8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   May 11, 2009

AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-13403	84-1032638
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Identification Employer No.)

4100 N. Mulberry Drive, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri	64116
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

 Registrant’s telephone number, including area code    (816) 584-5000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Effective May 11, 2009, the Board of Directors of American Italian Pasta Company (“the Company”) appointed Cathleen S. Curless as a director of the Company to serve a term through the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting.  This appointment increases the number of directors to ten.

At this time, Ms. Curless has not been appointed to any committees of the Board of Directors.  Ms. Curless will receive the standard outside director compensation.  There have been no related party transactions between the Company and Ms. Curless.

A copy of the press release announcing this appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits
99.1	Press Release dated May 12, 2009

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:  May 12, 2009	AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY
	By:	/s/ Robert W. Schuller
		Robert W. Schuller
		Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated May 12, 2009

EX-99.1

AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY	NEWS RELEASE
	Contact: Robert W. Schuller EVP & General Counsel 816-584-5636

For Immediate Release

AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY APPOINTS CATHLEEN CURLESS TO BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 12, 2009 – The board of directors of American Italian Pasta Company (NASDAQ: AIPC), the largest producer of dry pasta in North America, today announced the appointment of Cathleen S. Curless as a director to serve a term through the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting.  The move increases the AIPC board membership to ten, including nine outside directors.

Ms. Curless, a faculty member at the University of Kansas School of Business, is an expert in strategic planning and information technology systems integration and implementation.  She served as Chief Information Officer of Payless Shoesource Worldwide from 2001-2007, overseeing the company’s global IT systems portfolio.

“We’re pleased to be able to add a director of Cathleen’s caliber,” said William Patterson, AIPC chairman.  “Her appointment will bring a unique perspective, as well as critical skills in information technology, to help our board evaluate and enhance AIPC’s growth strategy in the drive to continue to deliver strong shareholder value.”

“Cathleen’s information technology experience, as well as her background in retail and manufacturing, will be invaluable to AIPC’s management team as we progress with implementation of our strategic plans,” said CEO and board member Jack Kelly.  “We look forward to her counsel and input to help us best develop and build out our IT infrastructure to support AIPC’s growth.  Her input will help us further develop our IT systems strategically and generate the strongest returns possible from investments in this critical area.”

At Payless Shoesource, Ms. Curless oversaw the company’s IT systems integration plans in support of the company’s global expansion.   Ms. Curless joined Payless in 1987 as director of Merchandising Information Systems before being promoted to vice president of Systems Development a year later.  Prior to joining Payless, Ms. Curless was a consultant at Arthur Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture, for 10 years.  There, she provided strategic insights and planning to retail and manufacturing clients, including the implementation of processes designed to enhance labor efficiency and the utilization of information-based tools to gauge manufacturing and sales productivity.

Ms. Curless holds an M.B.A. in finance, as well as a B.A. in microbiology, from the University of Kansas.

ABOUT AIPC

Founded in 1988 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, American Italian Pasta Company is the largest producer of dry pasta in North America.  The Company has four plants that are located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri; Columbia, South Carolina; Tolleson, Arizona and Verolanuova, Italy.  The Company has approximately 650 employees located in the United States and Italy.  For more information, visit www.aipc.com.

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