installments beginning March 27, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Maria C. Richter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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