<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-21-003391.txt : 20210312
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-21-003391.hdr.sgml : 20210312
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210312185624
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-21-003391
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210312
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210312

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FITZGERALD TIMOTHY JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248449

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09973
		FILM NUMBER:		21739279

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MIDDLEBY CORPORATON
		STREET 2:		1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60420

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MIDDLEBY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000769520
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFRIGERATION & SERVICE INDUSTRY MACHINERY [3580]
		IRS NUMBER:				363352497
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477413300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60120
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000769520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MIDDLEBY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MIDD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248449</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FITZGERALD TIMOTHY JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MIDDLEBY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELGIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60120</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2217</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>168.25</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>224371</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>56250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Andrea C. FitzGerald 2021 Gift Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Timothy J. FitzGerald 2012 Gift Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse and Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Transaction related to the surrender of shares to fund reporting person's tax liability in connection with vesting of 5,000 shares of restricted stock on March 10, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is the trustee and a beneficiary of the Andrea C. FitzGerald 2012 Gift Trust. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein. This filing shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person is the spouse of the trustee and a beneficiary of the Timothy J. FitzGerald 2012 Gift Trust. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein. This filing shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael D. Thompson POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex24fitzgerald.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX24FITZGERALD
<TEXT>
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

      Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Martin M. Lindsay and
Michael D. Thompson, or any of them acting singly and with
full power of substitution, the undersigned's true and
lawful attorney-in-fact to:

1.   execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer or director or both of The
Middleby Corporation (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5 (and any
amendments thereto) in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
and the rules thereunder;

2.   do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5, complete and execute any
amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and any securities
exchange or similar authority, including without limitation the
filing of a Form ID or any other documents necessary or
appropriate to enable the undersigned to file the Forms 3, 4 and 5
electronically with the SEC; and

3.   take any other action in connection with the foregoing which,
in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in
the best interest of, or legally required by or for, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by
such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to
this Limited Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall
contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact
may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

      The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact
full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and
thing whatsoever required, necessary or proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
if personally present, with full power of substitution or
revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or
substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of
this Limited Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted.

      The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-
in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request and on the
behalf of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company
assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with, or any liability for the failure to comply with, any
provision of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

      This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force
and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file
Forms 3, 4 or 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
Limited Power of Attorney as of this 2nd day of March, 2021.

                              Signed and acknowledged:

                             /s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald
                                 Signature

                                Timothy J. FitzGerald
                                Printed Name
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
