8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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): October 6, 2003


                              Tasty Baking Company
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


             Pennsylvania                   1-5084              23-1145880
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    (State or Other Jurisdiction of       (Commission       (I.R.S. Employer
    Incorporation or Organization)        File Number)      Identification No.)



2801 Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania          19129
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (215) 221-8500
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                                 Not applicable
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)







Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
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(a) Not applicable


(b) Not applicable


(c) The following exhibit is filed herewith:


                   Exhibit 99.1             Press Release dated October 6, 2003


Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure
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         On October 6, 2003, Tasty Baking Company announced its accelerated
investment in route expansion and brand marketing and an anticipated net loss
for the third quarter ended September 27, 2003. A copy of the press release is
attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
This press release is being furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K, "Results
of Operations and Financial Condition," and is included under Item 9 in
accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583. Such information shall
not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. The information in this Current Report shall not be
incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.







                                   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.


                               TASTY BAKING COMPANY
                               --------------------
                               (Registrant)


 Date:  October 6, 2003        /S/ David S. Marberger
                               ---------------------------------
                               David S. Marberger
                               Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


         Exhibit No.                        Description
         ----------                         -----------

           99.1                             Press Release dated October 6, 2003

EX-99

                                                                   Exhibit 99.1

Tasty Baking Company Accelerates Investment with Historic Route
Expansion and Brand Marketing in the Third Quarter

    PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003--

    Management comments on preliminary third quarter results

    Tasty Baking Company (NYSE: TBC) announced today that the company
has entered new markets with the launch of 23 new direct store
delivery routes. Last week, the company expanded west of its
Philadelphia home base, entering the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Youngstown
and Akron markets. The Tastykake product line will be available in
most area retailers.
    "This expansion marks the first significant step in our strategy
to expand the Tastykake brand into new markets," said Charles Pizzi,
President and CEO of Tasty Baking Company. "As outlined in the April
2003 Transformation Plan, the company is committed to growing the
business through key strategic initiatives, including investing in
marketing, growing core routes and entering new markets. Regarding new
markets, we are committed to adding 15 to 25 new routes to our direct
store delivery system each year. By adding 36 new routes and bringing
our total routes to 500, this expansion represents the single largest
route expansion in Tasty Baking Company's history."
    Vincent Melchiorre, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing
Officer, commented, "We have spent the last several months undertaking
a rigorous assessment of the market potential in areas that can be
bolted-on to our existing geography. Our decision to enter the
Pittsburgh and Cleveland markets is a direct result of this assessment
and is an important component of our Transformation Plan. This launch
is being supported with a comprehensive marketing program to build
brand awareness in these new markets. This expansion demonstrates our
belief in the strength of the Tastykake brand and in the power of our
direct store delivery system."
    David Marberger, Senior Vice President and CFO, said, "We stated
during our second quarter conference call on July 31st that we would
not be providing quarterly guidance for the second half of 2003 due to
the accelerated level of investment necessary to position Tasty Baking
Company for future growth. In the third quarter, we have aggressively
implemented our investment plans. These investments include the
company's comprehensive marketing campaign for single serve pies,
launch of the new Tasty Kookies, funding of a fall promotional
campaign using professional football players, funding the launch of
these 23 new routes in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and additional
investment in people and infrastructure. We do not believe the current
analysts' consensus estimate for the third quarter reflects the
magnitude of these accelerated investments."
    For the quarter ended September 27, 2003, the company expects a
net loss of $0.17 to $0.21 per fully diluted share. This reflects an
estimated $2.0 million, or $0.18 per fully diluted share, in
incremental investment spending compared to a year ago to fund the
initiatives outlined above. Third quarter financial results will be
announced on the morning of October 28th.
    Pizzi concluded, "These investments in the business are necessary
and will be critical to laying the foundation for increased
profitability and predictable growth in the long-run. While we believe
we will see the benefits of these investments throughout 2004 and
beyond, we are already encouraged by the positive momentum we are
starting to see as we begin the fourth quarter."
    Tasty Baking Company (NYSE: TBC), founded in 1914 and
headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the country's
leading bakers of snack cakes, pies, cookies, and donuts with
manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia and Oxford, Pennsylvania.
Tasty Baking Company offers more than 100 products under the Tastykake
brand name. For more information on Tasty Baking Company, visit
www.tastykake.com. In addition, consumers can send Tastykake products
throughout the United States from the company website or by calling
1-800-33-TASTY.
    Except for historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
There are a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ
from these forward-looking statements, including the success of
marketing and sales strategies and new product development, the price
of raw materials, and general economic and business conditions. Other
risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company are
provided in the Company's reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Please refer
to these documents for a more thorough description of these and other
risk factors.

    CONTACT: Tasty Baking Company
             Mary C. Borneman, 215-221-8537
             mary.borneman@tastykake.com
             or
             David S. Marberger, 215-221-8500