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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 GfH3kNWA/1IEW2FnDH9oLA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-011257.txt : 20030709
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-011257.hdr.sgml : 20030709
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030708191016
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-011257
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030703
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030709

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000069891
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS CARBONATED WATERS [2086]
		IRS NUMBER:				592605822
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE NORTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		BUILDING A 4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33324
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3055810922

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 NORTH UNIVERSITY DR
		CITY:			PLANTATION
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33324

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KLING S LEE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000941694

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14170
		FILM NUMBER:		03779064

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 S BRENTWOOD BLVD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63146
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187872100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 S BRENTWOOD BLVD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bmi83749_bmi01lk2.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000069891</issuerCik><issuerName>NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FIZ</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0000941694</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KLING S LEE</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-03</value></transactio
nDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>14.20</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>93000</value></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Revocable Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Keep Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.52</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transac
tionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-07-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Under the Company
's Key Employee Equity Partnership Program ("KEEP"), Mr. Kling received a grant of 3000 KEEP options on July 3, 2003 for 6000 shares of common stock acquired by Mr. Kling on that date at a purchase price of $14.20 per share. The KEEP options are granted at an initial exercise price of 60 percent of the purchase price for the shares of National Beverage Corp. common stock acquired and reduced to the par value of the Company's stock at the end of the six year vesting period. Reference is made to Exhibit 10-21 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 1998 for a full description of the terms of the KEEP program.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Lee Kling</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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