INGLES MARKETS INC - Annual Report: 2005 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission File Number 0-14706

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number including area code: (828) 669-2941

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Class A Common Stock, $0.05 par value

Class B Common Stock, $0.05 par value

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x.

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 such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO  ¨.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    YES  x    NO  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x.

As of March 26, 2005, the aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing sales price of the Class A Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market on March 26, 2005, was approximately $149.0 million. As of December 1, 2005, the registrant has 12,080,718 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 12,364,991 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS

General

Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”), a leading supermarket chain in the Southeast United States, operates 197 supermarkets in Georgia (76), North Carolina (63), South Carolina (35), Tennessee (20), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1). The Company’s strategy is to locate its supermarkets primarily in suburban areas, small towns and rural communities. Ingles supermarkets offer customers a wide variety of nationally advertised food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods and other perishables and non-food products, including health and beauty care products and general merchandise, as well as quality private label items. In addition, the Company focuses on selling high-growth, high-margin products to its customers through the development of book sections, media centers, floral departments, premium coffee kiosks, certified organic products, bakery departments and prepared foods, including delicatessen sections. Real estate ownership is an important component of the Company’s operations, providing both operational and economic benefits.

The Company believes that customer service and convenience, modern stores and competitive prices on a broad selection of quality merchandise are essential to developing a loyal customer base. The Company’s new and remodeled supermarkets provide an enhanced level of customer convenience in order to accommodate the active lifestyle of today’s shoppers. Design features of the Company’s modern stores include expanded perishable departments featuring home meal replacement items and an expanded selection of food and non-food items to provide a “one-stop” shopping experience. The Company has an ongoing renovation and expansion plan to add stores in its target markets and to modernize the appearance and layout of its existing stores. Over the past five fiscal years, the Company has spent approximately $297 million to modernize and remodel its existing stores, relocate older stores to larger, more convenient locations and construct new stores in order to maintain the quality shopping experience that its customers expect. As part of the Company’s renovation and expansion plan, the Company operates full-service pharmacies and gas stations at some of its stores.

Substantially all of the Company’s stores are located within 250 miles of its 780,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center, near Asheville, North Carolina, from which the Company distributes grocery, produce, meat and dairy products to all Ingles stores. The warehouse supplies the stores with approximately 57% of the goods the Company sells and the remaining 43% is purchased from third parties. The close proximity of the Company’s purchasing and distribution operations to its stores facilitates the timely distribution of consistently high quality meat, produce and other perishable items.

To further ensure product quality, the Company also owns and operates a milk processing and packaging plant that supplies approximately 80% of the milk products sold by the Company’s supermarkets as well as a variety of orange and other fruit juices and bottled water products. In addition, the milk processing and packaging plant sells approximately 70% of its products to other retailers, food service distributors and grocery warehouses in seventeen states, which provides the Company with an additional source of revenue.

Ingles believes that real estate ownership allows it to decrease its occupancy costs, maintain flexibility for future store expansion, control the development and management of each property and benefit from value created by developing and operating free-standing supermarkets and shopping centers in smaller markets. The Company owns and operates 74 shopping centers, 57 of which contain an Ingles supermarket, and owns 78 additional properties that contain a free-standing Ingles store. The Company also owns 5 undeveloped sites suitable for a free-standing store. The majority of the land tracts that Ingles owns contain additional acreage which may either be sold or developed in the future. The Company’s owned real estate is generally located in the same geographic region as its supermarkets.

The Company was founded by Robert P. Ingle, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. As of September 24, 2005, Mr. Ingle owns or controls approximately 87% of the combined voting power and 50% of

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the total number of shares of the Company’s outstanding Class A and Class B Common Stock (in each case including stock deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Ingle as one of the trustees of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan and Trust). The Company became a publicly traded company in September 1987. Its Class A Common Stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market under the symbol IMKTA.

The Company was incorporated in 1965 under the laws of the State of North Carolina. Its principal executive offices are located at P.O. Box 6676, Highway 70, Asheville, North Carolina 28816, and its telephone number is 828-669-2941. The Company’s website is www.ingles-markets.com.

Business

The Company operates three lines of business: retail grocery sales, shopping center rentals and a fluid dairy processing plant. Information about the Company’s operations by lines of business (in millions) is as follows (for information regarding the Company’s industry segments, see Note 11 “Lines of Business” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this report on Form 10-K):

Supermarket Operations

The Company follows the strategy of locating its supermarkets primarily in suburban areas, small towns and rural communities. At September 24, 2005, the Company operated 193 supermarkets under the name “Ingles” and 4 supermarkets under the name “Sav-Mor” with locations in western North Carolina, western South Carolina, northern Georgia, eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia and northeastern Alabama. The “Sav-Mor” store concept accommodates smaller shopping areas and carries a full line of dry groceries, fresh meat and produce, all of which are displayed in a modern, readily accessible environment. The stores are also operated in accordance with Ingles’ high standards of customer service and quality products at a low price.

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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Company’s supermarket operations.

The Company believes that today’s supermarket customers are focused on convenience and value. As a result, the Company’s “one-stop” shopping experience combines a high level of customer service, convenience-oriented product offerings and low overall pricing. The Company’s modern stores provide products and services such as home meal replacement items, delicatessens, bakeries, floral departments, video rental departments, greeting cards and broad selections of health and beauty care items. During fiscal 2000, Ingles opened its first company-owned, in-store pharmacy and its first fuel station, “Ingles Gas Express.” At September 24, 2005, the Company operated 40 pharmacies and 26 fuel stations. The Company plans to continue to incorporate these new departments in select stores during fiscal 2006. The Company caters to the needs of its customers by offering extended hours and 24-hour service in appropriate markets. The Company trains its employees to provide friendly service and to actively address the needs of customers. These employees reinforce the Company’s distinctive service oriented image.

Selected statistics on the Company’s supermarket operations are presented below:

Merchandising

The Company’s merchandising strategy is designed to create a “one-stop” shopping experience that blends value and customer service with variety, quality and convenience. Management believes that this strategy fosters a loyal customer base by establishing a reputation for providing high quality products and a variety of specialty departments.

The Company’s stores carry broad selections of quality meats, produce and other perishables. The Company’s full-service meat departments are generally designed so that customers can see Ingles’ employees at work and so that its butchers are readily accessible to its customers. Many of the Company’s stores offer a wide selection of fresh fish and seafood. The Company emphasizes the freshness and quality of its produce, bakery and deli offerings by designing its departments with an open air market atmosphere. The Company is expanding its lines of natural and organic products as demand for these products grows. During fiscal year 2005, the Company’s fluid dairy plant began producing certified organic milk for sale in the Company’s supermarkets and to non-affiliated customers.

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Management believes that supermarkets offering a broad array of products and time-saving services are perceived by customers as part of a solution to today’s lifestyle demands. Accordingly, a principal component of the Company’s merchandising strategy is to design stores that offer a “one-stop” shopping experience. In the Company’s prototype stores, in-store bakeries and delicatessens, prepared foods sections and gourmet coffee service are conveniently located near seating areas. In addition, book stores with reading areas and in-store pharmacies add to the one-stop shopping experience. Most Ingles stores also offer a wide selection of domestic, premium, micro brewery and imported beers and domestic and imported wines. The floral department offers balloons, flowers and plants. The media department features new movie releases, popularly priced computer software and snack items, all contained in an appealing display area decorated with a movie marquee and a monitor playing current videos. Customers can also purchase money orders and send or receive money wires from the customer service department or receive cash back at the check-out counter with a debit card. The Company offers both traditional and self-checkout registers.

A selection of prepared foods and home meal replacements are featured throughout Ingles’ specialty departments and in the meat department to provide customers with easy meal alternatives that they can eat at home, at work or in a sit-down café that is conveniently located near the front of newer Ingles stores. Many stores offer daily selections of home meal replacement items, such as rotisserie chicken, pizza, lasagna, meat loaf and other entrees, sandwiches, pre-packaged salads, sushi and prepared fresh vegetables. The bakery offers an expanded selection of baked goods and self-service selections. Ingles offers bread baked daily, cakes made to order in various sizes, donuts and other pastries. The deli offers a salad bar, an expanded offering of cheeses and gourmet items and home meal replacement items. The Company also provides its customers with an expanded selection of frozen food items to meet the increasing demands of its customers. Some of the Company’s newer supermarkets contain a “power aisle” that includes specialty departments, such as a bakery, a delicatessen, a produce department, a gourmet coffee service and a separate check-out.

Ingles intends to continue to increase sales of its proprietary brands, which typically carry higher margins than comparable branded products. The Company currently carries three private label lines: “Laura Lynn,” its primary line named after the founder’s daughter, “Ingles Best” and “Harvest Farms.” Ingles’ private labels cover a broad range of products throughout the store, such as milk, bread, organic products, soft drinks and canned goods. The Company promotes its private label brands through print and television advertising, by displaying comparison pricing with national brands on store shelf tags and by reflecting savings on customers’ cash register receipts. In addition to increasing margins, Ingles believes that private label sales help promote customer loyalty.

The Company seeks to maintain a reputation for providing friendly service, quality merchandise and customer value and for its commitment to community involvement. The Company employs various advertising and promotional strategies to reinforce the quality and value of its products. The Company promotes these attributes using all of the traditional advertising vehicles including radio, television, direct mail and newspapers. Ingles introduced its Ingles Advantage Savings and Reward Card (the “Card”) at the beginning of fiscal 2004. The Card program is designed to foster customer loyalty by providing information to better understand the Company’s customers’ shopping patterns to facilitate marketing directly to customer needs.

Purchasing and Distribution

The Company supplies approximately 57% of its supermarkets’ inventory requirements from its modern 780,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center from which the Company distributes groceries, produce, meat and dairy products to all Ingles stores. The Company believes that its warehouse and distribution facility contains sufficient capacity for the continued expansion of its store base for the foreseeable future.

The Company’s centrally managed purchasing and distribution operations provide several advantages, including the ability to negotiate and reduce the cost of merchandise, decrease overhead costs and better manage its inventory at both the warehouse and store level. From time to time, the Company engages in advance purchasing on high-turnover inventory items to take advantage of special prices offered by manufacturers for limited periods. The Company’s ability to take advantage of advance purchasing is limited by several factors including carrying costs and warehouse space.

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Approximately 12% of the Company’s other inventory requirements, primarily frozen food and slower moving items that the Company prefers not to stock, are purchased from Merchant Distributors, Inc. (“MDI”), a wholesale grocery distributor with which the Company has had a continuing relationship since its inception. Purchases from MDI were approximately $214 million in fiscal 2005, $212 million in fiscal 2004 and $210 million in fiscal 2003. Additionally, MDI purchases product from Milkco, Inc., the Company’s fluid dairy subsidiary, and these purchases totaled approximately $35 million in fiscal 2005, $37 million in fiscal 2004 and $36 million in fiscal 2003. The Company has a fee arrangement with MDI for items it purchases from MDI, based on cost plus a handling charge. MDI owned approximately 2% of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and approximately 1% of the Company’s Class B Common Stock at September 24, 2005, which equals 1.3% of the total voting power. The Company believes that alternative sources of supply are readily available from other third parties.

The remaining 31% of the Company’s inventory requirements, primarily beverages, gasoline, bread and snack foods, are supplied directly to Ingles supermarkets by local distributors and manufacturers.

Goods from the warehouse and distribution facility and the milk processing and packaging plant are distributed to the Company’s stores by a fleet of 106 tractors and 426 trailers that the Company operates and maintains, including tractors and trailers that the Company leases. The Company invests on an ongoing basis in the maintenance, upgrade and replacement of its tractor and trailer fleet. The Company also operates truck servicing and fuel storage facilities at its warehouse and distribution center. The Company reduces its overall distribution costs by capitalizing on back-haul opportunities (contracting to transport merchandise on trucks that would otherwise be empty).

Store Development, Expansion and Remodeling

The Company believes that the appearance and design of its stores are integral components of its customers’ shopping experience and aims to develop one of the most modern supermarket chains in the industry. The ongoing modernization of the Company’s store base involves (i) the construction of new prototype stores, (ii) the replacement or complete remodeling and expansion of existing stores and (iii) minor remodels of existing stores. The Company’s goal is to maintain clean, well-lit stores with attractive architectural features that enhance the image of its stores as catering to the changing lifestyle needs of quality-conscious consumers.

The Company is focused primarily on developing owned stores rather than leased stores. Management believes that owning stores rather than leasing them provides the Company with lower all-in occupancy costs and the flexibility over the long-term to expand its stores further, if needed. The construction of new stores is closely monitored and controlled by the Company. The Company hires independent contractors to construct its supermarkets from its prototype designs.

The Company renovates and remodels stores in order to increase customer traffic and sales, respond to existing customer demand, compete effectively against new stores opened by competitors and support its “quality image” merchandising strategy. The Company decides to complete a major remodel of an existing store based on its evaluation of the competitive landscape of the local marketplace. A major remodel and expansion provides the quality of facilities and product offerings identical to that of a new prototype store, capitalizing upon the existing customer base. The Company retains the existing customer base by keeping the store in operation during the entire remodeling process. The Company may elect to relocate, rather than remodel, certain stores where relocation provides a more convenient location for its customers and is more economical.

The Company completes minor remodels in existing stores that management believes provide ample size and facilities to support the local customer base but require merchandising and operational improvements. In a minor remodel the Company will also make cosmetic changes to give the store a new look and feel. Minor remodels generally include repainting, remodeling and upgrading of the lighting throughout the store. Additionally, the Company refurbishes existing equipment and adds selected new equipment in the remodeling process. As part of a minor remodel, the Company remerchandises the store including the broadening of product and service offerings.

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When the Company remodels, expands or relocates an existing store, it uses that opportunity to retrain the employees of that store and reemphasize customer service.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the Company’s new store development and store remodeling activities and the effect this program has had on the average size of its stores.

The Company has historically expanded its store base by acquiring or leasing supermarket sites and constructing stores to its specifications. From time to time, however, the Company may consider the acquisition of existing supermarkets as such opportunities become available.

The Company’s ability to open new stores is subject to many factors, including the acquisition of satisfactory sites and the successful negotiation of new leases, and may be limited by zoning and other governmental regulation. In addition, the Company’s expansion, remodeling and replacement plans are continually reviewed and are subject to change. See the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s capital expenditures.

Competition

The supermarket industry is highly competitive and characterized by narrow profit margins. The degree of competition the Company’s stores face varies by location, primarily based on the size of the community the store is located in and its proximity to other communities. The Company’s principal competitors are, in alphabetical order, Bi-Lo, Inc., Food Lion, Inc., The Kroger Co., Inc., Publix Supermarkets, Inc., and Wal-Mart, Inc. Increasingly over the last few years, competition for consumers’ food dollars has intensified due to the addition of, or increase in, food sections by many types of retailers such as specialty grocers, drug and convenience stores, national general merchandisers and discount retailers, membership clubs, warehouse stores and super centers. Also, the consumer trend of eating out has made restaurants another significant competitor for food dollars.

Supermarket chains generally compete on the basis of location, quality of products, service, price, convenience, product variety and store condition.

The Company believes its competitive advantages include convenient locations, the quality of service it provides its customers, competitive pricing, product variety and quality and a pleasant shopping environment, which is enhanced by its ongoing modernization program.

The Company’s strategy is to place its supermarkets in suburban areas, small towns and rural communities. Because the Company has operated in many of its markets longer than its competitors, it has been able to place its stores in prime locations. Furthermore, unlike many of its competitors, the Company owns property on which a majority of its stores are located, allowing it the flexibility to expand the store when needed.

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By concentrating its operations within a relatively small geographic region, the Company is also positioned to more carefully monitor its markets, and the needs of its customers within those markets. The top management of the Company is living and working in its operating region allowing management to quickly identify changes in needs and customer preference. Given the Company’s size, such managers have direct access to corporate management and are able to receive quick approval to requested changes in operations. The Company can then move quickly to make adjustments in its business in response to changes in the market and customer needs. The Ingles Advantage Savings and Reward Card provides information to better understand the Company’s customers’ shopping patterns in various demographic categories and to develop targeted marketing programs based on this information.

The Company supports its quality image by carrying high quality perishable items. One major quality advantage of the Company is that it offers its customers USDA Choice beef cut by butchers located in the stores. Many of Ingles’ competitors do not offer USDA Choice beef and do not have butchers located in their stores. The Company has expanded its offering of certified organic products to include organic dairy, perishable and frozen items. The Company also carries a wide variety of produce, quality private label brands plus a variety of popular national and regional brands.

The Company’s large national and international competitors’ primary advantages are related to their size. These larger organizations may have an advantage through stronger buying power and more significant capital resources. Certain competitors, such as super centers, may be able to operate with smaller margins in the food sections of their stores by relying on their higher margins on the general merchandise sections of their stores to compensate.

The Company’s management monitors competitive activity and regularly reviews and periodically adjusts the Company’s marketing and business strategies as management deems appropriate in light of existing conditions in the Company’s region. The Company’s ability to remain competitive in its changing markets will depend in part on its ability to pursue its expansion and renovation programs and its response to remodeling and new store openings by its competitors.

Seasonality

Sales in the grocery segment of the Company’s business are subject to a slight seasonal variance due to holiday related sales and due to sales in areas where seasonal homes are located. Sales are traditionally higher in the Company’s first fiscal quarter due to the inclusion of sales related to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Company’s second fiscal quarter traditionally has the lowest sales of the year. In the third and fourth quarter, sales are affected by the return of customers to seasonal homes in our market area. The fluid dairy segment of the Company’s business has slight seasonal variation to the extent of its sales into the grocery industry. The Company’s real estate segment is not subject to seasonal variations.

Employees and Labor Relations

At September 24, 2005, the Company had approximately 15,200 employees, of which 92% are supermarket personnel. Approximately 56% of these employees work on a part-time basis. None of the employees are represented by a labor union. Management considers employee relations to be good. The Company values its employees and believes that employee loyalty and enthusiasm are key elements of its operating performance.

Trademarks and Licenses

The Company employs various trademarks and service marks in its business, the most important of which are its own “Laura Lynn” private label trademark and the “Ingles” service mark. The “Ingles” service mark, “Laura Lynn” trademark and the service mark “You get a lot more. You pay a lot less.” are federally registered in the United States pursuant to applicable intellectual property laws and are the property of Ingles. In addition, the

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Company uses the “Sealtest,” “Pet,” “Biltmore” and “Light N’ Lively” trademarks pursuant to agreements entered into in connection with its milk, fruit juice and spring water processing and packaging operations. The Company believes it has all licenses and permits necessary to conduct its business.

The current expiration dates for the trade and service marks are: “Ingles”—December 9, 2015, “Laura Lynn”—March 13, 2014, “Land O’ Sky”—April 17, 2010 and “You get a lot more. You pay a lot less.” —September 24, 2006. Each registration may be renewed for an additional ten-year term prior to its expiration. The Company intends to file all renewals timely. Each of the Company’s trademark license agreements has a one year term which, with respect to one license, is automatically renewed annually, unless the owner of the trademark provides notice of termination prior to the then expiration date and, with respect to the other licenses, are renewed periodically by letter from the licensor. The Company currently has six pending applications for additional trademarks or service marks.

Environmental Matters

Under applicable environmental laws, the Company may be responsible for remediation of environmental conditions and may be subject to associated liabilities relating to its stores and other buildings and the land on which such stores and other buildings are situated (including responsibility and liability related to its operation of its gas stations and the storage of gasoline in underground storage tanks), regardless of whether the Company leases or owns the stores, other buildings or land in question and regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by the Company or by a prior owner or tenant. The Company’s liabilities may also include costs and judgments resulting from lawsuits brought by private litigants. The presence of contamination from hazardous or toxic substances, or the failure to properly remediate such contaminated property, may adversely affect the Company’s ability to sell or rent such real property or to borrow using such real property as collateral. Although the Company typically conducts a limited environmental review prior to acquiring or leasing new stores, other buildings or raw land, there can be no assurance that environmental conditions relating to prior, existing or future stores, other buildings or the real properties on which such stores or other buildings are situated will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Federal, state and local governments could enact laws or regulations concerning environmental matters that affect the Company’s operations or facilities or increase the cost of producing or distributing the Company’s products. The Company believes that it currently conducts its operations, and in the past has conducted its operations, in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws. The Company, however, cannot predict the environmental liabilities that may result from legislation or regulations adopted in the future, the effect of which could be retroactive. Nor can the Company predict how existing or future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted or what environmental conditions may be found to exist at its facilities or at other properties where the Company or its predecessors have arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances. The enactment of more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws and regulations could require expenditures by the Company, some of which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Government Regulation

The Company is subject to regulation by a variety of governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and other federal, state and local agencies. The Company’s stores are also subject to local laws regarding zoning, land use and the sale of alcoholic beverages. The Company believes that its locations are in material compliance with such laws and regulations.

Item 2. PROPERTIES

Owned Properties

The Company owns and operates 74 shopping centers, 57 of which contain an Ingles supermarket, and owns 78 additional properties that contain a free-standing Ingles store. The Company also owns 5 undeveloped sites

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which are suitable for a free-standing store or shopping center development. Ingles owns numerous outparcels and other acreage located adjacent to the shopping centers and supermarkets it owns. Real estate owned by the Company is generally located in the same geographic regions as its supermarkets.

In order to maximize the utility of the Company’s real estate portfolio, the Company regularly purchases and sells real estate. During fiscal 2005, the Company spent $6.0 million for the purchase of land. There were no significant real estate sales in fiscal 2005.

The shopping centers owned by the Company contain an aggregate of 5.7 million square feet of leasable space, of which 2.7 million square feet is used by the Company’s supermarkets. The remainder of the leasable space in these shopping centers is leased or held for lease by the Company to third party tenants. A breakdown by size of the shopping centers operated by the Company is as follows:

The Company owns an 810,000 square foot facility, which is strategically located between Interstate 40 and Highway 70 near Asheville, North Carolina, as well as the 73 acres of land on which it is situated. The facility includes the Company’s headquarters and its 780,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center. The property also includes truck servicing and fuel storage facilities.

The Company’s milk processing and packaging subsidiary, Milkco, Inc., owns a 116,000 square foot manufacturing and storage facility in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to the plant, the 11.5 acre property includes truck cleaning and fuel storage facilities.

Certain long-term debt of the Company is secured by the owned properties. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this report on Form 10-K for further details.

Leased Properties

The Company operates supermarkets at 62 locations leased from various unaffiliated third parties. The Company also leases 22 supermarket facilities in which it is not currently operating, 8 of which are subleased to third parties and the remainder are held for lease by the Company. Certain of the leases give the Company the right of first refusal to purchase the entire shopping center in which the supermarkets are located. The majority of these leases require the Company to pay property taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs and certain other expenses incidental to occupation of the premises. In addition to base rent, most leases contain provisions that require the Company to pay additional percentage rent (ranging from 0.75% to 1.5%) if sales exceed a specified amount.

Rental rates generally range from $1.67 to $8.17 per square foot. During fiscal years 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company paid a total of $17.4 million, $18.8 million and $18.8 million, respectively, in supermarket rent, exclusive of property taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs and other expenses. The following table summarizes lease expiration dates as of September 24, 2005, with respect to the initial and any renewal option terms of leased supermarkets:

Management believes that the long-term rent stability provided by these leases is a valuable asset of the Company.

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Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

SEC Investigation

As was initially disclosed in December 2004, during 2004, the SEC initiated an informal inquiry regarding the accounting for a vendor contract the Company entered into in 2002. Through the inquiry, the SEC requested certain documentation regarding that vendor contract, other vendor contracts entered into from 2002 through 2004, and related information and documents regarding the Company’s accounting for vendor allowances. The Audit Committee of Ingles’ Board of Directors conducted an internal review, with assistance of independent counsel, of the accounting issues arising out of the inquiry and related accounting issues regarding vendor contracts. As a result, the Company restated its financial statements for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2004. In May 2005, the SEC issued a formal order of private investigation in the name of the Company. The Company has been cooperating with the SEC and continues to do so since its last communication in August 2005 with respect to the formal investigation. The Company is not currently able to predict the outcome of the SEC investigation.

Shareholder Derivative Claim

On June 15, 2005, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a shareholder derivative suit on behalf of the Company against certain current and former individual members of the Company’s Board of Directors and against the Company as a nominal defendant in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The suit alleges that the defendant Directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to implement appropriate internal controls. The suit seeks from the Directors damages in an unspecified amount allegedly sustained by the Company, as well as disgorgement by certain Directors to the Company of salaries and bonuses received by those Directors between 2002 and 2005. The Company’s Board of Directors appointed an independent committee, which retained independent counsel, to review the suit and evaluate whether maintenance of the derivative proceeding was in the best interest of the Company. After an investigation, the independent committee concluded that the maintenance of the derivative proceeding was not in the best interest of the Company. On October 10, 2005, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the derivative proceeding. No amount is currently recorded as the outcome of the case is not known and any potential loss is not estimable.

Various legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business are pending against the Company. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, from all pending legal proceedings and claims would not materially affect the Company’s financial position or the results of its operations.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of the security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

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PART II

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Market Information

The Company has two classes of Common Stock: Class A and Class B. Class A Common Stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market under the symbol IMKTA. There is no public market for the Company’s Class B Common Stock. However, under the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, any holder of Class B Common Stock may convert any portion or all of the holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock at any time.

As of December 1, 2005, there were approximately 853 holders of record of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and 189 holders of record of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. The following table sets forth the reported high and low closing sales price for the Class A Common Stock during the periods indicated as reported in the National Market System. The quotations reflect actual inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

On December 1, 2005, the closing sales price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market was $17.00 per share.

Dividends

The Company has paid cash dividends on its Common Stock in each of the past twenty-five fiscal years, except for the 1984 fiscal year when the Company paid a 3% stock dividend. During both fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 the Company paid annual dividends totaling $0.66 per share of Class A Common Stock and $0.60 per share of Class B Common Stock, paid in quarterly installments of $0.165 and $0.15 per share, respectively. The Company’s last dividend payment was made on October 18, 2005 to common stockholders of record on October 6, 2005.

The Company expects to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors periodically reconsiders the declaration of dividends. The Company pays these dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The continuation of these payments, the amount of such dividends, and the form in which the dividends are paid (cash or stock) depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant. The payment of dividends is also subject to restrictions contained in certain financing arrangements. (See Note 6 “Long-Term Debt and Short-Term Loans” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this report on Form 10-K.)

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of September 24, 2005 with respect to the Company’s shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued under its existing equity compensation plans.

The Company does not have any equity compensation plans not approved by its stockholders.

Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data set forth below has been derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The information should be read in conjunction with the information under the heading “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION” and in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

Selected Income Statement Data for the Year Ended September

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Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

Ingles, a leading supermarket chain in the Southeast United States, operates 197 supermarkets in Georgia (76), North Carolina (63), South Carolina (35), Tennessee (20), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1). The Company locates its supermarkets primarily in suburban areas, small towns and rural communities. Ingles supermarkets offer customers a wide variety of nationally advertised food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods and other perishables and non-food products, including health and beauty care products and general merchandise, as well as quality private label items. In addition, the Company focuses on selling high-growth, high-margin products to its customers through the development of book sections, media centers, floral departments, bakery departments and prepared foods including delicatessen sections. During fiscal 2000, the Company began adding fuel centers and pharmacies at select store locations. As of September 24, 2005, the Company operates 40 in-store pharmacies and 26 fuel centers.

Ingles also operates two other lines of business, fluid dairy processing and shopping center rentals. The fluid dairy processing segment sells approximately 30% of its products to the retail grocery segment and approximately 70% of its products to third parties. Real estate ownership (including the shopping center rental segment) is an important component of the Company’s operations, providing both operational and economic benefit.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of Ingles’ financial condition and results of operations, and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

Self-Insurance

The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverages. Self-insurance reserves are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The majority of the Company’s properties are self-insured for casualty losses and business interruption; however, liability coverage is maintained.

Asset Impairments

The Company tests for impairment of long-lived assets annually unless events and changes in circumstances indicate that additional testing is necessary. The Company accounts for the impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144. For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal specialists. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation.

Closed Store Accrual

For properties closed prior to December 31, 2002 that were under long-term lease agreements, the present value of any remaining liability under the lease, discounted using risk-free rates and net of expected sublease

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recovery, is recognized as a liability and expensed. For all store closures subsequent to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146 effective December 31, 2002, the liability is recognized and expensed based on the difference between the present value of any remaining liability under the lease and the present value of the estimated market rate at which the Company expects to be able to sublease the properties. The Company’s estimates of market rates are based on its experience, knowledge and typical third-party advice or market data. If the real estate and leasing markets change, sublease recovery could vary significantly from the recoveries originally assumed, resulting in a material change in the Company’s recorded liability.

Vendor Allowances

The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances include volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendor’s products. Whenever possible, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the initial purchase is sold. Amounts that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs, such as advertising, are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred.

Tax Contingencies

Despite the Company’s belief that its tax positions are consistent with applicable tax laws, the Company believes that certain positions are likely to be challenged by taxing authorities. Settlement of any challenge can result in no change, a complete disallowance, or some partial adjustment reached through negotiations or litigation. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company’s tax contingencies. The Company’s contingencies are adjusted in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of its tax audits as well as evolving case law. Income tax expense includes the impact of contingency provisions and changes to contingencies that the Company considers appropriate. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would require use of cash. Favorable resolution would be recognized as a reduction to income tax expense at the time of resolution.

Results of Operations

Ingles operates on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in September. The consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004 and September 27, 2003, each includes 52 weeks of operations. Comparable store sales are defined as sales by grocery stores in operation for the entire duration of the previous and current fiscal years. Replacement stores and major and minor remodels are included in the comparable store sales calculation. A replacement store is a new store that is opened to replace an existing nearby store that is closed. A major remodel entails substantial remodeling of an existing store and may include additional retail square footage. A minor remodel includes repainting, remodeling and updating the lighting and equipment throughout an existing store. For the fiscal years ended September 24, 2005 and September 25, 2004 comparable store sales include 192 and 190 stores, respectively.

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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected financial information as a percentage of net sales. For information regarding the various segments of the business, reference is made to Note 11 “Lines of Business” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fiscal Year Ended September 24, 2005 Compared to the Fiscal Year Ended September 25, 2004

The Company achieved record sales, gross profit and operating income for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005. Predominant factors were 1) increased comparable store sales, 2) reduced operating and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales, and 3) programs designed to build customer loyalty and improve the overall shopping experience of Ingles’ customers.

Net Sales. Fiscal 2005 was the 41st consecutive year Ingles achieved an increase in net sales. Net sales increased 6.4% to $2.274 billion for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005 from $2.137 billion for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004. Comparable store sales increased $122.1 million or 6.1% for the same period. Ingles operated 197 stores at September 24, 2005 and 196 stores at September 25, 2004. During fiscal 2005, Ingles opened 4 new stores, closed 3 older stores and completed 2 major remodel/expansions. Retail square footage increased 2% to 9.5 million square feet at September 24, 2005 compared to 9.3 million square feet at September 25, 2004.

Ingles introduced its Ingles Advantage Savings and Rewards Card (the “Card”) on the first day of the 2004 fiscal year. The increase in net sales and comparable store sales is partially attributable to the continued success of the Card program, as a majority of grocery sales are to Advantage cardholders. Sales improved in each department except video, with the largest dollar sales growth in gasoline, grocery and meat. Gasoline sales growth is attributable to both an increase in gallons sold and to higher gasoline prices. Grocery and meat are the Company’s two largest departments, accounting for approximately 73% of total dollar sales.

Net sales to outside parties for the Company’s milk processing subsidiary increased 2.0% to $109.1 million for fiscal year 2005 compared to $107.0 million for fiscal year 2004. The sales increase is equally attributable to increased case volume sales and higher prices.

The Company expects moderate sales growth in the upcoming fiscal year and will emphasize growth in higher margin areas such as deli, bakery and other perishable departments. The Company expects that the maturation of new and expanded stores that enhance “one-stop” shopping and convenience-oriented products will also drive sales growth.

Gross Profit. Gross profit for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005, increased $27.2 million or 4.9% to $581.9 million, or 25.6% of sales, compared to $554.7 million, or 26.0% of sales, for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was affected by higher sales growth in lower margin gasoline and pharmacy departments. The overall decline in gross profit margin was partially offset by increased sales and gross profit margins in the higher margin perishable departments.

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In addition to the direct product cost, the cost of goods sold line item for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges. Purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of the Company’s distribution network are included in operating and administrative expenses. The milk processing segment is a manufacturing process. Therefore, all of the costs mentioned above incurred by the milk processing segment are included in the cost of sales line item.

The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to those of other retailers, since some retailers include all of the costs related to their distribution network in cost of goods sold and others, like the Company, exclude a portion of the costs from gross profit, including the costs instead in a line item such as operating and administrative expenses.

Operating and Administrative Expenses. Operating and administrative expenses increased $20.8 million or 4.3% to $496.5 million for the year ended September 24, 2005, from $475.7 million for the year ended September 25, 2004. As a percentage of sales, operating and administrative expenses decreased to 21.8% for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005, compared to 22.3% for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004. A variety of factors contributed to the dollar increase.

A breakdown of the major increases (decreases) in operating and administrative expenses is as follows:

Salaries and wages increased in dollars due to the addition of labor hours required for the increased sales volume, but decreased as a percentage of sales due to the allocation of management salaries over higher sales dollars.

Professional fees increased due to $2.8 million of costs incurred in connection with the previously disclosed internal investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) investigations. Additional increases were attributable to the implementation of the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Repairs and maintenance increased due to replacement and upgrade of product display and other store fixtures.

Depreciation expense decreased due to lower overall capital expenditures and the timing of four new stores opened during the year (one of which is leased and three of which are owned), and two major remodel/expansions completed during the year.

Store supplies increased consistent with sales increases, especially in deli and bakery departments where supplies and packaging were upgraded. Increased petrochemical costs resulted in higher plastic costs used in packaging.

Bank charges rose primarily due to increased fees for processing debit and credit cards. The increase is a result of both increased usage of cards and increased transaction fees related to the usage.

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Utilities increased primarily due to increased gasoline costs.

Insurance costs increased in the areas of employee medical insurance and workers compensation insurance.

Rental Income, Net. Rental income, net decreased $0.9 million to $6.2 million for the 2005 year from $7.1 million for the 2004 year. Gross rental income decreased $0.5 million, while shopping center expenses increased $0.4 million for the period. The sale of shopping centers in fiscal 2004 in which Ingles was not a tenant and the relocation of tenants to stand alone sites all contributed to decreased gross rental income.

Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased $11.5 million to $2.2 million for the year ended September 24, 2005 from $13.7 million for the year ended September 25, 2004. Fiscal year 2004 results include net gains on the disposals of property and equipment totaling $11.8 million, including gains of $8.2 million on the sale of two shopping centers that did not contain an Ingles store, gains of $2.3 million from the sale of five outparcels adjacent to Ingles operating properties, a gain of $1.9 million from the sale of one undeveloped tract of land and a loss of $0.4 million due to the partial loss of tenant property in a shopping center due to fire. There were no significant real estate sales in fiscal year 2005.

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $2.8 million for the year ended September 24, 2005 to $50.9 million from $53.7 million for the year ended September 25, 2004, due primarily to the repayment of $33.0 million of principal debt during fiscal year 2005. Total debt at September 24, 2005 was $569.4 million compared to $602.4 million at September 25, 2004.

Income Taxes. Income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income increased to 38.0% for the 2005 fiscal year compared to 37.5% for the 2004 fiscal year due to a larger percentage of income allocated to higher tax jurisdictions.

Net Income. Net income decreased $2.2 million or 7.6% for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005 to $26.6 million from $28.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004. Comparing fiscal year 2005 to fiscal year 2004, income from operations increased $5.6 million and interest expense decreased $2.8 million, offset by $11.8 million of gains on sale of real estate in fiscal 2004. Net income, as a percentage of sales, was 1.2% for the fiscal 2005 period compared to 1.3% for the fiscal 2004 period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.10 and $1.22 for fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Fiscal Year Ended September 25, 2004 Compared to the Fiscal Year Ended September 27, 2003

Results for fiscal 2004 were strong due primarily to continued growth in both net sales and comparable store sales and a reduction in operating and administrative expenses, as a percentage of sales. Programs designed to build customer loyalty and improve the overall shopping experience of Ingles’ customers continued to result in earnings growth.

Net Sales. Fiscal 2004 was the 40th consecutive year Ingles achieved an increase in net sales and the first year the Company has exceeded the $2 billion sales level. Net sales increased 7.4% to $2.137 billion for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004 from $1.991 billion for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2003. Comparable store sales increased $123.2 million or 6.7% for the same period. Ingles operated 196 stores at September 25, 2004 and 198 stores at September 27, 2003. During fiscal 2004, Ingles opened two new stores, replaced one store, closed four older stores and completed two major remodel/expansions and two minor remodels. Retail square footage increased 0.2% to 9.3 million square feet at September 25, 2004 compared to 9.2 million square feet at September 27, 2003.

Ingles introduced the Card on the first day of the 2004 fiscal year. The increase in net sales and comparable store sales is partially attributable to the success of the Card program. Sales improved in each department; however sales growth in the meat department outpaced the other perishable departments, due primarily to inflation in meat prices and the trend toward low carbohydrate diets.

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Net sales to outside parties for the Company’s milk processing subsidiary increased 14.0% to $107.0 million for fiscal year 2004 compared to $93.8 million for fiscal year 2003. The sales increase was primarily attributable to an increase in raw milk costs in the 2004 fiscal year, compared to the 2003 fiscal year, which is passed on to the subsidiary’s customers in the pricing of milk products. The increase in sales was partially offset by the loss of two high margin food service cream accounts.

Gross Profit. Gross profit for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, increased $31.3 million or 6.0% to $554.7 million, or 26.0% of sales, compared to $523.4 million, or 26.3% of sales, for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2003. Gross profit as a percentage of sales in the grocery department declined due to increased promotional activity surrounding the Card introduction. The decline was partially offset by increased sales and gross profit margins in the higher margin perishable departments.

In addition to the direct product cost, the cost of goods sold line item for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges. Purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of the Company’s distribution network are included in operating and administrative expenses. The milk processing segment is a manufacturing process. Therefore, all of the costs mentioned above incurred by the milk processing segment are included in the cost of sales line item.

The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to those of other retailers, since some retailers include all of the costs related to their distribution network in cost of goods sold and others, like the Company, exclude a portion of the costs from gross profit, including the costs instead in a line item such as operating and administrative expenses.

Operating and Administrative Expenses. Operating and administrative expenses increased $7.8 million or 1.7% to $475.7 million for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, from $467.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2003. As a percentage of sales, operating and administrative expenses decreased to 22.3% for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, compared to 23.5% for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2003. A variety of factors contributed to the dollar increase.

A breakdown of the major increases (decreases) in operating and administrative expenses is as follows:

Salaries and wages increased in dollars due to the addition of labor hours required for the increased sales volume, but decreased as a percentage of sales due to the allocation of management salaries over higher sales dollars.

Equipment rent declined due to the purchase during fiscal 2004 of $9.6 million in existing store equipment that was previously under an operating lease.

Depreciation expense increased due to two new stores opened during the year, one of which is leased and one of which is owned, as well as one replacement store and two major remodel/expansions completed during the year. The purchase of the store equipment mentioned above that was previously under an operating lease also contributed to the depreciation expense increase.

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Bank charges rose primarily due to increased fees for processing debit and credit cards. The increase is a result of both increased usage of cards and increased transaction fees related to the usage.

Advertising and promotion expense decreased due to the revamping of the Company’s advertising program including the elimination of less effective promotions and the renegotiation of agreements with major advertising vendors resulting in the reduction of ongoing charges.

Taxes and licenses increased primarily due to increased property tax expense and higher payroll taxes as a result of increased salaries and wages.

Insurance expense increased primarily due to higher premiums for liability coverages and increased workers compensation expense.

Warehousing and transportation expense and utilities increased primarily due to higher fuel costs.

Rental Income, Net. Rental income, net decreased $1.2 million to $7.1 million for the 2004 year from $8.3 million for the 2003 year. Gross rental income decreased $1.1 million, while shopping center expenses increased $0.1 million for the period. The sale of shopping centers in September 2003 and January 2004 in which Ingles was not a tenant, the rejection of certain leases in bankruptcy proceedings of K-Mart and Price Cutters and the relocation of several drug stores from shopping centers to stand alone sites all decreased gross rental income. Partially offsetting these decreases was rent from a tenant in a stand alone retail store purchased by the Company during the beginning of fiscal 2004.

Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased $1.3 million to $13.7 million for the year ended September 25, 2004 from $15.0 million for the year ended September 27, 2003.

Fiscal year 2004 includes net gains on the disposals of property and equipment totaling $11.8 million, including gains of $8.2 million on the sale of two shopping centers that did not contain an Ingles store, gains of $2.3 million from the sale of five outparcels adjacent to Ingles operating properties, a gain of $1.9 million from the sale of one undeveloped tract of land and a loss of $0.4 million due to the partial loss of tenant property in a shopping center due to fire.

Fiscal year 2003 includes net gains of $13.5 million, including a gain of $11.7 million on the sale of a shopping center that did not contain an Ingles store and a gain of $1.1 million on the sale of a free standing retail location that no longer contained an Ingles store.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $1.8 million for the year ended September 25, 2004 to $53.7 million from $51.9 million for the year ended September 27, 2003. In May 2003, the Company issued an additional $100 million of its existing 8 ⁷/8% Senior Subordinated Notes, due December 2011 (the “Notes”) for a total of $349.8 million. A portion of the proceeds was used to repay $30.5 million of existing debt. Debt retired with the proceeds from the Notes generally had lower interest rates but shorter maturity than the Notes. Total debt at September 25, 2004 was $602.4 million compared to $641.0 million at September 27, 2003.

Income Taxes. Income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income increased to 37.6% for the September 2004 fiscal year compared to 36.6% for the 2003 fiscal year.

Net Income. Net income increased $11.7 million or 69.0% for the year ended September 25, 2004 to $28.7 million from $17.0 million for the year ended September 27, 2003. Net income, as a percentage of sales, was 1.3% for the fiscal 2004 period compared to 0.9% for the fiscal 2003 period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.22 and $0.74 for 2004 and 2003, respectively.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company believes that a key to its ability to continue to develop a loyal customer base is providing conveniently located, clean and modern stores which provide customers with good service and a broad selection of competitively priced products. As such, the Company has invested and will continue to invest significant amounts of capital toward the modernization of its store base. The Company’s modernization program includes the opening of new stores, the completion of major remodels and expansion of selected existing stores, the relocation of selected existing stores to larger, more convenient locations and the completion of minor remodeling of its remaining existing stores.

Capital expenditures totaled $59.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005, including the opening of four new stores, major remodel and expansion of two stores, and the opening of five fuel stations. Capital expenditures also included the purchase of three store sites, and additional land adjacent to an existing store. Capital expenditures included the costs of upgrading and replacing store equipment, technology investments, capital expenditures related to the Company’s distribution operation and its milk processing plant, and expenditures for stores to open in fiscal 2006.

Capital expenditures totaled $71.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, including the opening of two new stores, the replacement of one store, major remodel and expansion of two stores, minor remodels at two stores and the opening of four fuel stations. Capital expenditures also included the purchase of four store sites, two shopping centers in which Ingles is a tenant, one free standing retail store leased to another retailer and one free standing Ingles retail store. Also included in the 2004 capital expenditure amount is the purchase of $9.6 million of existing store equipment previously under an operating lease. Capital expenditures included the costs of upgrading and replacing store equipment, technology investments, capital expenditures related to the Company’s distribution operation and its milk processing plant, and expenditures for stores to open in fiscal 2005.

Ingles’ capital expenditure plans for fiscal 2006 include investments of approximately $75 million. The Company plans to open five new or replacement stores and add fuel stations at three existing stores. Expenditures will also include investments in stores expected to open in fiscal 2007 as well as technology improvements, upgrading and replacing existing store equipment and warehouse and transportation equipment and improvements to the Company’s milk processing plant.

The Company expects that its net annual capital expenditures will remain in the range of approximately $65 to $75 million going forward in order to maintain a modern store base. The number of projects pursued during each fiscal year could decline to some degree as the Company increases the average size of stores being built. The number of projects may also fluctuate due to the varying costs of the types of projects pursued including new stores, major remodel/expansions or minor remodels. The Company makes decisions on the allocation of capital expenditure dollars based on many factors including the competitive environment, other Company capital initiatives and its financial condition.

The Company does not generally enter into commitments for capital expenditures other than on a store-by-store basis at the time it begins construction on a new store or begins a major or minor remodeling project. The Company generally engages in major remodeling and new store development on not more than three or four locations at a time. Construction commitments at September 24, 2005 totaled $16.6 million.

Liquidity

The Company generated $72.9 million of cash from operations in fiscal 2005.

Cash used by investing activities totaled $59.0 million comprised of $59.9 million of capital expenditures during the period, partially offset by $0.9 million of proceeds from the sale of assets.

During fiscal year 2005, the Company’s financing activities used $43.9 million in cash, including principal payments on long-term debt of $33.0 million and dividend payments of $15.2 million, offset in part by cash received from the exercise of stock options of $4.3 million.

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At September 24, 2005, the Company had committed lines of credit with five banks totaling $135.0 million. No amounts were borrowed under the lines of credit at September 24, 2005; however letters of credit totaling $12.9 million reduced the amount available to be drawn under these lines to $122.1 million at September 24, 2005. The lines of credit mature in October and November 2006. The lines provide the Company with various interest rate options generally at rates less than prime. The Company is not required to maintain compensating balances in connection with these lines of credit. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to these lines of credit at September 24, 2005.

At September 24, 2005, the Company had $349.8 million principal amount of senior unsubordinated notes (the “Notes”) outstanding to mature in December 2011. The indenture governing the Notes contains certain restrictive covenants related to, among other things, the incurrence of indebtedness and the payment of dividends. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to the Notes at September 24, 2005.

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are expected to be cash flow from operations, borrowings under its lines of credit and long-term financing. As of September 24, 2005, the Company had unencumbered real property and equipment with a net book value of approximately $407.6 million. The Company believes, based on its current results of operations and financial condition, that its financial resources, including existing bank lines of credit, short- and long-term financing expected to be available to it and internally generated funds, will be sufficient to meet planned capital expenditures and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including any debt service requirements of additional borrowings. However, there can be no assurance that any such sources of financing will be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all.

It is possible that, in the future, the Company’s results of operations and financial condition will be different from that described in this report based on a number of intangible factors. These factors may include, among others, increased competition, changing regional and national economic conditions, adverse climatic conditions affecting food production and delivery and changing demographics as well as the additional factors discussed below under “Forward Looking Statements”. It is also possible, for such reasons, that the results of operations from the new, expanded, remodeled and/or replacement stores will not meet or exceed the results of operations from existing stores that are described in this report.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The Company has assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the normal course of its operations and financing activities. Financial obligations are considered to represent known future cash payments that the Company is required to make under existing contractual arrangements, such as debt and lease arrangements. The following table represents the scheduled maturities of the Company’s long-term contractual obligations as of September 24, 2005.

Payment Due by Period

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Amounts available to the Company under commercial commitments as of September 24, 2005, were as follows:

Amount of Commitment Expiration per Period

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Quarterly Cash Dividends

Since December 27, 1993, the Company has paid regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.165 per share on its Class A Common Stock and $0.15 per share on its Class B Common Stock for an annual rate of $0.66 and $0.60 per share, respectively.

The Company expects to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors periodically reconsiders the declaration of dividends. The Company pays these dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the continuation of these payments, the amount of such dividends, and the form in which the dividends are paid (cash or stock) depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, certain loan agreements containing provisions outlining minimum tangible net worth requirements restrict the ability of the Company to pay additional dividends to approximately $66.9 million based on tangible net worth at September 24, 2005. Further, the Company is prevented from declaring dividends at any time that it is in default under the indenture governing the Notes. In addition, the terms of the indenture may restrict the ability of the Company to pay additional dividends based on certain financial parameters.

Impact of Inflation

Inflation in food prices during fiscal 2005 was lower than the overall increase in the Consumer Price Index. Inflation in gasoline prices during fiscal 2005 was higher than the overall increase in the Consumer Price Index. Inflation in food prices during fiscal 2004 and 2003 was slightly higher than the overall increase in the Consumer Price Index. One of the Company’s significant costs is labor, which increases with inflation.

New Accounting Pronouncements

For new accounting pronouncements, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Forward Looking Statements

This Annual Report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “seek” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements and the related assumptions are made in good faith and reflect the Company’s current judgment regarding the

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direction of the Company’s business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Such statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Some of these assumptions inevitably will not materialize, and unanticipated events will occur which will affect the Company’s results. Some important factors (but not necessarily all factors) that affect the Company’s revenues, growth strategies, future profitability and operating results, or that otherwise could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statement, include: business and economic conditions generally in the Company’s operating area; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its expansion and operating strategies and to manage rapid expansion; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; the Company’s ability to reduce costs and achieve improvements in operating results; the availability and terms of financing; increases in labor and utility costs; success or failure in the ownership and development of real estate; changes in the laws and government regulations applicable to the Company; the ultimate resolution of the Commission’s investigation of the Company; and changes in accounting policies, standards, guidelines or principles as may be adopted by regulatory agencies as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Consequently, actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the Company’s operations may vary significantly from those described in this report or contemplated or implied by statements in this report.

Item 7(a). QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

The Company is exposed to changes in financial market conditions in the normal course of its business as a result of its use of bank debt to finance its retail grocery and real estate lines of business.

The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of its borrowing activities, which include borrowings under lines of credit, real estate and equipment financing and the Notes. The lines of credit, along with cash flow from operations, are used to maintain liquidity and fund business operations. The Company typically replaces borrowings under its lines of credit, as necessary, with both long-term secured and unsecured fixed rate financing. The nature and amount of the Company’s debt may vary as a result of future business requirements, market conditions and other factors. The definitive extent of the Company’s interest rate risk is not quantifiable or predictable because of the variability of future interest rates and business financing requirements, but the Company does not believe such risk is material. The Company does not customarily use derivative instruments to adjust the Company’s interest rate risk profile.

The table below presents principal amounts and related weighted average rates by year of maturity for the Company’s debt obligations at September 24, 2005 and September 25, 2004, respectively (in thousands):

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The Company does not typically utilize financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes, nor does it typically utilize leveraged financial instruments. On the basis of the fair value of the Company’s market sensitive instruments at September 24, 2005, the Company does not consider the potential near-term losses in future earnings, fair values and cash flows from reasonable possible near-term changes in interest rates and exchange rates to be material.

Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The Company has assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of September 24, 2005 using the criteria described in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (or the COSO criteria).

Based on the COSO criteria, management has identified certain control deficiencies that represent material weaknesses. A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a control deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Specifically, the material weaknesses identified were:

Segregation of Duties

Management identified two different areas where the lack of appropriate segregation of duties constituted a material weakness.

Information Technology General Controls

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Vendor Income

The Company has previously identified deficiencies in controls and procedures relative to certain vendor related programs and, as a result, conducted an internal investigation which resulted in a restatement of the Company’s fiscal year 2002 and 2003 financial statements. Subsequent to the restatement, the Company attempted to implement additional controls and procedures designed to ensure vendor income was recorded completely, accurately and timely. The changes were not sufficient to correct all weaknesses in the design of such controls. As such, the controls and procedures for vendor income are not sufficient to ensure that all vendor income is properly recorded. In addition, in the current fiscal year there has been a lack of compliance with these procedures by certain Company associates.

Vendor income related control deficiencies could result in material misstatements of revenue, accounts receivable, cost of sales, accounts payable and deferred revenue balances in the Company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.

Based on its assessment of the design and related testing of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and as a result of the material weaknesses described above, management has concluded that, as of September 24, 2005, the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria in the COSO framework.

Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 24, 2005 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.

The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are included on pages 31 through 54 of this report on Form 10-K:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statements;

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Controls;

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 24, 2005 and September 25, 2004;

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004, and September 27, 2003;

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004, and September 27, 2003;

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004, and September 27, 2003;

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements;

Selected quarterly financial data required by this Item is included in Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

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Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the objective that information in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified and pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, include controls and procedures designed to ensure the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. It should be noted that the Company’s system of controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met.

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of September 24, 2005, the end of the period covered by this report.

Based on our evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 24, 2005 because of the material weaknesses described in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting is included with the financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

In light of the material weaknesses described above, management performed additional analyses and other procedures to ensure that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, management believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present in all material respects the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

Remediation Efforts

Because of the delayed filing of the Company’s fiscal year 2004 annual report on Form 10-K and of the first quarter fiscal year 2005 quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and because of turnover among senior financial management, management was delayed in beginning its assessment of internal controls for financial reporting until late in the third quarter of this fiscal year. Remediation efforts to date for internal control weaknesses have accordingly been limited. Remediation efforts currently in progress include:

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(c) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

Certain control and procedures matters were previously identified and disclosed in connection with the Company’s filing of its Form 10-K for fiscal 2004, including material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting identified during the prior years’ internal investigation of certain vendor allowances and related accounting. Another material weakness was disclosed related to the financial statement period closing process regarding the recognition of tenant reimbursement of expenses paid by the Company. Finally, a material weakness was disclosed related to accounting for leasehold improvements and incomplete review of certain leasing transactions. The Company made control changes for these matters during the fourth quarter of the 2005 fiscal year as follows:

Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

During the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005 the Company adopted an Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan to provide benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan (described in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) to certain of the Company’s management employees.

PART III

Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the data under the heading “ELECTION OF DIRECTORS” in the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the Commission.

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its senior financial officers, including without limitation, its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. The full text of the Code of Ethics is published on the Company’s website at www.ingles-markets.com under the caption “Corporate Governance.” In the event that the Company makes any amendments to, or grants any waivers of, a provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, the Company intends to disclose such amendment or waiver on its website. Information on the Company’s website, however, does not form a part of this Form 10-K.

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the data under the heading “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” in the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the Commission.

Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the data under the heading “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS” in the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the Commission.

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Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the data under the headings “ELECTION OF DIRECTORS—Additional Information with Respect to Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions” and “CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS” in the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the Commission.

Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference form the data under the heading “RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS” in the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the Commission.

PART IV

Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

1. The following financial statements of the Registrant are included in response to Item 8 of this 10-K:

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 24, 2005 and September 25, 2004;

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004, and September 27, 2003;

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004, and September 27, 2003;

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 24, 2005, September 25, 2004, and September 27, 2003;

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2. The following financial statement schedule of the Registrant required by Item 8 and Item 15(d) of Form 10-K is included as page 54 of this report:

Schedule II—Supplemental schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts.

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.

3. The following exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and Item 15(c) of Form 10-K are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as indicated.

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EXHIBIT NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION

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(b) Exhibits—The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted in the response to Item 15(a)(3) of this report.

(c) Financial Statement Schedules—The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted in the response to Item 15(a)(2) of this report.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Ingles Markets, Incorporated

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and subsidiaries as of September 24, 2005 and September 25, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 24, 2005. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and subsidiaries at September 24, 2005 and September 25, 2004, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 24, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 24, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated December 5, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of, and an adverse opinion on the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting.

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Greenville, South Carolina

December 5, 2005

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Ingles Markets, Incorporated

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting included at Item 8, that Ingles Markets, Incorporated did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 24, 2005, because of the effect of material weaknesses related to (i) segregation of duties, (ii) information technology general controls and (iii) vendor income, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management’s assessment:

(i) Management did not maintain effective controls over segregation of duties in certain areas. In the accounts payable department, certain Company associates had the ability to establish vendor files, process payments and process general ledger journal entries. Additionally, due to turnover among the Company’s senior financial management, the ability to change the Company’s chart of accounts was not segregated from the processing and approval of general ledger journal entries.

(ii) Management did not maintain effective information technology general controls relative to controls governing logical access to the Company’s computer systems and change controls for modifications and additions to the Company’s information systems network. As a result of these control deficiencies, management recorded material adjustments to vendor income, cost of sales, accounts receivable and accounts payable balances within the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005.

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(iii) Management did not maintain effective controls over the complete, accurate and timely recording of vendor income. Additionally, certain Company associates did not comply with existing controls related to vendor income due to a lack of understanding of the objectives of the controls and procedures for vendor income and training as to utilization of such controls. In the Company’s fiscal year 2004 Form 10K filing, the Company restated certain fiscal year 2003 and 2002 amounts related to vendor income as result of the lack of effective controls during those periods.

These material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2005 financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated December 5, 2005 on those financial statements.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that Ingles Markets, Incorporated did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 24, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO control criteria. Also, in our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, Ingles Markets, Incorporated has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 24, 2005, based on the COSO control criteria.

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Greenville, South Carolina

December 5, 2005

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INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

SEPTEMBER 24, 2005 AND SEPTEMBER 25, 2004

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

SEPTEMBER 24, 2005 AND SEPTEMBER 25, 2004

See notes to consolidated financial statements

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INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 24, 2005,

SEPTEMBER 25, 2004 AND SEPTEMBER 27, 2003