UNITED STATES
                       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): May 2, 2005

                            THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

        Delaware                       1-9973                 36-3352497
- -----------------------------  ----------------------     ------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                    Identification No.)

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

                                 (847) 741-3300
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
           ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On May 2, 2005, The Middleby Corporation issued a press release announcing its
financial results for the quarter ended April 2, 2005. A copy of that press
release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits

Exhibit No.        Description
- ------------       -----------
Exhibit 99.1       Press Release issued by The Middleby
                   Corporation dated May 2, 2005
                   (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02)




                                    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:  May 2, 2005

                                      By:  /s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald
                                             ----------------------------
                                             Timothy J. FitzGerald
                                             Vice President,
                                             Chief Financial Officer








                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.      Description
- ------------     -----------
Exhibit 99.1     Press Release issued by The Middleby
                 Corporation dated May 2, 2005
                 (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02)

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
          The Middleby Corporation Reports Record First Quarter Results


    ELGIN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2005--The Middleby
Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD), a leading worldwide manufacturer of
restaurant and foodservice cooking equipment, today reported record
sales and earnings for the first quarter ended April 2, 2005. Net
earnings for the first quarter were $6,348,000 or $0.79 per share on
net sales of $74,889,000 as compared to the prior year first quarter
net earnings of $5,591,000 or $0.56 per share on net sales of
$62,463,000.

    Financial Highlights

    --  Net sales rose 19.9% in the first quarter, reflecting the
        impact of price increases, continued success of new product
        introductions and growth in business with restaurant chain
        customers. Additionally, the increase in net sales reflects
        the impact of the Nu-Vu Foodservice Systems acquisition.
        Excluding the impact of the acquisition, net sales would have
        increased 14.6%.

    --  Gross margin decreased to 36.1% for the first quarter as
        compared to 37.1% in the prior year period. The benefit of
        increased sales volumes was offset by higher steel prices and
        other material costs. The margin rate also was affected by
        lower margins on sales of the Nu-Vu Foodservice Systems
        product lines.

    --  Operating income increased 18.8% as a result of higher sales
        volumes.

    --  Interest expense increased to $1,786,000 in the first quarter
        of 2005 as compared to $897,000 in the prior year quarter as a
        result of higher debt levels resulting from the December 2004
        share repurchase transaction.

    --  Total debt increased to $138,462,000 for the quarter ended
        April 2, 2005 from $123,723,000 at the end of 2004. The first
        quarter borrowing activity included $12 million of funding for
        the Nu-Vu acquisition.

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Selim A. Bassoul said,
"First quarter sales reflected the continued success of our energy
savings products and growth within the quick serve and casual dining
restaurant chains, both domestically and internationally. As expected,
the gross margins were impacted by higher steel prices, however, price
increases we instituted during the first quarter began to offset the
higher costs of material. We expect margins to improve from the first
quarter as initiatives to offset higher material costs are
implemented."
    Mr.Bassoul continued, "During the quarter we were also pleased to
complete the acquisition of Nu-Vu Foodservice Systems, a leading
manufacturer of proofing and baking ovens, which positions Middleby to
benefit from the trend of on-premise baking within sandwich shops and
other restaurant chains. We are currently taking steps to improve
operating efficiencies and profitability of this business and expect
to see gradual improvement throughout the year. We are excited about
the opportunities to expand this business as we combine the Nu-Vu
product portfolio within Middleby's sales and marketing organization.

    Conference Call

    A conference call will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on
Tuesday, May 3 and can be accessed by dialing (800) 367-5339 and
providing conference code 6059082. An audio 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 (800)
642-1687 and providing code 6059082. A transcript of the call will
also be posted to the company's 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), Nu-Vu(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.

    For further information about Middleby, visit www.middleby.com.


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


                                           Three Months Ended
                                    1st Qtr, 2005      1st Qtr, 2004
                                  -----------------  -----------------
Net sales                                  $74,889            $62,463
Cost of sales                               47,817             39,287
                                  -----------------  -----------------

    Gross profit                            27,072             23,176

Selling & distribution expense               8,184              7,376
General & administrative expense             6,885              5,696
                                  -----------------  -----------------

    Income from operations                  12,003             10,104

Interest expense and deferred
 financing amortization, net                 1,786                897
Loss (gain) on acquisition
 financing derivatives                           -                 (2)
Other expense (income), net                   (203)               194
                                  -----------------  -----------------

    Earnings before income taxes            10,420              9,015

Provision for income taxes                   4,072              3,424
                                  -----------------  -----------------

    Net earnings                            $6,348             $5,591
                                  =================  =================


Net earnings per share:

    Basic                                    $0.85              $0.61
                                  =================  =================

    Diluted                                  $0.79              $0.56
                                  =================  =================
Weighted average number shares:

    Basic                                    7,473              9,219
                                  =================  =================

    Diluted                                  8,020              9,968
                                  =================  =================



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


                                      Apr. 2, 2005      Jan. 1, 2005
                                    ----------------  ----------------
 ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents                    $2,639            $3,803
Accounts receivable, net                     32,022            26,612
Inventories, net                             37,186            32,772
Prepaid taxes                                 6,198             9,952
Deferred tax assets                           8,831             8,865
Other current assets                          2,587             2,008
                                    ----------------  ----------------
    Total current assets                     89,463            84,012

Property, plant and equipment, net           23,608            22,980

Goodwill                                     85,152            74,761
Other intangibles                            26,300            26,300
Other assets                                  2,469             1,622
                                    ----------------  ----------------

    Total assets                           $226,992          $209,675
                                    ================  ================


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current maturities of long-term debt        $11,105           $10,480
Accounts payable                             16,543            11,298
Accrued expenses                             40,507            51,311
                                    ----------------  ----------------
    Total current liabilities                68,155            73,089

Long-term debt                              127,357           113,243
Long-term deferred tax liability             11,786            11,434
Other non-current liabilities                 4,892             4,694

Shareholders' equity                         14,802             7,215
                                    ----------------  ----------------

    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity                  $226,992          $209,675
                                    ================  ================




    CONTACT: The Middleby Corporation
             Darcy Bretz (Investor/Public Relations), 847-429-7756
             or
             Timothy FitzGerald, 847-429-7744