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): April 27, 2004

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

                           Commission File No. 1-9973


          Delaware                                       36-3352497
(State or Other Jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 Incorporation or Organization)

        1400 Toastmaster Drive, Elgin, Illinois                60120
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)             (Zip Code)


       Registrant's Telephone No., including Area Code    (847) 741-3300


================================================================================


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits


      (c)  Exhibits.


           99.1 Press release dated April 27, 2004 of The Middleby Corporation.



                                       -1-

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure On April 27, 2004, The Middleby Corporation issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended April 3, 2004. A copy of that press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. The information in this Form 8-K is being furnished pursuant to "Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition" of Form 8-K in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583 (March 27, 2003). Such information, including any exhibits, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. ================================================================================ 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. THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION --------------------------------- (Registrant) Date: April 27, 2004 By: /s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald ---------------------------- Timothy J. FitzGerald Vice President, Chief Financial Officer -2-

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

         The Middleby Corporation Reports Record First Quarter Results

     ELGIN,  Ill.--(BUSINESS  WIRE)--April  27, 2004--The  Middleby  Corporation
(NASDAQ:  MIDD), a leading worldwide  manufacturer of restaurant and foodservice
cooking  equipment,  today  reported  record results for the first quarter ended
April 3, 2004.  Net earnings were  $5,591,000 or $0.56 per share on net sales of
$60,732,000  for the first  quarter of 2004 as  compared to the prior year first
quarter  net  earnings  of  $2,609,000  or  $0.28  per  share  on net  sales  of
$54,767,000.

     Financial Highlights

     --   Net sales up 10.9% in the first quarter,  reflecting  favorable impact
          of new  product  introductions  and  general  improvement  in industry
          conditions

     --   Gross margin rate of 38.2% for the quarter as compared to 34.8% in the
          prior year first quarter and 36.5% for the 2003 full year

     --   Operating  income margins of 16.6% for the first quarter improved from
          11.7% in the prior year first quarter and 14.9% for the 2003 full year

     --   Total debt reduced to $53,650,000  for the quarter ended April 3, 2004
          from $56,500,000 at the end of 2003

     "We are pleased with the strong start for 2004," said  President  and Chief
Executive  Officer Selim A.  Bassoul.  "Sales  growth  accelerated  in the first
quarter  building  upon the momentum  from 2003.  The sales in the first quarter
reflect the impact of new product  introductions and the continued  expansion of
business in international markets.  Industry conditions also have improved which
has  benefited  the  overall  growth rate and  resulted  in a very strong  first
quarter." Mr. Bassoul continued, "Late in the first quarter we introduced a full
line of steam equipment under the Blodgett(R)  brand. Steam cooking equipment is
a new segment of the market for Middleby and a growing part of the industry.  We
are excited about the long term  prospects for this new product line, as well as
the  pipeline  of  other  patented  and  innovative  products  that  we  have in
development focused on speed of cooking and energy savings."
     William F. Whitman, Jr., Chairman of the Board, added, "We are pleased with
the margin improvements reported in the first quarter. This improvement not only
reflects  the  leverage  benefits  of the  increase in sales  volumes,  but also
continued  improvements in manufacturing  efficiencies."  Mr. Whitman continued,
"We were also able to reduce  debt  during the  quarter,  while at the same time
fund our working  capital  needs,  which  typically  peak in the second  quarter
driven by seasonal factors."

     Conference Call

     A conference call will be held at 10:30 Eastern time on Wednesday, April 28
and can be accessed by dialing 1(800) 374-0538 and providing  password  7110600.
Members of the financial  community who  participate  in the question and answer
session will receive a separate call-in number. A webcast of the conference call
can be accessed through investor services at www.middleby.com.  A digital replay
of the call will be available  approximately  one half hour after its completion
and can be accessed by calling 1(800) 642-1687 and providing password 7110600. A
transcript of the call will also be posted on the company website.

     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 global leader in the  foodservice  equipment
industry. The company develops, manufactures,  markets and services a broad line
of  equipment   used  for  cooking  and  food   preparation  in  commercial  and
institutional  kitchens and  restaurants  throughout  the world.  The  company's
leading  equipment  brands  include  Blodgett(R),  Blodgett  Combi(R),  Blodgett
Range(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.  Middleby's international manufacturing subsidiary, Middleby
Philippines  Corporation,  is a leading  supplier of specialty  equipment in the
Asian markets.


                       THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
           (Amounts in 000's, Except Per Share Information)
                              (Unaudited)

                                              Three Months Ended

                                         Apr. 3, 2004   Mar. 29, 2003
                                       -------------------------------
Net sales                                      $60,732        $54,767
Cost of sales                                   37,556         35,715
                                       -------------------------------

    Gross profit                                23,176         19,052

Selling & distribution expense                   7,376          7,162
General & administrative expense                 5,696          5,483
                                       -------------------------------

    Income from operations                      10,104          6,407

Interest expense and deferred
    financing amortization, net                    897          1,714
Loss (gain) on acquisition financing
    derivatives                                     (2)           (69)
Other expense (income), net                        194            135
                                       -------------------------------

    Earnings before income taxes                 9,015          4,627

Provision for income taxes                       3,424          2,018
                                       -------------------------------

    Net earnings                                $5,591         $2,609
                                       ===============================


Net earnings per share:

    Basic                                        $0.61          $0.29
                                       ===============================

    Diluted                                      $0.56          $0.28
                                       ===============================

Weighted average number shares:

    Basic                                        9,219          9,028
                                       ===============================

    Diluted                                      9,968          9,304
                                       ===============================


                       THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (Amounts in 000's)
                              (Unaudited)

                                          Apr. 3, 2004    Jan. 3, 2004
                                          ------------    ------------
 ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                      $3,073          $3,652
Accounts receivable, net                       25,446          23,318
Inventories, net                               28,904          25,382
Deferred tax assets                            12,907          12,839
Other current assets                            1,220           1,776
                                        --------------   -------------
    Total current assets                       71,550          66,967

Property, plant and equipment, net             24,132          24,921

Goodwill                                       74,761          74,761
Other intangibles                              26,300          26,300
Other assets                                    1,430           1,671
                                        --------------   -------------

    Total assets                             $198,173        $194,620
                                        ==============   =============


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current maturities of long-term debt          $15,975         $14,500
Accounts payable                               15,455          11,901
Accrued expenses                               34,899          37,076
                                        --------------   -------------
    Total current liabilities                  66,329          63,477

Long-term debt                                 37,675          42,000
Long-term deferred tax liability                8,264           8,264
Other non-current liabilities                  18,042          18,789

Shareholders' equity                           67,863          62,090
                                        --------------   -------------

    Total liabilities and shareholders'
        equity                               $198,173        $194,620
                                        ==============   =============


    CONTACT: The Middleby Corporation
             Darcy Bretz (Investor and PR), 847-429-7756
             or
             David Baker, 847-429-7915
             or
             Timothy FitzGerald, 847-429-7744
             www.middleby.com