SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For Quarter Ended March 31, 2003 - Commission File No. 0-17196



                   MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.                   
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




                   KANSAS                  
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
                   48-0531200                  
IRS Employer
Identification No.


            1300 Main Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002           
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)


                                (913) 367-1480                               
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)



Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.

 X  YES           NO

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common stock, no par value
7,691,944 shares outstanding
as of May 9, 2003

INDEX

Page

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   Item 1. Financial Statements
  
           
      Independent Accountants' Review Report 1
           
      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002
2
           
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for
The Three Months Ended and
the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002
3
           
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for
the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002
4
           
      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6
           
   Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
9
           
   Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 16
           
   Item 4. Controls and Procedures 16

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

   Item 1. Legal Proceedings 17
           
   Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 17
           
      Signatures 18
           
      Certifications 18




i

  







Independent Accountants’ Report




Board of Directors and Stockholders
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Atchison, Kansas 66002


We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (f.k.a. Midwest Grain Products, Inc.) as of March 31, 2003 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 and the related condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2002 and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated August 2, 2002, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2002 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

   /s/ BKD, LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
April 28, 2003




1

MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)

Assets

      March 31,
         2003         
(Unaudited)
June 30,
         2002         
   Current Assets      
        Cash and cash equivalents $      23,408 $      24,045
        Investments - -- 4,691
        Receivables, net of allowance of $252 at
         March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002
21,400 24,071
        Inventories 27,866 20,755
        Prepaid expenses 2,199 550
        Deferred income taxes 397 284
        Income taxes receivable        1,439           585
           
                  Total current assets      76,709      74,981
           
   Property and Equipment, at cost 262,051 258,501
        Less accumulated depreciation    171,048    167,486
           
                  Total property and equipment, net      91,003      91,015
           
   Insurance Receivable 8,936 - --
           
   Other Assets           208           222
           
   Total Other Assets        9,144           222
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
   Total Assets $     176,856 $     166,218


See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
    Statements and Independent Accountants' Review Report

2




Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

      March 31,
         2003         
(Unaudited)
June 30,
         2002         
   Current Liabilities      
        Current maturities of long-term debt $       3,202 $       3,201
        Accounts payable 10,586 8,681
        Accrued expenses 3,323 3,745
        Deferred income        15,907        10,971
           
                  Total current liabilities        33,018        26,598
           
   Long Term Debt        15,463        18,433
           
   Post-Retirement Benefits          5,798          5,921
           
   Deferred Income Taxes        15,688        10,588
           
   Stockholder's Equity      
        Capital stock      
           Preferred, 5% cumulative, $10 par value; authorized
             1,000 shares; issued and outstanding 437 shares
4 4
           Common, no par; authorized 20,000,000 shares;
             issued 9,765,172 shares
6,715 6,715
        Additional paid-in capital 2,605 2,601
        Retained earnings 116,230 110,916
        Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)      
             Cash flow hedges            (142)             176
      125,412 120,412
           
        Treasury stock, at cost      
             Common      
                    March 31, 2003 - 2,062,878 shares      
                   June 30, 2002 - 1,684,778      (18,523)      (15,734)
           
             106,889        104,678
           
                  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $     176,856 $     166,218


3

MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

(Unaudited)

          Three Months                  Nine Months      
         2003             2002                2003             2002      
   (in thousands)    (in thousands)
                 
Net Sales $      52,536 $      55,403    $     139,843 $     164,091
                 
Cost of Sales        55,502        51,292          145,127       146,096
                 
Gross Profits (Loss) (2,966) 4,111    (5,284) 17,995
                 
Selling, General and Administrative          3,384          3,684            10,111         11,383
                 
   (6,350) 427    (15,395) 6,612
                 
Other Operating Income          6,112          1,182            13,806          3,633
                 
Operating Income (Loss) (238) 1,609    (1,589) 10,245
                 
Other Income, net 23 (86)    13,302 284
                 
Interest Expense            (301)            (352)               (927)          (1,101)
                 
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (516) 1,171    10,786 9,428
                 
Provision (Credit) for Income Taxes           (204)            462             4,260          3,724
                 
Net Income (Loss) (312) 709    6,526 5,704
                 
Other Comprehensive (Loss)           (142)           (690)              (750)           (764)
                 
Comprehensive Income (Loss) $           (454) $              19    $         5,776 $         4,940
                 
Basic Earnings per Common Share $         (0.04) $          0.09    $          0.81 $          0.70
                 
Diluted Earnings per Common Share $         (0.04) $          0.09    $          0.81 $          0.70
                 
Dividends per Common Share $         (0.00) $          0.00    $          0.15 $          0.15


See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
    Statements and Independent Accountants' Review Report

4

MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

(Unaudited)



        2003              2002     
   (in thousands)    (in thousands)
Operating Activities         
    Net income $        6,526    $        4,995
    Items not requiring (providing) cash         
        Depreciation 10,695    7,109
        Deferred income taxes 4,987    (38)
        Gain on insurance recovery (13,000)    - --
    Changes in         
        Accounts receivable 2,671    1,676
        Inventories (7,429)    (3,993)
        Accounts payable 1,668    756
        Deferred revenue 4,936    (2,514)
        Income taxes (receivable) payable (854)    1,561
        Other         2,884              (583)
           
             Net cash provided by operating activities         13,084              8,969
           
Investing Activities         
    Additions to property and equipment (11,446)    (5,620)
    Net proceeds from disposition of investments           4,691                   --
           
             Net cash used in investing activities         (6,755)            (5,620)
           
Financing Activities;         
    Purchase of treasury stock (2,785)    (1,598)
    Net payments on long-term debt (2,969)    (11,017)
    Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt - --    6,423
    Dividends paid         (1,212)            (1,220)
           
             Net cash used in financing activities         (6,966)            (7,412)
           
Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents (637)    (4,063)
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period         24,045            33,454
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $        23,408    $        29,391


See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
    Statements and Independent Accountants' Review Report


5



MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2003

(Unaudited)



Note 1:  Basis of Presentation

  The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of the Company’s management, necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. Those adjustments consist only of normal recurring adjustments. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2002 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of that date. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Note 2:  Insurance Recoveries

  On September 13, 2002, the Company’s Atchison, Kansas distillery was shut down as the result of an explosion at the distillery. As a result, business interruption insurance proceeds of $5,000,000 and $10,530,000 were recorded as other operating income for the three months and nine months ended March 31, 2003, respectively. In addition, the Company recorded an insurance receivable totaling approximately $14 million, of which approximately $5 million has been collected, and reflected as other income of approximately $13 million gain, resulting from the property damage incurred. The Company and its insurer are in the process of determining the actual damages, and the ultimate insurance recovery could differ from the estimates recorded through March 31, 2003. Additional costs (net of insurance recoveries) will be recognized in future periods, as they are incurred. Amounts of such future costs (net of insurance recoveries) cannot be estimated at this time, but are expected primarily to relate to inefficiencies in production and additional shipping and handling costs resulting from the shut-down of the Atchison distillery operation.

Note 3:  Contingencies

  There are various legal proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries. Management considers that the aggregate liabilities, if any, arising from such actions would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or operations of the Company.




6

MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2003

(Unaudited)



Note 4:  Operating Segments

  The Company is a fully integrated producer of ingredients and distillery products. The operations are classified into two reportable segments: ingredients and distillery products. Ingredients consist of specialty ingredients, including specialty, or value-added, wheat proteins and starches, commodity ingredients, including vital wheat gluten and commodity wheat starch, and mill feeds. Distillery products consist of food grade alcohol, including beverage alcohol and industrial alcohol, fuel grade alcohol, and distillers’ feed and carbon dioxide, which are by-products of the Company’s distillery operations.

  The operating profit for each segment is based on net sales less identifiable operating expenses. Interest expense, investment income and other general miscellaneous expenses have been excluded from segment operations and classified as Corporate. Receivables, inventories and equipment have been identified with the segments to which they relate. All other assets are considered as Corporate.

      Three Months Nine Months
         2003           2002           2003           2002     
  Sales to customers        
      Ingredients $  14,699  $  16,474  $  40,783  $  49,981 
      Distiller products     37,837      38,929      99,060    114,110 
           
    $  52,536  $  55,403  $139,843  $164,091 
  Depreciation        
      Ingredients $    1,269  $    1,255  $    3,743  $    3,762 
      Distillery products 2,030  1,997  6,303  6,079 
      Corporate          196           273           612           793 
           
    $    3,495  $    3,525  $  10,658  $  10,634 
  Income before income taxes        
      Ingredients $    3,199  $    1,511  $    5,507  $    3,320 
      Distillery products      (3,280)          394        6,465        7,629 
      Corporate         (435)         (734)      (1,186)      (1,521)
           
    $      (516) $    1,171  $  10,786  $    9,428 
           

Note 5:  Earnings Per Common Share

  Earnings per common share data is based upon the weighted average number of common shares totaling 7,950,774 and 8,039,199 in the third quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively, and 8,016,847 and 8,092,177 in the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, respectively. The effect of employee stock options, which are the only potentially dilutive securities held by the Company, were anti-dilutive in each period.

7

MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2003

(Unaudited)



Note 6: Stock  Bases Compensation

  The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan, which it accounts for under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income (loss), as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the grant date. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation.

    Three Months Nine Months
        2003         2002         2003         2002    
  (in thousands, except per
    share amounts)
       
  Net income, as reported $    (312) $     709  $  6,526  $  5,704 
  Less:  Total stock-based employee        
      compensation cost determined        
      under the fair value based        
      method, net of income taxes       (135)       (121)       (304)       (364)
           
  Pro forma net income $    (447) $     588  $  6,222  $  5,340 
           
  Earnings per share        
      Basic - as reported $   (0.04) $    0.09  $    0.81  $    0.70 
      Basic - pro forma $   (0.06) $    0.07  $    0.78  $    0.66 
      Diluted - as reported $   (0.04) $    0.09  $    0.81  $    0.70 
      Diluted - pro forma $   (0.06) $    0.07  $    0.78  $    0.66 










8

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forward Looking Statements

This section contains forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements are identified by or are associated with such words as “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “hopeful,” “should” and “could” and similar expressions. They reflect management’s current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including those relating to grain prices, energy costs, product pricing, competitive environment and related market conditions, operating efficiencies, access to capital and actions of governments and insurers. Any changes in the assumptions or factors could produce materially different results than those predicted and could impact stock values.

Results of Operations

      Critical Accounting Policies

  Reference is made to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for accounting policies which are considered by management to be critical to an understanding of the Company’s financial statements.

     Operations

  The Company is a fully integrated producer of certain ingredients and distillery products and has two reportable segments, an ingredients segment and a distillery products segment. Products included within the ingredients segment consist of starches, including commodity wheat starch and modified and specialty wheat starches, proteins, including commodity wheat gluten, specialty wheat, soy and other proteins, and mill feeds. Distillery products consist of food grade alcohol, including beverage alcohol and industrial alcohol, fuel alcohol, commonly known as ethanol, and distillers’ grain and carbon dioxide, which are by-products of the Company’s distillery operations. In its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, the Company referred to its ingredients segment as its wheat-based products segment. Although substantially all of the Company’s products are wheat-based products, it also sells small amounts of soy-based and other natural grain-based ingredients, including oat protein products, and includes these products in the same segment as its wheat-based products; therefore, the Company has redesignated its former wheat-based products segment as its ingredients segment.

  The Company processes its products at plants located in Atchison, Kansas and Pekin, Illinois. The Company also operates a wheat protein and wheat starch mixing facility in Kansas City, Kansas. Wheat is purchased directly from local and regional farms and grain elevators and milled into flour and mill feeds. The flour is processed with water to extract vital wheat gluten, a portion of which is further processed into specialty wheat proteins. Vital wheat gluten and most wheat protein products are dried into powder and sold in packaged or bulk form. The starch slurry that results after the extraction of the gluten and wheat proteins is further processed to extract premium wheat starch, which is also dried into powder and sold in packaged or bulk form, either as commodity wheat starch or, after further processing, as modified or specialty wheat starch. The remaining slurry is mixed with mill feeds, corn or milo and water and then cooked, fermented and distilled into alcohol. The residue of the distilling operations is dried and sold as a high protein additive for animal feed. Carbon dioxide that is produced during the

9

  fermentation process is trapped and sold. Mill feeds not used in the distilling process are sold to feed manufacturers.

  On September 13, 2002, an explosion at the Company’s Atchison plant caused significant damage to the Company’s distillery operations at that location. There were no fatalities and only a few minor injuries; however, damage to the distillery was major, affected operations for the first three quarters of fiscal 2003 and is expected to have a continuing impact throughout the remainder of the year. Historically, the Atchison distillery has produced approximately one third of the Company’s total alcohol output, accounting for approximately 19% of its total fuel grade alcohol production and approximately 67% of its total food grade alcohol production during the last fiscal year. As a result of the explosion, the Company will be unable to produce finished alcohol at its Atchison plant for an extended period. While some production resumed in early December 2002, the total rebuilding process is expected to take until November or December of 2003 to complete. In the meantime, production facilities at the Pekin, Illinois facility should be adequate to supply alcohol to regular customers; however, the Company’s ability to supply spot business at this time is substantially reduced. Because its ingredient and alcohol production processes are integrated, the distillery slowdown in Atchison has also affected the Company’s ability to produce the base proteins and starches, which are used in the production of specialty ingredients at this location. The Company has altered its operations to use its Illinois facility to produce base proteins and starches that are then shipped to the Atchison facility as raw material for producing specialty ingredients. As a result, while production costs are higher, the Company has been able to limit the effects of the distillery explosion on its ability to supply specialty products to customers. The adverse impact of the distillery slowdown on the Company’s operations has been substantially reduced by business interruption insurance.

  The Company is proceeding with plans to resume full alcohol production in Atchison and, as noted above, the total distillery rebuilding process is expected to take until November or December of 2003 to complete. The Company believes insurance proceeds will be sufficient to substantially offset rebuilding costs. The gain resulting from insurance proceeds in excess of the net recorded costs of assets destroyed in the accident is expected to exceed $13 million, which amount was included as other non-operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2003.

  The following is a summary of revenues and pre-tax profits/(loss) allocated to each reportable operating segment for the three and nine months ending March 31 in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002:

    Three Months Ended
March 31
Nine Months Ended
March 31
        2003         2002         2003         2002    
    Dollars in Thousands Dollars in Thousands
  Ingredients        
       Net sales $    14,699  $    16,474  $    40,783  $    49,981 
       Pre-tax income         3,199          1,511          5,507          3,320 
           
  Distillery Products        
       Net sales $    37,837  $    38,929  $    99,060  $  114,110 
       Pre-tax income (loss) $    (3,280) $         394  $      6,465  $      7,629 

      General

  Due largely to higher energy and grain costs compared to a year ago, the Company experienced a net loss of $312,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 compared to net income of $709,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. The decrease was also partially due to the effects of a distillery explosion at the Company’s Atchison, Kansas plant on September 13, 2002. Additionally, fiscal 2002 third quarter earnings included approximately $575,800 (net of income taxes) resulting from a previously announced U.S.

10

  Department of Agriculture program that was established to provide cash incentives to ethanol producers. The Company received no funds from this program in the current year’s third quarter because eligibility and application requirements for that period are still being determined by the Department of Agriculture. Any ultimate benefit to the Company in fiscal 2003 will likely be less than last year’s benefits due to reduced distillery operations as a result of the Atchison distillery explosion.

  The effects of the distillery explosion resulted in reduced alcohol production and, combined with lower selling prices for food grade alcohol, caused total alcohol sales for the third quarter to decline compared to a year ago. The Company additionally experienced a decrease in ingredients sales due largely to a planned reduction in sales of commodity ingredients, which consist of vital wheat gluten and commodity wheat starch. Sales of the Company’s specialty ingredients, primarily specialty wheat proteins and wheat starches, increased 17% compared to the prior year’s third quarter. Further growth in sales of specialty ingredients was limited by the effects of the distillery mishap.

  Business interruption insurance to compensate for the effects of the distillery explosion amounted to approximately $5 million in the third quarter and contributed to third quarter revenue. Additionally, the Company benefited from approximately $694,000 (net of taxes) in operating net income from a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation program to support the development of specialty wheat protein and wheat starch products. Details of this program, which is helping the Company evolve its ingredients segment business, is provided below.

     Ingredients

  Third quarter sales of specialty ingredients, consisting of specialty proteins and starches, increased by 17% compared to a year ago. Total ingredient sales decreased 11% compared to the same period the prior year due mainly to a significant reduction in sales of commodity ingredients, which consist of vital wheat gluten and commodity wheat starch.

  The increase in specialty ingredients sales resulted from higher sales of specialty proteins, which more than offset a decline in sales of specialty starches. The reduction in commodity wheat starch sales resulted from the Company’s decision to emphasize specialty starch sales over commodity wheat starch sales. The reduction in vital wheat gluten sales occurred because the Company elected to curtail production due to pricing pressures from artificially low priced gluten imports from the European Union. Competitive pressures from the E.U. increased following the expiration of the three-year-long quota on wheat gluten imports in early June 2001. Unless future conditions warrant otherwise, the Company plans to maintain a reduced presence in the more traditional wheat gluten and commodity wheat starch markets while continuing to expand its presence in specialty wheat protein and starch markets.

  In June 2001, the White House approved a two-year program to support the development of specialty wheat gluten and wheat starches to assist wheat gluten producers adjust to import competition. This program was implemented in lieu of an extension to a three-year long gluten import quota that began in June, 1998. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, the program is scheduled to end May 31, 2003. Under the program, the Company was awarded approximately $26 million of the program total of $40 million. On June 29, 2001, the Company received approximately $17,280,000 for the first year of the program. The Company received the balance of the award for the second year of the program in July 2002. The Company must submit quarterly reports to the Commodity Credit Corporation listing costs incurred and activities conducted to date and an annual performance report after each year of the program explaining its activities. The Commodity Credit Corporation may ask for a refund with interest of some or all of the funds allocated to the Company if it determines that the Company has not made significant progress in completing its stated activities. Based on its contacts with Commodity Credit Corporation personnel through the quarterly reporting process, the Company believes that it is making satisfactory progress.

11

  The funds allocated under the Commodity Credit Corporation program are to be used for capital, research, marketing and promotional costs related to specialty wheat protein and wheat starch products. Funds received are recognized in income during the period in which they are expended for a permitted purpose. However, funds that are used for capital expenditure projects will be recognized in income over the periods during which those projects are depreciated. They are not intended to be used to reduce production- and marketing-related costs for commodity vital wheat gluten and wheat starches that could extend the U.S. industry’s participation in these markets.

  Approximately 30% of the Commodity Credit Corporation program’s funds for the two years combined are being applied toward research and marketing-related costs and, therefore, are reflected in earnings. The remaining 70% of the funds have been earmarked for capital projects, and will be reflected in earnings over the next seven to ten years. These projects include an $8.7 million expansion project that was completed at the Company’s Atchison plant in November, 2002, and a recently announced expansion at the Company’s facility in Kansas City, Kansas. The Atchison plant expansion involved the installation of additional processing and drying equipment for the production of ingredients for bakery, pasta and noodle and related food markets, both domestic and foreign. The expansion at the Kansas City facility is scheduled to be completed by March 2004 at a cost of approximately $3.8 million, half of which is expected to be offset by funds from the USDA program. As reported to the Commodity Credit Corporation, during fiscal 2002, approximately $13.6 million (including funds for capital projects that began in fiscal 2002 and are scheduled for completion in fiscal 2003) was earmarked (of which $8.3 million was expended during the year) for capital projects and $3.7 million was applied to research- and marketing-related costs. In the third quarter of fiscal 2003, approximately $1.1 million was applied to capital projects, and approximately $1.1 million was applied to research- and marketing-related costs. In the first nine months of fiscal 2003, approximately $7.7 million has been applied to capital projects, and approximately $3.2 million has been applied to research- and marketing-related costs. The Company expects to apply approximately $9.3 million for capital projects during the entire year, which includes carry-over funds from the prior year, and $4.3 million for research and marketing related costs.

     Distillery Products

  Total sales of distillery products in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 were down 3% compared to the same period in the prior year. This was due to a 16% decline in unit sales resulting from reduced production caused by the distillery explosion at the Company’s Atchison plant on September 13, 2002. Lower selling prices for food grade alcohol also contributed to this decrease. Selling prices for fuel grade alcohol, meanwhile, increased compared to a year ago.

  Year to date, sales of distillery products decreased by 13% compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2002. The reasons for this decline were the same as those cited above.

     Sales

  Net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 decreased by approximately $2.9 million from net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. This decrease resulted mainly from a 3% reduction in sales of distillery products and an 11% reduction in total ingredient sales.

  The decline in sales of ingredients, consisting of commodity and specialty starches and proteins, was due principally to a reduction in sales of vital wheat gluten and commodity wheat starch. Sales of vital wheat gluten dropped due to a significant reduction in unit sales. Commodity wheat starch sales also declined due to a reduction in unit sales, which more than offset a modest increase in selling prices. Sales of specialty ingredients, consisting primarily of specialty wheat proteins and starches, increased due to higher unit sales of specialty proteins and an improvement in the average selling price for these ingredients in total. Unit sales of specialty starches, meanwhile, declined. Average selling prices for specialty starches and proteins improved some compared to a year ago.

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  Distillery product sales in the third quarter were lower than the prior year due to reduced production caused by the September 13th distillery explosion and reduced selling prices for food grade alcohol for beverage and industrial applications. A decrease in unit sales of beverage alcohol offset a small increase in unit sales of industrial alcohol. Sales of fuel grade alcohol fell compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2002 due to a decrease in unit sales. Selling prices for fuel grade alcohol averaged higher compared to a year ago. Sales of distillers’ feeds, the principal by-product of the alcohol production process, were slightly lower than a year ago.

  Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2003 decreased by approximately $24.2 million compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2002. This decrease was due to a 13% reduction in sales of distillery products and an 18% reduction in total ingredient sales. The decline in distillery product sales was caused mainly by lower unit sales of both food grade and fuel grade alcohol in each of the first nine months of fiscal 2003 compared to the same periods the prior year. Average selling prices for food grade alcohol and fuel grade were also lower for the first nine months of the current year. The year-to-date decline in the average fuel alcohol price was due to lower prices in the first two quarters. The drop in sales of ingredients was mainly attributable to lower unit sales of commodity wheat gluten and wheat starch in the current year to date versus a year ago, and, to a much lesser degree, a reduction in unit sales of specialty starches in the first nine months of fiscal 2003 compared to the prior year’s first nine months.

     Cost of Sales

  The cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 increased by approximately $4.2 million above the cost of sales in the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. This principally was due to higher raw material costs for grain and higher energy costs. The increase in grain costs was caused by a 24% jump in average wheat prices and a 19% hike in average corn prices versus the prior year. The increased energy costs resulted from an over 100% rise in natural gas prices. In addition to these factors, the Company’s cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2002 reflected the receipt of $952,000 (pre-tax) in funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s incentive program for ethanol producers. The Company did not receive funds from this program in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 because eligibility and application requirements for that period are still being determined by the USDA.

  The cost of sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2003 decreased by approximately $1 million compared to the cost of sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2002. This decrease was largely due to a decline in maintenance and repair costs and lower railcar rental fees resulting from reduced production.

  In connection with the purchase of raw materials, principally corn and wheat, for anticipated operating requirements, the Company enters into commodity contracts to reduce or hedge the risk of future grain price increases. During the third quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company hedged approximately 13% of corn processed, compared to 16% in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Of the wheat processed by the Company in the third quarter of both fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002, none was hedged. The Company also uses gasoline futures to hedge fuel alcohol sales made under contracts with price terms based on gasoline futures. In the third quarter of fiscal 2003, raw material costs included a net hedging loss of $89,174 compared to a net hedging loss of $267,641 in the prior fiscal year’s third quarter.

  During the first nine months of fiscal 2003, the Company hedged approximately 56% of corn processed, compared to 53% in the first nine months of fiscal 2002. Of the wheat processed by the Company in the first nine months of fiscal 2003, 28% was hedged compared to no wheat hedged in the first nine months of fiscal 2002. Additionally, the Company uses gasoline futures to hedge fuel alcohol sales made under contracts with price terms based on gasoline futures. In the first nine months of fiscal 2003, raw material costs included a net hedging gain of $1,449,241 compared to a net hedging loss of $1,369,019 in the prior fiscal year’s first nine months.

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     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

  Selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 were approximately $300,000 lower than selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. The decrease was due to various factors, including reductions in staff bonus incentives. This was partially offset by an increase in sales salaries and fees associated with outside professional and consulting services.

  Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first nine months of fiscal 2003 were approximately $1.3 million lower than in the first nine months of fiscal 2002. This drop was largely due to a nearly $313,000 decrease in bad debt expense compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2002 and reductions in staff bonus incentives in the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2003.

     Other Operating Income

  The increase in other operating income relates to the recognition of approximately $5 million in business interruption insurance. There was a decline from the prior year in the pre-tax income recognized from the previously discussed U.S. Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation program for specialty wheat protein and wheat starch products.

     Other Income

  The increase in other income is due to the recognition of expected insurance proceeds in excess of the net recorded costs of assets that were destroyed in a distillery explosion at the Company’s Atchison plant in September.

     Taxes and Inflation

  The consolidated effective income tax rate is consistent for all periods. The general effects of inflation were minimal.

     Net Income

  As the result of the foregoing factors, the Company experienced a net loss of $312,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 compared to net income of $709,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. For the first nine months of fiscal 2003, the Company had net income of $6,526,000 compared to net income of $5,704,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2002.

     Liquidity and Capital Resources

  The following table is presented as a measure of the Company's liquidity and financial condition:


    March 31,
     2003     
June 30,
     2002     
  (in thousands)    
  Cash and cash equivalents   $    23,408    $    24,045 
  Working capital         43,691          48,383 
  Amount available under lines of credit         10,000          10,000 
  Notes payable and long-term debt         18,665          21,634 
  Stockholders' equity       106,889        104,678 

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  The improved cash flow generated from operations was largely the result of the second year installment of the USDA grant received during the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The first installment had been received prior to June 30, 2001. Cash flow provided by operations combined with excess cash from last year was used for equipment additions, reductions in debt, dividends paid to stockholders and treasury stock purchases.

  The Company made open market purchases of 398,600 shares of its common stock during the nine-month period. These purchases were made to fund the Company’s stock option plans and for other corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2003, the Board has authorized the purchase of an additional 869,682 shares of the Company’s common stock. During the period, 10,500 shares of the treasury stock were sold as employees exercised options under the Company’s stock option plans.

  At March 31, 2003, in addition to the replacement of the distillery in Atchison destroyed by the explosion, the Company had $5.0 million committed to improvements and replacements of existing equipment. The rebuilding costs for the Atchison distillery are expected to be substantially offset by insurance proceeds, of which $5 million have been received as of March 31, 2003.

  In connection with the Company’s long term loan agreements, it is required, among other covenants, to maintain certain financial ratios, including a current ratio (current assets to current liabilities) of 1.5 to 1, minimum consolidated tangible net worth (stockholders’ equity less intangible assets) of $84 million, debt to tangible net worth not to exceed 2.5 to 1, and debt service coverage ratio (generally, the ratio of (i) the sum of (a) net income (adjusted to exclude gains or losses from the sale or other disposition of capital assets and other matters) plus (b) provision for taxes plus (c) fixed charges, to (ii) fixed charges) for the period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters ended as of the measurement date of 1.5 to 1. The Company’s line-of-credit agreement contains similar provisions. As of March 31, 2003, the Company was in compliance with the financial and other covenants in its loan and line-of-credit agreements. Because of uncertainty relating to treatment of insurance proceeds, there may be a question in future periods as to the Company’s compliance with the debt service coverage ratio covenants. Although it has not discussed this matter with its lenders because it intends to rebuild its distillery, the Company believes that gain resulting from property damage should be treated as net income for purposes of calculating the debt service coverage ratio and not excluded from the calculation as gain from the sale or other disposition of assets.

  The Company's line of credit for $10 million extends to November 2003.

Item 3.  Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

          The Company produces its products from wheat, corn and milo and, as such, is sensitive to changes in commodity prices. Grain futures and/or options are used as a hedge to protect against fluctuations in the market. The information regarding inventories and futures contracts at June 30, 2002, as presented in the annual report, is not significantly different from March 31, 2003.




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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     
  (a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

  The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this Form 10-Q Quarterly Report (the “Evaluation Date”), have concluded that as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company would be made known to them by others within the Company, particularly during the period in which this Form 10-Q Quarterly Report was being prepared.

  (b) Changes in internal controls.

  There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of the most recent evaluation, nor any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in such internal controls requiring corrective actions. As a result, no corrective actions were taken.



























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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

          Reference is made to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2002 for information regarding certain legal proceedings to which the Company's Illinois subsidiary is subject.

          The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("USEPA"), Region V, has recently begun an enforcement initiative focusing on all ethanol producers in its Midwestern region. Along with all other ethanol producers in the region, the Company's subsidiary, MGP Ingredients of Illinois, Inc.("MGP-Illinois"), was contacted, and it attended a meeting with other ethanol producers where USEPA explained that it believed the ethanol producers had likely violated various provisions of the USEPA air emissions regulations in the past. USEPA explained that rather than initiate enforcement proceedings against individual companies, it would prefer to work with the companies and settle any outstanding issues in a cooperative fashion. Since the meeting, MGP Illinois has been in contact with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency ("IEPA") and USEPA regarding the USEPA air emissions initiative and USEPA has issued an information request to MGP Illinois. Based on these discussions, it appears MGP-Illinois may need to make certain modifications to its feed dryer emission controls (which are expected to be the same as the modifications that will be made to resolve the pending IEPA action previously reported in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K) and add emission controls to its fuel truck loading operations. The total capital costs to resolve any issues deemed outstanding by USEPA and any potential fines, if any, are unknown at this time.


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   (a) Exhibits

  15.1 Letter from independent public accountants pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X (incorporated by reference to Independent Accountants’ Review Report at page 1 hereof).
  
  15.2 Letter from independent public accountants concerning the use of its Review Report in the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-51849.
  
  99.1 Section 906 Certification of Ladd M. Seaberg (furnished in accordance with SEC Release 33-8212)
 
  99.2 Section 906 Certification of Brian T. Cahill (furnished in accordance with SEC Release 33-8212)

  (b) Reports on Form 8-K
  The Company filed a report on Form 8-K under Items 9 and 12 on May 7, 2003 and a reports on Form 8-K under Item 9 on April 17, 2003, March 12, 2003 and February 14, 2003.

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SIGNATURES

           Pursuant to the requirements on 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.

   MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.

Date:  May 14, 2003 By: /s/ Ladd M. Seaberg, President     
               Ladd M. Seaberg, President
            and Chief Executive Officer
     
     
     
Date:  May 14, 2003 By: /s/ Brian T. Cahill            
               Brian T. Cahill, Vice President
            and Chief Financial Officer



CERTIFICATIONS

I, Ladd M. Seaberg, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MGP Ingredients, Inc.
  

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
  

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
  

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:


 

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
  

 

b)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and



18

 

c)

presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;


 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):


 

a)

all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
  

 

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and


 

6.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.


Date:  May 14, 2003 By: /s/ Ladd M. Seaberg, President     
               Ladd M. Seaberg, President
            and Chief Executive Officer

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Brian T. Cahill, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MGP Ingredients, Inc.
  

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
  

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
  

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:


 

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
  

 

b)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and



18

 

c)

presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;


 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):


 

a)

all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
  

 

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and


 

6.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.


Date:  May 14, 2003 By: /s/ Brian T. Cahill     
               Brian T. Cahill, Vice Presicent,
            and Chief Financial Officer