<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-16-070709.txt : 20161221
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-16-070709.hdr.sgml : 20161221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161221161500
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-16-070709
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161221

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:			AVERA STEPHEN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219532

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16247
		FILM NUMBER:		162064101

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1919 FLOWERS CIRCLE
		CITY:			THOMASVILLE
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31757
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-19</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219532</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AVERA STEPHEN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1919 FLOWERS CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THOMASVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>31757</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Secretary &amp; Gen Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>431034</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1531.14</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>675</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <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>
                    <value>115200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>115200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On 12/19/2016, the reporting person received 2,500 shares of the Issuer's common stock pursuant to a distribution from a trust for which the reporting person is one of three co-trustees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total includes exempt acquisitions of shares allocated to reporting person under Issuer's 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of 12/31/2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">By Spouse as custodian for reporting person's minor child.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Granted pursuant to the Flowers Foods, Inc. 2001 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen R. Avera</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
