AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                 DANIEL W. TROTT



         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), effective August 25,
2003, is by and between American Italian Pasta Company ("Employer"), and Daniel
W. Trott, an individual ("Employee") (collectively "the parties") and supersedes
any and all prior oral or written agreements between the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof.

                                   WITNESSETH:

          WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the business of durum wheat milling
and pasta product production/marketing; and

         WHEREAS, in connection with such business, Employer desires to employ
Employee in the capacity of Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of
AIPC and President of AIPC Sales Co.; and

         WHEREAS, Employee desires to be employed by Employer in the aforesaid
capacities.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:

          1. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of Section 7 hereof,
the term of Employee's employment under this Agreement (the "Employment Term")
will commence as of August 25, 2003 (the "Effective Date") and terminate on
September 30, 2006. The provisions of Sections 4, 5 and 6, below, will survive
and continue to be enforceable regardless of any termination of this Agreement.

          2. Duties of Employee.

               2.1 In accepting such employment, Employee shall undertake and
          assume the responsibility of performing for and on behalf of Employer
          such duties as shall be assigned to Employee by Employer at any time
          and from time to time and in accordance with all of Employer's
          policies, practices and procedures. It is understood and agreed that
          Employee's principal duties on behalf of Employer at the date of
          execution hereof are and shall be as described on attached Exhibit B -
          Job Description - as adjusted from time to time and it is further
          understood and agreed that any significant modification in or
          expansion of Employee's duties hereunder shall not, unless
          specifically agreed to by Employee and Employer in a duly-executed
          amendment of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.5 hereof,
          result in any modification in Employee's compensation referred to in
          Section 3 hereof.

               2.2 Employee will to the reasonable satisfaction of Employer at
          all times faithfully, industriously, and to the best of Employee's
          ability, experience, and talents perform

          all of the duties that may be required of and from Employee pursuant
          to the express and implicit terms hereof.

               2.3 Employee shall devote substantially all of Employee's
          professional time, attention, knowledge, and skills solely to the
          business and interests of Employer; provided, however, that Employee
          shall be entitled annually to four (4) weeks vacation, and Employer
          shall be entitled to all of the benefits, profits, and other issues
          arising from or incident to all professional work, services, and
          advice of Employee. Employee will not serve as a member (or advisory
          member) of the board of directors or similar body of any organization,
          whether or not for profit, without the prior approval of the Chief
          Executive Officer of Employer.

          3. Compensation. Employer shall pay Employee, and Employee
shall accept from Employer, in payment for Employee's services rendered to
Employer hereunder an annual base salary ("Base Salary") equal to Two Hundred
Eighty Five Thousand Dollars ($285,000.00) through December 31, 2003 and
thereafter equal to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00). Such Base
Salary shall be paid in equal bi-weekly installments and, in the sole discretion
of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Employer, shall be
subject to annual merit increase reviews.

               3.1 Bonuses. Employer shall pay Employee a one-time signing bonus
          of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) on October 1, 2003,
          provided Employee is employed by Employer as of that date. Thereafter
          during the term of this Agreement, Employee will be eligible to
          participate in and bonuses may be awarded to Employee at the sole
          discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in
          accordance with the terms of Employer's 1998 Salaried Bonus Plan (the
          "Bonus Plan"), as the same may be amended, modified, or terminated
          from time to time, and at the target levels shown on Exhibit A, and in
          accordance with the compensation strategy set by the Compensation
          Committee as described in Employer's proxy statement from time to
          time.

               3.2 Auto Allowance. Employer agrees to lease, for the benefit of
          Employee, an automobile of the same general category as provided to
          the CEO. Employer agrees to be responsible for all expenses of the
          automobile. Employee agrees to be responsible for income taxes
          associated with the personal use of the automobile.

               3.3 Reimbursement of Business Expenses. Employer agrees to
          reimburse Employee for reasonable travel, entertainment, and other
          business expenses incurred in the performance of Employee's duties
          hereunder in accordance with Employer's policies on terms no less
          favorable than those policies in effect immediately prior to the date
          hereof.

               3.4 Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to participate in an
          equitable manner with other senior executive employees of Employer in
          all welfare benefit, incentive compensation, or other plans or
          arrangements authorized, adopted, and maintained from time to time by
          Employer, including, without limitation, the following: profit sharing
          plan, medical reimbursement plan, group life insurance plan, medical
          and dental insurance plan, and long-term disability income plan, if in
          effect with Employer.

                                      -2-

               3.5 Stock Options and Restricted Shares. In addition to the stock
          options and restricted shares to be provided Employee per Schedule A,
          Employer agrees that Employee will participate proportionately in
          future general grants of stock options or restricted shares by
          employer to the executive level group of employees (i.e. Senior VP and
          above). Employer further agrees that Employee will be eligible to
          receive additional stock options and/or restricted shares, upon
          promotions, if any, commensurate with the type and nature of the
          promotion.

               3.6 Benefit Schedule. As further clarification of the
          compensation and benefits to be provided to Employee hereunder,
          Employee will receive the benefits shown on Exhibit A.

          4. Non-Competition, Nonsolicitation and Nondisparagement.

               4.1 Employee acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive
          nature of the business of Employer and its affiliates and accordingly
          agrees as follows: during the Employment Term and until the date that
          is twenty-four (24) months after the date that Employee ceases
          employment with Employer for any reason (the Employment Term and such
          period hereinafter referred to as the "Noncompetition Period"),
          Employee will not, in any area in the world where Employer conducts
          business, directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, be
          employed by, consult with, or be connected in any manner with the
          ownership (other than passive investments of not more than one percent
          of the outstanding shares of, or any other equity interest in, any
          company or entity listed or traded on a national securities exchange
          or in an over-the-counter securities market), management, operation,
          or control of any business engaged in the production and/or marketing
          of pasta products for human consumption, including, without
          limitation, the following (together with any of their affiliates and
          successors): Barilla, New World Pasta, Dakota Growers Pasta Company,
          A. Zerega & Sons, and to the extent they may become engaged in such
          production and/or marketing, General Mills and Kraft Foods.
          Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if
          Employee is employed by Employer, then any breach of the provisions of
          this Section 4.1 shall permit Employer to terminate the employment of
          Employee for Cause (as defined below), and, whether or not Employee is
          employed by Employer, from and after any breach by Employee of the
          provisions of this Section 4.1, then Employer shall cease to have any
          obligations to make payments to Employee under this Agreement.

               4.2 During the Noncompetition Period, Employee will not directly
          or indirectly induce or attempt to induce any employee of Employer or
          any of its affiliates to engage in any activity in which Employee is
          prohibited from engaging by Section 4.1 hereof or to terminate
          Employee's or her employment with Employer or any of its affiliates,
          will not directly or indirectly assist or attempt to assist others in
          engaging in any of the activities in which Employee is prohibited from
          engaging by Section 4.1 hereof, and will not directly or indirectly
          employ or offer employment to any person who was employed by Employer
          or any of its affiliates unless such person shall have ceased to be
          employed by Employer or any of its affiliates for a period of at least
          12 months.

               4.3 During the Noncompetition Period, Employee will not directly
          or indirectly induce or attempt to induce any customer or supplier of
          Employer or any of its

                                      -3-

          affiliates to move, reduce or not increase its trade or business with
          Employer or any of its affiliates.

               4.4 Employee acknowledges and agrees that disparaging or critical
          statements made by Employee about Employer or its board members,
          officers or employees would be uniquely detrimental to the interests
          of both parties. Therefore, during the Noncompetition Period, Employee
          agrees to refrain from making any disparaging or critical statements
          about Employer or its board members, officers or employees.

               4.5 Employee acknowledges that the restrictions contained in
          Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 are reasonable and appropriate.
          Employee also acknowledges that the compensation paid to him under
          this Agreement, including specifically, the grant of restricted shares
          described on Exhibit A, is partially in consideration for Employee's
          covenants under this Section 4. However, in the event that a court of
          competent jurisdiction determines that such restrictions are not
          reasonable and therefore unenforceable, the parties agree that such
          court may modify the restrictions in order for, but only to the least
          extent necessary for, the restrictions to be enforced by such court.
          In the event such court finds that any such restriction cannot be
          modified so as to make it enforceable, such restriction may be deleted
          by such court and the enforceability of all other restrictions will be
          unaffected by such deletion.

          5. Confidentiality. Employee acknowledges that, in and as a result of
Employee's employment by Employer, Employee has been and will be making use of,
acquiring, and/or adding to confidential information of a special and unique
nature and value relating to such matters as Employer's trade secrets, systems,
procedures, manuals, confidential reports, and lists of customers and/or other
services rendered by Employer, the equipment and methods used and preferred by
Employer's customers, and the prices paid by such customers. As a material
inducement to Employer to enter into this Agreement, and to pay to Employee the
compensation referred to in Section 3 hereof, Employee covenants and agrees
Employee shall not, at any time during or after the Employment Term, directly or
indirectly disclose, divulge, or use for Employee's own benefit or purposes or
the benefit or purposes of any other person, firm, partnership, joint venture,
association, corporation, or other business organization, entity, or enterprise
other than Employer and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates any trade secrets,
information, data, or other confidential information relating to customers,
development programs, costs, prices, marketing, trading, investment, sales
activities, promotion, credit and financial data, manufacturing processes,
financing methods, plans, or the business and affairs of Employer generally or
of any subsidiary or affiliate of Employer, provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not apply to information that is not unique to Employer or that
is generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of
breach of this covenant. Employee agrees that, upon termination of Employee's
employment with Employer for any reason, Employee will return to Employer
immediately all memoranda, books, manuals, training materials, records, computer
software, papers, plans, contracts, agreements, information, letters, and other
data, and all copies thereof or therefrom, in any way relating to the business
of Employer and its affiliates, except that Employee may retain personal notes,
notebooks, and diaries. Employee further agrees that Employee will not retain or
use for Employee's account at any time any trade names, trademark, or other
proprietary business designation used or owned in connection with the business
of Employer or its affiliates.


                                     -4-

          6. Specific Performance and Survival.

               6.1 Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employer's remedies at
          law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of
          Section 4 hereof or Section 5 hereof would be inadequate and, in
          recognition of this fact, Employee agrees that, in the event of such a
          breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law,
          Employer, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to obtain
          equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary
          restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction, or any other
          equitable remedy that may then be available.

               6.2 The parties agree that the terms of Sections 4, 5 and 6 are
          independent of and separable from the other provisions of this
          Agreement and that the termination of this Agreement for any reason
          will not affect the continued existence and enforceability of Sections
          4, 5 and 6. Those Sections will survive and continue to be fully
          binding on and enforceable against Employee and Employer after any
          termination of this Agreement.

          7. Termination of Employment

               7.1 Termination without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason.

                    7.1.1 General. (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections
               7.1.2 and 7.1.3 hereof, if Employee's employment is terminated by
               Employer without Cause, as defined in Section 7.3, or if Employee
               resigns from Employee's employment for Good Reason, as defined in
               Section 7.4, then Employer shall pay Employee severance in the
               amount of (i) Employee's accrued unpaid Base Salary to the date
               of termination or resignation and any bonus earned but not paid
               as of that date, and (ii) continuation of Employee's annual Base
               Salary, as adjusted under Section 3.1, as of the date of
               termination or resignation for a period of twelve (12) months
               following the date of termination or resignation (such period
               being referred to hereinafter as the "Severance Period"). In
               addition, if at the time of such termination or resignation
               Employee has completed ten (10) years of uninterrupted service
               with Employer, the severance will include a payment in the amount
               of 50% of the prorated Normal Bonus level to which Employee would
               have been entitled had Employee remained employed through the
               then applicable bonus period. The Normal Bonus level will be
               calculated at the end of the bonus period and is subject to all
               adjustments and reductions determined by the Compensation
               Committee of the Board of Directors and made applicable to all
               bonus plan participants. To the extent such calculation results
               in a bonus to be paid, that amount will be prorated for the
               number of weeks of the bonus period occurring prior to the week
               in which the termination or resignation occurred. The Base Salary
               shall be payable in equal bi-weekly installments during the
               Severance Period, and any bonus shall be payable at the
               conclusion of the Severance Period.

                    (b) During the Severance Period and for a period of six (6)
               months thereafter, Employee, at Employee's sole cost, shall also
               be eligible to participate on the same terms and conditions as in
               effect immediately prior to such termination or resignation in
               all health, medical, supplemental medical, and life insurance
               plans or programs provided to Employee by Employer pursuant to
               Section 3.4 hereof at the time of such termination or resignation
               and which are provided by Employer to its employees following the
               date of such termination or resignation; provided, however, that
               Employee's eligibility to participate in these

                                      -5-

               Employee Welfare Plans shall end at such time as Employee becomes
               eligible to receive coverage under comparable programs of a
               subsequent employer and further provided that if Employee
               participates in the Employee Welfare Plans for a period of
               eighteen (18) months from the date of termination or resignation,
               then Employee's COBRA rights shall commence at the end of such
               eighteen (18) month period. If, during the Severance Period,
               Employee is precluded from participating in any Employee Welfare
               Plan by its terms or applicable law, then Employer will use its
               reasonable commercial efforts to make available to Employee
               benefits that are reasonably equivalent to those Employee would
               have received under such plan had Employee been eligible to
               participate therein. Anything to the contrary herein
               notwithstanding, Employer shall have no obligation to continue to
               maintain any Employee Welfare Plan during the Severance Period
               solely as a result of this Agreement. As an example and solely
               for purposes of illustration: If Employer were to terminate its
               dental insurance plan prior to or during the Severance Period,
               then Employer would have no obligation to maintain such plan or
               provide to Employee individual dental insurance to satisfy its
               obligations under this Section 7.1.1.

                    7.1.2 Mitigation. Employee will be required to mitigate the
               amount of any payment provided for in Section 7.1.1 hereof by
               seeking other employment, and the amount of any such payment will
               be reduced by any compensation earned by Employee as the result
               of Employee's employment by another employer or acting as a
               consultant or in any other self-employed capacity subsequent to
               termination of Employee's employment with Employer.

                    7.1.3 Death During Severance Period. If Employee dies during
               the Severance Period, then the Severance Period shall immediately
               cease, Employer shall not be obligated to make any further
               payments pursuant to this Section 7, and the provisions of
               Section 8.1 hereof shall apply as though Employee's death had
               occurred immediately prior to termination of Employee's
               employment hereunder.

                    7.1.4 Date of Termination. The date of termination of
               employment without Cause shall be the date specified in a written
               notice of termination to Employee which in no case shall be more
               than 30 days following the date of notice. The date of
               resignation for Good Reason shall be the date specified in the
               written notice of resignation from Employee to Employer which in
               no case shall be more than 30 days following the date of notice.


                                      -6-

               7.2 Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason.

                    7.2.1 General. If Employee's employment hereunder is
               terminated by Employer for Cause, or if Employee resigns from
               Employee's employment hereunder other than for Good Reason (a
               "Voluntary Termination"), then Employee shall be entitled only to
               payment of Employee's Base Salary, as adjusted under Section 3,
               earned through and including the date of termination or
               resignation. Employee shall have no further right to receive any
               other compensation or to participate in any other plan,
               arrangement, or benefit, after such termination for Cause or
               Voluntary Termination. For clarity purposes, Employee shall be
               entitled to retain all options or restricted shares held by him
               at the time of termination (which will remain exercisable for
               such post-termination period as set forth in such options or
               restricted share awards), but only to the extent then vested, and
               at the time of such termination all additional vesting shall
               cease.

                    7.2.2 Date of Termination. Subject to Section 7.3 hereof,
               the date of termination for Cause shall be the date of receipt by
               Employee of notice such termination. The date of Voluntary
               Termination shall be the date of receipt by Employer of the
               notice of resignation.

               7.3 Cause. Terminate for "Cause" means termination of Employee's
          employment because, in Employer's good faith belief, (i) Employee
          willfully and continually failed substantially to perform Employee's
          duties under the Agreement (other than as a result of Permanent
          Disability, as defined below), (ii) Employee failed to comply with any
          of the material term(s) of this Agreement, including, but not limited
          to, Sections 4 and 5 hereof, (iii) Employee committed an act or acts
          that constituted a misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation)
          or a felony under the law of the United States (including any
          subdivision thereof) or any country to which Employee is assigned
          (including any subdivision thereof), including, but not limited to,
          Employee's conviction for or plea of guilty or no contest ("nolo
          contrendre") to any such misdemeanor or felony, (iv) Employee
          committed an act or acts in violation of Employer's policies and/or
          practices applicable to employees at the level of Employee within
          Employer's organization, (v) Employee willfully acted, or willfully
          failed to act, in a manner that was injurious to the financial
          condition or business reputation of Employer or any of its
          subsidiaries or affiliates, (iv) Employee acted in a manner that is
          unbecoming of Employee's position with Employer, regardless of whether
          such action or inaction occurs in the course of the performance of
          Employee's duties with Employer, and (v) Employee was subject to any
          fine, censure, or sanction of any kind, permanent or temporary, issued
          by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the New York Stock
          Exchange.

               7.4 Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason"
          means any of the following actions taken by Employer without
          Employee's prior written consent: (i) the continued failure of
          Employer to pay compensation due to Employee under this Agreement,
          which failure is uncorrected for a period of 15 days following receipt
          by Employer of written notice thereof from Employee; (ii) a material
          diminution in Employee's position, authority, duties, or
          responsibilities, (specifically, requiring Employee to report to
          anyone other then the Chief Executive Officer or removing one or more
          of the key operating functions listed on Schedule 1 from those that
          report to Employee) but excluding for this purpose an isolated,
          insubstantial, or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and that
          is remedied by Employer

                                      -7-

          promptly after receipt of written notice thereof given by Employee;
          provided, however, that a mere change of Employee's title shall not
          constitute Good Reason so long as Employee continues to perform
          duties, functions, and responsibilities substantially equivalent to
          those performed by Employee prior to such change of title; (iii)
          Employer's material failure or refusal to comply with the provisions
          of this Agreement, which failure or refusal to comply is uncorrected
          for a period of 15 days following receipt by Employer of written
          notice thereof from Employee. It is expressly understood and agreed by
          the parties hereto that Employer's failure or refusal to enter into
          any employment agreement with Employee subsequent to September 30,
          2006 shall not constitute a termination without Cause or Resignation
          for Good Reason.

               7.5 Conditions to Severance Payments. Employer's obligation to
          make any severance payments due hereunder or to make available any
          benefits to Employee after any termination or resignation hereunder
          (other than COBRA benefits) is expressly conditioned on Employee
          complying in full with the obligations under Sections 4, 5 and 6. In
          the event Employee does not fully comply with such obligations or in
          the event any such obligations are determined by any court to be
          unenforceable to any extent, Employer shall be relieved of all
          obligations to provide any severance or post-termination benefits.

          8. Death or Permanent Disability.

               8.1 Death. If Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by
          death, then Employer shall, within 90 days of the date of death, make
          a lump sum payment to Employee's estate (or other beneficiary
          designated by Employee in writing) equal to all Base Salary and
          bonuses, if any, earned and accrued through the date of death.
          Thereafter, Employer shall have no further obligation to Employee
          under the Agreement.

               8.2 Permanent Disability. If Employee becomes physically or
          mentally disabled while employed by Employer under this Agreement so
          that Employee is--with or without reasonable accommodation--unable to
          render the services provided for by this Agreement for a period of six
          consecutive months or for shorter periods aggregating six months
          during any 24-month period, or so that Employee has a Disability (as
          defined under Employer's then-current disability policy), then
          Employer may, at any time after the last day of the six consecutive
          months of disability, the day on which the shorter periods of
          disability equal an aggregate of six months, or the day on which
          Employee is determined to have a Disability, terminate Employee's
          employment hereunder for "Permanent Disability" by written notice to
          Employee. Following such termination, Employee shall be entitled to
          receive from Employer (i) all Base Salary and bonuses, if any, accrued
          through the date of termination and (ii) any other benefits payable
          under Employer's then-current disability policy, but all other rights
          of Employee hereunder shall terminate as of the date of Employee's
          termination.

          9. Change of Control.

               9.1 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if
          Employer terminates Employee without Cause upon or within six months
          following a Change of Control (as defined below), then Employer shall
          pay Employee Employee's accrued unpaid Base Salary to the date of
          termination and any bonus earned but not paid and shall continue to
          pay Employee Employee's annual Base Salary as of the date such
          termination occurs for a period of one (1)

                                      -8-

          year following the date of termination as severance pay (such period
          being referred to hereinafter as the "Change of Control Severance
          Period"). Any severance payable pursuant to this Section 9.1 will be
          in substitution for and not in addition to any severance that might be
          payable pursuant to Section 7 hereof. To the extent Employer makes
          payments pursuant to this Section 9.1, it will have no additional
          obligations under Section 7 hereof. The Base Salary shall be payable
          in bi-weekly payments during the Change of Control Severance Period,
          and the bonus shall be paid at the conclusion of the Change of Control
          Severance Period.

               9.2 Upon a Change in Control, all options to purchase stock and
          all shares of restricted stock held by Employee, to the extent not
          then exercisable, will immediately become fully vested and exercisable
          and all restrictions on any stock grants will immediately be removed.

               9.3 For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" means any
          one of the following:

                    (a) any person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of
               the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
               Act")) acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 50% of
               Employer's then outstanding Common Stock or 51 % or more of the
               combined voting power of Employer's then outstanding securities
               entitled generally to vote for the election of Employer's
               Directors;

                    (b) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of
               Employer with any other corporation, other than a merger with a
               wholly-owned subsidiary, the sale of substantially all of the
               assets of Employer, or the liquidation or dissolution of
               Employer, unless, in the case of a merger or consolidation, (x)
               the Directors in office immediately prior to such merger or
               consolidation will constitute at least majority of the Board of
               Directors of the surviving corporation of such merger or
               consolidation and any parent (as such term is defined in Rule
               12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such corporation, or (y) the
               voting securities of Employer outstanding immediately prior
               thereto represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
               converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more
               than 66 2/3% of the combined voting power of the voting
               securities of Employer or such surviving entity and are owned by
               all or substantially all of the persons who were the holders of
               the voting securities of Employer immediately prior to the
               transaction in substantially the same proportions as such holders
               owned such voting securities immediately prior to the
               transaction; or

                    (c) Continuing Directors (as defined below) no longer
               constitute at least a majority of the Board or a similar body of
               any successor to Employer. For purposes of this Agreement,
               "Continuing Directors" means any individual who either (i) is a
               member of Employer's Board of Directors on the Effective Date, or
               (ii) who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose
               election or nomination for election by Employer's shareholders,
               was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Continuing
               Directors (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy
               statement of Employer in which such person is named as nominee
               for director, without objection to such nomination).

               9.4 Excess Parachute Payments. If any payment or the receipt of
          any benefit under this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute an
          "excess parachute payment" as such term

                                      -9-

          is described in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
          amended (the "Code"), so as to result in the loss of a deduction to
          Employer under Code Section 280G or in the imposition of an excise tax
          on the Employee under Code Section 4999, or any successor sections
          thereto, then the amounts payable or the benefits provided under this
          Agreement shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no
          such deduction will be lost by Employer and no such excise tax will be
          imposed on the Employee. Employer, in its sole discretion, shall
          determine whether or not an "excess parachute payment" would otherwise
          occur and shall determine the amount and method of the foregoing
          reduction.

          10. Miscellaneous.

               10.1 Assignment of Employee Benefits. Absent the prior written
          consent of Employer, and subject to will and the laws of descent and
          distribution, Employee shall have no right to exchange, convert,
          encumber, or dispose of the rights of Employee to receive benefits and
          payments under this Agreement, which payments, benefits, and rights
          thereto are non-assignable and non-transferable.

               10.2 Burden and Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon,
          and shall inure to the benefit of, Employer and Employee, their
          respective heirs, personal, and legal representatives, successors, and
          assigns.

               10.3 Governing Law. In view of the fact that the principal office
          of Employer is located in the State of Missouri, the parties
          understand and agree that the construction and interpretation of this
          Agreement shall at all times and in all respects be governed by the
          laws of the State of Missouri, that the state and federal courts
          situated in the State of Missouri shall have exclusive jurisdiction
          over any claims arising under or in relation to this Agreement, and
          that the parties consent to personal jurisdiction in such state and
          federal courts.

               10.4 Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are
          for reference only and not to limit, expand, or otherwise affect the
          contents of this Agreement.

               10.5 Entire Agreement; Modification. Except as to Employer's
          equity benefit plan, any instrument relating to an option or
          restricted share granted thereunder, and written agreements signed by
          both of the parties hereto from time to time after the date hereof,
          this Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding by and
          between Employer and Employee with respect to the subject matter
          hereof, and any representations, promises, agreements, or
          understandings, written or oral, not herein contained shall be of no
          force or effect. No change, waiver, or modification of any provision
          of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless the same is in
          writing and duly executed by both parties and no evidence of any
          waiver or modification shall be offered or received in evidence of any
          proceeding, arbitration, or litigation between the parties hereto
          arising out of or affecting this Agreement, or the rights or
          obligations of the parties hereunder, unless such waiver or
          modification is in writing, duly executed as aforesaid, and the
          parties further agree that the provisions of this Section 10.5 may not
          be waived except as set forth herein.


                                      -10-

               10.6 Waiver of Breach. The waiver by Employer of a breach of any
          provision of this Agreement by Employee shall not operate or be
          construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by Employee.

               10.7 Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all
          other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing
          and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed
          by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage
          prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth on the
          execution page of this Agreement, provided, however, that all notices
          to Employer shall be directed to the attention of the Board of
          Directors of Employer with a copy to the Secretary of Employer, or to
          such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
          writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of
          address shall be effective only upon receipt.

               10.8 Withholding Taxes. Employer may withhold from any amounts
          payable under this Agreement such federal, state, and local taxes as
          may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or
          regulation.

               10.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts,
          each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
          signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

          11. Arbitration of Disputes. Any dispute or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or any termination of the Employee's employment,
other than with respect to Sections 4 through 6, shall be settled by final and
binding arbitration in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area in accordance
with the Commercial Arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association,
and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof.

                                      -11-

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employer and Employee have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first hereof written.

         THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE.


                                 DANIEL W. TROTT:


                                 Signature:  /s/ Daniel W. Trott
                                            ------------------------------------
                                 Printed Name:  Daniel W. Trott
                                              ----------------------------------
                                 Address:
                                          --------------------------------------



                                 AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY



                                 By:  /s/ Timothy S. Webster
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                 Printed Name:  Timothy S. Webster
                                               ---------------------------------
                                 Address: 4100 North Mulberry Drive
                                          Suite 200
                                          Kansas City MO 64116-0696



                                      -12-

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                       to
                      Daniel W. Trott Employment Agreement


          1.   Normal bonus percentage - 50% of annual Base Salary.

          2.   Maximum bonus percentage - 75% of annual Base Salary.

          3.   Stock option grant of 60,000 shares on employment start date and
               40,000 shares on the first anniversary of that date. Exercise
               price to be the closing price on the option grant date. Vesting
               ratably over three (3) years and having a ten (10) year option
               term.

          4.   One-time restricted stock award of 5,000 shares effective October
               1, 2003, vesting ratably over five (5) years.

          5.   All stock options and restricted stock will accelerate and
               immediately vest in the event of:

                           (i)   a Change of Control,
                           (ii)  death or Permanent Disability of Employee,
                           (iii) termination of Employee by the Employer without
                                 Cause, or
                           (iv)  resignation by Employee for Good Reason.


          6.   Employer will provide for the relocation of Employee's family and
               personal belongings to the Kansas City area. In addition to the
               standard policy, Employer will add $12,500 as an Incidental
               Allowance (subject to normal withholdings for compensation).

          7.   The relocation costs and Incidental Allowance under paragraph 6
               above will be treated as a loan and will be forgiven over a
               two-year period of time, prorated in equal monthly amounts,
               commencing with the Effective Date. In the event of a Termination
               without Cause or a Resignation for Good Reason prior to the
               second anniversary date, the entire amount will be forgiven.
               However, in the event of a Voluntary Termination or a Termination
               for Cause prior to the second anniversary date, Employee will
               repay the outstanding prorated amount at the date of such
               Termination.