-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VejU5Nw74H0CXcgbRUmPcKDEyxYk+3WEGD/SJyWZex//z1RFD4qPuE6qzPacaAhz
 1HUnf/4bUEu8iSmm3qhraw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-022154.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-022154.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908102422
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-022154
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030425
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STARRETT PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219766

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25813
		FILM NUMBER:		03885219

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GUITAR CENTER INC
		STREET 2:		5795 LINDERO CANYON RD.
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91362

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>rrd17958.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-04-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915862</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PANTRY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ptry</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219766</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STARRETT PETER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1801 DOUGLAS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27330</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>72185</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-03-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionSh
ares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.5</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-03-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>72185</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">option vests and becomes exerciserble in three equal, annual installments beginning on 3/25/04.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Peter Starrett</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate></ownerSig
nature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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