<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-13-033812.txt : 20131205
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-13-033812.hdr.sgml : 20131205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20131205172117
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-13-033812
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20131203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20131205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20131205

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLOWERS FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001128928
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOD & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2000]
		IRS NUMBER:				582582379
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1229

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1919 FLOWERS CIRCLE
		CITY:			THOMASVILLE
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31757
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9122269110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1919 FLOWERS CIRCLE
		CITY:			THOMASVILLE
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31757

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HYSELL ROBERT B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001551397

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16247
		FILM NUMBER:		131260625

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4570 RIVER MANSION CT
		CITY:			DULUTH
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30096
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <periodOfReport>2013-12-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001128928</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLOWERS FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001551397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HYSELL ROBERT B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4570 RIVER MANSION COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DULUTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30096</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Pres-Flowers Foodservice Group</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22612</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.70</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46271</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.507</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22612</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        <derivativeHolding>
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                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.11</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-02-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32512</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>10.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-02-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19063</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19063</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By EDCP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Average price reported for sale transactions.  Transaction prices ranged from $21.49 to $21.521.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Granted pursuant to the Flowers Foods, Inc. 2001 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (&quot;EDCP&quot;) stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. The EDCP stock units become payable in common stock upon the retirement of the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">None.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen R. Avera, Agent</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
