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: July 28, 2003

                         Commission file number 0-14706.

                          INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             NORTH CAROLINA                            56-0846267
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      (State or other jurisdiction                   (IRS Employer
           of incorporation)                       Identification No.)

                    P.O. Box 6676, Asheville, NC         28816
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              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (828) 669-2941
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              (Telephone number of registrant, including area code)

                                      None
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          (Former name or former address, if changes since last report)


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   Exhibits.

      Exhibit Number              Exhibit
      --------------              -------
      99.1                        Press Release dated July 28, 2003

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On July 28, 2003, Ingles Markets,  Incorporated ("IMKTA") issued a press release
announcing  financial  information  for its third fiscal  quarter ended June 28,
2003.  The press  release is  attached  as Exhibit  99.1 to this Form 8-K and is
furnished to, but not filed with, the Commission.


                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                   INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED

                                   /s/ Brenda S. Tudor
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                                   Brenda S. Tudor
                                   Vice President-Finance and
                                   Chief Financial Officer

Dated: July 28, 2003


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number                   Exhibit
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99.1                             Press Release dated July 28, 2003 *

*     This  exhibit is  furnished  to, but not filed  with,  the  Commission  by
      inclusion herein.