SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 10-Q
                                  ------------
(Mark One)
    [X]     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
            SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 1997

                                       OR

    [ ]    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
           SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         Commission file number 0-19867

                            ------------------------
                             ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                      Virginia                           54-0571720
           (State or other jurisdiction of     (IRS Employer Identification No.)
           incorporation or organization)

                            901 Moorefield Park Drive
                               Richmond, VA 23236
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
                                  ------------
                 Registrant's phone number, including area code:
                                 (804) 560-8400
                                  ------------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days Yes X No ___

Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of April 15, 1997.

           Class                                  Outstanding at April 15, 1997
           -----                                  -----------------------------
Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value                              3,457,573









                             ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
                                      Index

                                                                          Page
                                                                         Number
                                                                         ------
Part I.           Financial Information

      Item 1.     Financial Statements (Unaudited)

                  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996                1

                  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                  March 31, 1997; December 31, 1996 and March 31, 1996      2

                  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996                3

                  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements      4

      Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                  Condition and Results of Operations                       5

Part II.          Other Information

      Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                          7





                                                      ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
                                     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

    For the three months ended March 31,                                                               1997                1996
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
    (In thousands, except share data)

    Net sales                                                                                  $     18,078        $     19,769
    Cost of products sold                                                                            10,589              12,008
                                                                                            ------------------- -----------------
             Gross profit                                                                             7,489               7,761

    Advertising and sales promotion expenses                                                          4,482               3,270
    General and administrative expenses                                                               2,789               2,595
                                                                                            ------------------- -----------------
             Operating income                                                                           218               1,896

    Interest income                                                                                      41                  29
    Interest expense and other - net                                                                    174                 182
                                                                                            ------------------- -----------------
             Income before income taxes                                                                  85               1,743

    Income tax expense                                                                                   32                 672
                                                                                            ------------------- -----------------

             Net income                                                                        $         53        $      1,071
                                                                                            =================== =================

    Per common share
             Primary
                  Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                            3,450,684           3,476,221
                  Net income                                                                   $       0.02        $       0.31
                                                                                            =================== =================

             Fully diluted
                  Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                            3,613,251           3,638,788
                  Net income                                                                   $       0.02        $       0.30
                                                                                            =================== =================

             Cash dividend                                                                     $       0.05        $       0.05
                                                                                            =================== =================


                                       1




                                                      ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
                                        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)



                                                                                March 31,       December 31,        March 31,
As of                                                                             1997              1996              1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ----------------
(In thousands, except share data)

Assets

Current assets:
         Cash and cash equivalents                                            $      1,139     $        2,143     $        767
         Receivables                                                                 9,053              4,051           13,207
         Inventories                                                                 6,499              6,608            6,939
         Prepaid expenses                                                            1,639              3,262            1,342
                                                                             ---------------- ------------------ ----------------

              Total current assets                                                  18,330             16,064           22,255

         Property, plant and equipment - net                                         8,696              8,716            8,881
         Goodwill and other intangibles                                             17,837             17,999           18,601
         Other assets                                                                1,568              1,661            1,740
                                                                             ---------------- ------------------ ----------------

              Total assets                                                    $     46,431     $       44,440     $     51,477
                                                                             ================ ================== ================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
         Short term borrowings                                               $           -     $            -     $      3,900
         Accounts payable                                                            4,759              5,283            4,591
         Accrued advertising and promotion                                           3,446              2,026            1,466
         Accrued compensation and related amounts                                      435                730              245
         Other accrued expenses                                                        862                723              342
         Income taxes                                                                    -                  -              975
         Current portion of long term debt                                             944                500                -
                                                                             ---------------- ------------------ ----------------

              Total current liabilities                                             10,446              9,262           11,519

Long term debt                                                                       6,206              5,500            6,000
Convertible subordinated notes                                                       3,800              3,800            3,800
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities                                        3,504              3,408            3,520

Shareholders' equity:
         Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized,
              none issued and outstanding
         Common stock, $1.00 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized,
                3,457,573 issued and outstanding in 1997 and 3,447,573
                in 1996                                                              3,458              3,448            3,478
         Additional capital                                                          4,283              4,168            4,671
         Retained earnings                                                          14,734             14,854           18,489
                                                                             ---------------- ------------------ ----------------

              Total shareholders' equity                                            22,475             22,470           26,638
                                                                             ---------------- ------------------ ----------------

              Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                      $     46,431     $       44,440     $     51,477
                                                                             ================ ================== ================

                                       2





                                                      ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
                                   Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited)



For the three months ended March 31,                                                                  1997                1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------
(In thousands)

Operating activities
         Net income                                                                           $         53        $      1,071
         Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
              used in operating activities:
                  Depreciation and amortization                                                        649                 615
                  Change in deferred income taxes and other assets                                     (17)               (176)
                  Change in postretirement benefits and other liabilities                               88                  53
                  Change in receivables                                                             (5,002)             (4,512)
                  Change in inventories and prepaid expenses                                         1,758              (1,333)
                  Change in accounts payable and accrued expenses                                      738               1,901
                                                                                           ------------------- ------------------

         Net cash used in operating activities                                                      (1,733)             (2,381)

Investing activities
         Capital expenditures                                                                         (348)               (167)
         Other                                                                                         100                  72
                                                                                           ------------------- ------------------

         Net cash used in investing activities                                                        (248)                (95)

Financing activities
         Borrowings                                                                                  1,150               2,700
         Cash dividends                                                                               (173)              (174)
                                                                                           ------------------- ------------------

         Net cash provided by financing activities                                                     977               2,526
                                                                                           ------------------- ------------------

Change in cash and cash equivalents                                                                 (1,004)                 50
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year                                               2,143                 717
                                                                                           ------------------- ------------------

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter                                           $      1,139        $        767
                                                                                           =================== ==================


                                       3




                             ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE A - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation:  In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments  (consisting
of only normal  recurring  accruals)  necessary for a fair  presentation  of the
Company's  financial position as of March 31, 1997 and its results of operations
for the three  months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996.  The results of  operations
for any interim  period are not  necessarily  indicative of results for the full
year.  These  financial  statements  should  be read  in  conjunction  with  the
financial  statements  and notes thereto  contained in the Company's 1996 Annual
Report.


NOTE B - INVENTORIES Inventories are classified as follows:

 
- ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
                                                      March 31, 1997           December 31, 1996         March 31, 1996
- ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
(In thousands)
Finished goods                                         $    4,491                  $   4,987                $   4,403
Raw materials and packaging supplies                        3,059                      2,672                    3,757
                                                      -----------                 ----------                ---------
           Total FIFO inventories                           7,550                      7,659                    8,160
LIFO reserves                                              (1,051)                    (1,051)                  (1,221)
                                                      -----------                 ----------                ---------
                                                       $    6,499                  $   6,608                $   6,939
                                                       ==========                  =========                =========
- ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------











                                       4



                             ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                       CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



       The Company markets and manufactures  through its own plants and licensed
dairies a broad range of frozen novelties,  frozen yogurt,  ice cream and sorbet
products under the Eskimo Pie, Welch's, Weight Watchers,  SnackWell's,  OREO and
RealFruit  brand names.  The Company  continues to manufacture  ingredients  and
packaging for sale to the dairy  industry and has recently  begun to license the
Eskimo Pie brand name in other product categories.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Sales and Gross Profit
       Compared to the prior year, sales decreased by $1.7 million or 8.6%. This
decrease  relates  primarily to an additional $2 million in 1996 sales resulting
from the initial  introduction of the Nabisco brand  products.  Exclusive of the
impact from the Nabisco introductions, sales increased by approximately $300,000
or 1.7%. Eskimo Pie brand sales increased by approximately $700,000 and offset a
net decline in sublicensed  brands.  The flavors  business  continues to grow as
evidenced by a $200,000 increase (7.2%) as compared with the prior year.

       Gross  profit,  as a percent of sales,  increased  to 41.4% for the first
quarter of 1997 as compared with 39.3% in the first quarter of 1996. Most of the
increase is the result of a favorable  change in product mix due to the increase
in Eskimo Pie brand sales.

Expenses and other Income
       As anticipated, advertising and sales promotion expense increased by $1.2
million  or 37.1% as a direct  result of the  Company's  increased  focus on the
marketing of Eskimo Pie and sublicensed brand products. The Company's previously
announced  1997  marketing  plan calls for both an increased  amount of spending
commitments as well as an acceleration  of those  commitments to earlier periods
in the year.  The Company  believes that this early season  spending will better
position its  products  against the  Company's  primary  competition  as well as
provide the best opportunity for repeat consumer purchases.

       General and  administrative  and  interest  expense,  as well as interest
income,  were consistent with the prior year. The effective  income tax rate was
also consistent with 1996.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

       The Company's  financial  position  remains strong.  The net cash used in
operations is consistent with historical  seasonal working capital  requirements
although the amount used decreased in 1997 largely as a result of a reduction in
inventory  purchases and the recovery of $1.4 million in 1996 federal income tax
payments.  The  $1,150,000  in  borrowings  relate to the  technology  purchases
discussed in the 1996 Annual Report.  The Company  believes that the annual cash
generated from operations and funds  available under its credit  agreements will
provide the Company  with  sufficient  funds and the  financial  flexibility  to
support  its  ongoing   business,   strategic   objectives  and  debt  repayment
requirements.

                                       5




       On April 10, 1997,  the Company filed a Form S-8  Registration  Statement
with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission to register  450,000 shares of the
Company's  common stock to be used in connection  with the  previously  approved
1996 Incentive  Stock Plan and other employee  benefit and stock purchase plans.
Pursuant to this registration,  the Company will provide an option for employees
to invest their 401(k) contributions in Company stock and will offer an employee
stock  purchase  plan. The Company will also begin to make its 401(k) match with
shares of the  Company's  Common Stock.  These  initiatives  were  undertaken to
increase  employee  ownership of Company  stock in order to more  closely  align
employee  interests with that of  shareholders.  The incremental  costs of these
plans are not  significant  and the Company  intends to purchase common stock on
the open market as employee contributions are made through payroll deductions.

       On May 7, 1997, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend
of $.05 per share,  payable July 3, 1997, to  Shareholders of Record on June 13,
1997. While the Company anticipates a regular quarterly dividend, the amount and
timing of any future  dividends will depend on the general  business  conditions
encountered  by the Company,  as well as the financial  condition,  earnings and
capital  requirements  of the Company and other factors  deemed  relevant by the
Board of Directors.



                                       6



                           PART II, OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     a.      Exhibits:

             10.23      Letter  Agreement  dated  February  21, 1997 between the
                        Company and Crestar Bank, filed herewith.

             27.        Financial Data Schedules, filed herewith.

     b.    Reports on Form 8-K:   None







                                       7



                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                        ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION



Date:      May 12, 1997                 By /s/  David B. Kewer
                                           -------------------
                                        David B. Kewer
                                        President and Chief Operating Officer



Date:      May 12, 1997                 By /s/  Thomas M. Mishoe, Jr.
                                           --------------------------
                                        Thomas M. Mishoe, Jr.
                                        Chief Financial Officer, Vice President,
                                        Treasurer and Corporate Secretary



Date:      May 12, 1997                 By /s/  William T. Berry, Jr.
                                           --------------------------
                                        William T. Berry, Jr.
                                        Assistant Vice President, Controller




                                       8