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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

              Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                  For the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002

                         Commission File Number: 1-14222

                         SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                   DELAWARE                                 22-3410353
        (State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
        incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)

                                240 Route 10 West
                               Whippany, NJ 07981
                                 (973) 887-5300
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)


           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

  TITLE OF EACH CLASS                  NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
     Common Units                                New York Stock Exchange


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

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 by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
form 10-K. [ ]

The aggregate  market value as of December 13, 2002 of the  registrant's  Common
Units held by  non-affiliates  of the registrant,  based on the reported closing
price of such units on the New York Stock  Exchange on such date  ($27.92/unit),
was  approximately  $687,705,533.  As of December 13, 2002 there were 24,631,287
Common Units outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:  None

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                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                       INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

                                     PART I                                PAGE
                                                                           ----

ITEM     1.  BUSINESS....................................................    1
ITEM     2.  PROPERTIES..................................................    6
ITEM     3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS...........................................    7
ITEM     4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.........    7

                                     PART II

ITEM     5.  MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S UNITS AND RELATED
             UNITHOLDER MATTERS..........................................    8
ITEM     6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.....................................    9
ITEM     7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
             FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS...............    11
ITEM     7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
             MARKET RISK.................................................    22
ITEM     8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.................    25
ITEM     9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
             ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.........................    26

                                    PART III

ITEM     10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT..........    27
ITEM     11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION......................................    30
ITEM     12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
             AND MANAGEMENT..............................................    34
ITEM     13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS..............    36
ITEM     14. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.....................................    36

                                     PART IV

ITEM     15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND
             REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.........................................    37

Signatures...............................................................    38
CERTIFICATIONS...........................................................    39


DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
- -----------------------------------------------


This   Annual   Report  on  Form  10-K   contains   forward-looking   statements
("Forward-Looking  Statements") as defined in the Private Securities  Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 relating to the  Partnership's  future business  expectations
and predictions and financial condition and results of operations. Some of these
statements can be identified by the use of  forward-looking  terminology such as
"prospects,"  "outlook,"  "believes,"  "estimates,"  "intends,"  "may,"  "will,"
"should," "anticipates," "expects" or "plans" or the negative or other variation
of these or similar words, or by discussion or trends and conditions, strategies
or risks and  uncertainties.  These  Forward-Looking  Statements involve certain
risks and  uncertainties  that could cause actual  results to differ  materially
from those discussed or implied in such Forward-Looking  Statements ("Cautionary
Statements").  The risks and uncertainties and their impact on the Partnership's
operations include, but are not limited to, the following risks:


o    The impact of weather  conditions on the demand for propane;
o    Fluctuations in the unit cost of propane;
o    The ability of the  Partnership to compete with other  suppliers of propane
     and other energy sources;
o    The impact on  propane  prices and  supply of the  political  and  economic
     instability  of the  oil  producing  nations  and  other  general  economic
     conditions;
o    The ability of the Partnership to retain customers;
o    The impact of energy  efficiency and technology  advances on the demand for
     propane;
o    The ability of management to continue to control expenses;
o    The impact of regulatory developments on the Partnership's business;
o    The impact of legal proceedings on the Partnership's business;
o    The  Partnership's  ability to implement  its  expansion  strategy into new
     business lines and sectors;
o    The Partnership's ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully.




Some of  these  Forward-Looking  Statements  are  discussed  in more  detail  in
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations" in this Annual Report.  On different  occasions,  the Partnership or
its representatives  have made or may make  Forward-Looking  Statements in other
filings that the Partnership makes with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,
in press releases or in oral  statements  made by or with the approval of one of
its  authorized  executive  officers.  Readers are  cautioned not to place undue
reliance on Forward-Looking or Cautionary Statements, which reflect management's
opinions only as of the date hereof. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to
update any Forward-Looking or Cautionary  Statement.  All subsequent written and
oral  Forward-Looking  Statements  attributable  to the  Partnership  or persons
acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary
Statements in this Annual Report and in future SEC reports.






                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

GENERAL

     Suburban  Propane  Partners,  L.P. (the  "Partnership"),  a publicly traded
Delaware  limited  partnership  is  principally  engaged,  through its operating
partnership and subsidiaries,  in the retail and wholesale  marketing of propane
and related appliances and services. Based upon propane industry statistics, the
Partnership  is the third  largest  retail  marketer  of  propane  in the United
States, serving approximately 750,000 active residential, commercial, industrial
and agricultural  customers from  approximately  330 customer service centers in
over 40 states as of  September  28,  2002.  The  Partnership's  operations  are
concentrated in the east and west coast regions of the United States. The retail
propane sales volume of the Partnership was approximately  456.0 million gallons
during the year ended  September 28, 2002.  In addition,  the  Partnership  sold
approximately  95.3 million gallons of propane at wholesale to large  industrial
end users and other  propane  distributors  during  the  fiscal  year.  Based on
industry  statistics,  the  Partnership  believes that its retail  propane sales
volume constitutes approximately 4.4% of the domestic retail market for propane.

     The Partnership conducts its business principally through Suburban Propane,
L.P.,  a  Delaware  limited  partnership  (the  "Operating  Partnership").   The
Partnership's  general  partner  is  Suburban  Energy  Services  Group  LLC (the
"General   Partner"),   a  Delaware  limited  liability  company  owned  by  the
Partnership's  senior  management.  The General  Partner  owns a combined  1.89%
general partner  interest in the  Partnership and the Operating  Partnership and
the Partnership owns all of the limited  partnership  interests in the Operating
Partnership.  The Partnership and the Operating Partnership commenced operations
on March 5, 1996 upon consummation of an initial public offering of common units
representing  limited partner interests in the Partnership  ("Common Units") and
the private  placement  of $425  million  aggregate  principal  amount of Senior
Notes. Suburban Sales and Service, Inc. (the "Service Company"), a subsidiary of
the Operating  Partnership,  was formed at that time to operate the service work
and appliance and propane equipment parts businesses of the Partnership.

     Other  subsidiaries  of the Operating  Partnership  include Gas Connection,
Inc.  (doing business as HomeTown  Hearth & Grill),  Suburban @ Home,  Inc., and
Suburban  Franchising,  Inc.  HomeTown Hearth & Grill sells and installs natural
gas and propane gas grills,  fireplaces  and related  accessories  and supplies;
Suburban @ Home,  Inc.  sells,  installs,  services  and repairs a full range of
heating and air conditioning  products;  and Suburban Franchising,  Inc. creates
and develops propane related franchising business opportunities.


     We currently  file Annual Reports on Form 10-K,  Quarterly  Reports on Form
10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"). The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at
the SEC's Public  Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street,  N. W.,  Washington,  D.C.
20549.  The  public  may  obtain  information  on the  operation  of the  Public
Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Any information filed by us
is also available on the SEC's EDGAR database at WWW.SEC.GOV.

     Upon   written   request   or   through   a  link  from  our   website   at
WWW.SUBURBANPROPANE.COM,  we will provide,  without charge, copies of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  September  28, 2002,  each of the
Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q,  current reports filed or furnished on Form 8-K
and all  amendments to such reports as soon as is reasonably  practicable  after
such reports are  electronically  filed with or  furnished to the SEC.  Requests
should be directed to: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Investor Relations, P.O.
Box 206, Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206.






BUSINESS STRATEGY

     Our business  strategy is to deliver  increasing  value to our  unitholders
through  initiatives,  both  internal  and  external,  geared  toward  achieving
sustainable profitable growth and increased quarterly  distributions.  We pursue
this  business  strategy  through  a  combination  of (i) an  internal  focus on
enhancing  customer  service,  growing  our  customer  base  and  improving  the
efficiency of operations  and, (ii)  acquisitions of businesses to complement or
supplement our core propane operations.

     We plan to  continue  to pursue  internal  growth of our  existing  propane
operations  and to foster the growth of related  retail and  service  operations
that can benefit from our infrastructure  and national presence.  We continue to
analyze our cost structure,  develop  programs to increase our customer base and
implement  more  efficient  operating  standards.  We provide  incentives to our
customer  service  centers  across  the  United  States to operate in a safe and
efficient  manner,  as well as based on customer  satisfaction  ratings measured
through a comprehensive  customer  satisfaction and retention  program.  We also
believe  that we can  continue  to achieve  internal  growth  through  increased
reliance  on   information   technology   at  our  customer   service   centers.
Additionally,  we  continuously  evaluate  our existing  facilities  to identify
opportunities  to  optimize  our  return  on  assets  by  selectively  divesting
operations in slower growing markets.

     Because of the  seasonal  nature of the propane  business and the impact on
earnings and cash flow, we also seek to acquire and develop  related  retail and
service  business  lines to  complement  the core propane  operations.  HomeTown
Hearth & Grill,  acquired by the Partnership in 1999, sells and installs natural
gas and propane gas grills,  fireplaces  and related  accessories  and  supplies
through ten retail stores in the northeast and northwest regions as of September
28, 2002. We continue to modify the HomeTown  Hearth & Grill  business model and
to  evaluate  areas to  leverage  our  existing  infrastructure  for new  retail
locations.

     Suburban @ Home,  Inc.,  which opened its first service center in September
2000, is an  internally  developed  heating,  ventilation  and air  conditioning
business  offering a full  range of  products  and  services  for "total  indoor
comfort." We continue to invest in the growth of this business by the opening of
two additional  retail  locations during fiscal 2002 for a total of three retail
locations as of September 28, 2002. One element of our growth strategy is to use
HomeTown Hearth & Grill,  Suburban @ Home, Inc. and other business ventures as a
platform on which to build a retail and service network that will complement our
core propane operations.

     We have focused  internally over the past three fiscal years,  managing our
cost structure,  strengthening  our balance sheet and distribution  coverage and
posturing our management team for growth and  diversification.  We also continue
to evaluate  acquisition  opportunities  that will either extend our presence in
strategically   attractive  propane  markets  or  diversify  our  operations  in
non-propane  businesses  that can  immediately  contribute to our overall growth
strategy.  We  investigate  and focus on  businesses  with long life  assets and
relatively  steady cash flow.  Although we did not  acquire  any  businesses  in
fiscal 2002 or 2001, we believe there are numerous  retail propane  distribution
companies and other energy assets that are potential candidates for acquisition.
However,  the competition for acquisitions of propane  companies or other energy
assets is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to acquire
such candidates on economically acceptable terms.

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND AND COMPETITION

     Propane, a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining,  is
a clean-burning  energy source recognized for its  transportability  and ease of
use relative to alternative forms of stand-alone energy sources.  Retail propane
use  falls  into  three  broad   categories:   (i)  residential  and  commercial
applications,  (ii) industrial  applications and (iii) agricultural uses. In the
residential and commercial markets, propane is used primarily for space heating,



water heating,  clothes drying and cooking.  Industrial  customers primarily use
propane  as a motor  fuel  burned in  internal  combustion  engines  that  power
over-the-road vehicles, forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces, as a
cutting  gas and in other  process  applications.  In the  agricultural  market,
propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying,  poultry brooding and
weed  control.  In its  wholesale  operations,  the  Partnership  sells  propane
principally to large industrial end-users and other propane distributors.

     Propane is extracted  from  natural gas or oil  wellhead gas at  processing
plants or  separated  from  crude oil during the  refining  process.  Propane is
normally  transported  and stored in a liquid state under  moderate  pressure or
refrigeration  for ease of  handling  in  shipping  and  distribution.  When the
pressure  is  released  or the  temperature  is  increased,  it is  usable  as a
flammable  gas.  Propane is both colorless and odorless with an odorant added to
allow for its detection.  Propane is clean burning, producing negligible amounts
of pollutants when consumed.

     Based upon information provided by the National Propane Gas Association and
the Energy Information Administration,  propane accounts for approximately 4% of
household  energy  consumption in the United States.  This level has not changed
materially  over the previous  two  decades.  Propane  competes  primarily  with
electricity,  natural gas and fuel oil as an energy  source,  principally on the
basis of price, availability and portability.

     Propane is more expensive than natural gas on an equivalent British Thermal
Unit basis in locations  served by natural gas, but serves as an  alternative to
natural gas in rural and  suburban  areas where  natural gas is  unavailable  or
portability of product is required.  Historically,  the expansion of natural gas
into  traditional  propane  markets  has been  inhibited  by the  capital  costs
required  to expand  pipeline  and retail  distribution  systems.  Although  the
extension of natural gas pipelines  tends to displace  propane  distribution  in
areas affected,  the  Partnership  believes that new  opportunities  for propane
sales arise as more geographically  remote neighborhoods are developed.  Propane
is generally less  expensive to use than  electricity  for space heating,  water
heating,  clothes drying and cooking. Due to the current geographical  diversity
of the Partnership's operations, fuel oil has not been a significant competitor.
In addition,  propane and fuel oil compete to a lesser extent as a result of the
cost of converting from one to the other.

     In addition to competing with alternative  energy sources,  the Partnership
competes  with  other  companies  engaged  in the  retail  propane  distribution
business. Competition in the propane industry is highly fragmented and generally
occurs on a local  basis  with  other  large  full-service  multi-state  propane
marketers,   thousands  of  smaller   local   independent   marketers  and  farm
cooperatives.  Based on industry publications, the Partnership believes that the
10 largest retailers,  including the Partnership,  account for approximately 31%
of the total retail sales of propane in the United States and no single marketer
has more than a 10% share of the total retail market in the United States. Based
on industry  statistics,  the Partnership  believes that its retail sales volume
constitutes  approximately 4.4% of the domestic retail market for propane.  Most
of the  Partnership's  retail  distribution  branches  compete with five or more
marketers or distributors.  Each retail  distribution outlet operates in its own
competitive  environment  because  retail  marketers  tend to  locate  in  close
proximity  to customers  in order to lower the cost of  providing  service.  The
typical retail  distribution  outlet generally has an effective marketing radius
of approximately 50 miles although in certain rural areas a satellite office may
extend the marketing radius.

PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND MARKETING

     We distribute  propane  through a nationwide  retail  distribution  network
consisting of approximately 330 customer service centers in over 40 states as of
September 28, 2002. Our operations are  concentrated  in the east and west coast
regions of the United States.  In fiscal 2002, we served  approximately  750,000
active  customers.  Approximately  two-thirds of our retail  propane  volume has
historically  been sold during the six month peak  heating  season from  October
through March,  as many customers use propane for heating  purposes.  Typically,
customer service centers are found in suburban and rural areas where natural gas
is not  readily  available.  Generally,  such  locations  consist  of an office,
appliance showroom, warehouse and service facilities, with one or more 18,000 to
30,000 gallon storage tanks on the premises.  Most of our residential  customers
receive  their  propane  supply  pursuant to an automatic  delivery  system that



eliminates the customer's need to make an affirmative  purchase  decision.  From
our  customer  service  centers,  we also sell,  install and  service  equipment
related to our  propane  distribution  business,  including  heating and cooking
appliances,  hearth products and supplies and, at some  locations,  propane fuel
systems for motor vehicles.

     We sell propane primarily to six customer markets: residential, commercial,
industrial  (including  engine  fuel),  agricultural,  other  retail  users  and
wholesale.  Approximately  83% of the gallons sold by the  Partnership in fiscal
2002 were to retail customers:  39% to residential customers,  30% to commercial
customers,  11% to industrial customers, 5% to agricultural customers and 15% to
other retail users. The balance of approximately  17% of the gallons sold by the
Partnership  in fiscal 2002 was for risk  management  activities  and  wholesale
customers.   Sales  to  residential  customers  in  fiscal  2002  accounted  for
approximately  50%  of  our  gross  profit  on  propane  sales,  reflecting  the
higher-margin nature of the residential market. No single customer accounted for
10% or more of our revenues during fiscal 2002.

     Retail  deliveries  of propane are usually  made to  customers  by means of
bobtail  and rack  trucks.  Propane  is  pumped  from the  bobtail  truck,  with
capacities  ranging  from 2,125  gallons to 2,975  gallons  of  propane,  into a
stationary  storage  tank on the  customer's  premises.  The  capacity  of these
storage  tanks  ranges from  approximately  100 gallons to  approximately  1,200
gallons,  with a typical tank having a capacity of 300 to 400  gallons.  We also
deliver propane to retail customers in portable cylinders,  which typically have
a capacity of 5 to 35 gallons.  When these cylinders are delivered to customers,
empty  cylinders are refilled in place or transported for  replenishment  at our
distribution  locations. We also deliver propane to certain other bulk end users
of propane in larger trucks known as transports  (which have an average capacity
of  approximately  9,000  gallons).  End-users  receiving  transport  deliveries
include industrial  customers,  large-scale heating accounts,  such as local gas
utilities  which  use  propane  as  a  supplemental   fuel  to  meet  peak  load
deliverability  requirements,  and large agricultural accounts which use propane
for crop drying.  Propane is generally  transported  from  refineries,  pipeline
terminals,  storage  facilities  (including our storage facilities in Elk Grove,
California and Tirzah,  South Carolina),  and coastal  terminals to our customer
service  centers  by a  combination  of  common  carriers,  owner-operators  and
railroad tank cars. See additional discussion in Item 2 of this Annual Report.

     In  our  wholesale  operations,   we  principally  sell  propane  to  large
industrial  end-users  and other  propane  distributors.  The  wholesale  market
includes  customers  who use propane to fire  furnaces,  as a cutting gas and in
other process applications. Due to the low margin nature of the wholesale market
as compared to the retail market,  we have  selectively  reduced our emphasis on
wholesale  marketing  over the last few years.  Accordingly,  sales of wholesale
gallons during fiscal 2002 decreased in comparison to fiscal 2001, which in turn
decreased from fiscal 2000.

PROPANE SUPPLY

     Our propane  supply is purchased  from nearly 70 oil  companies and natural
gas  processors at more than 150 supply points  located in the United States and
Canada.  We also make purchases on the spot market.  We purchased  approximately
99% of our propane supplies from domestic  suppliers during fiscal 2002. Most of
the propane  purchased by us in fiscal 2002 was  purchased  pursuant to one year
agreements  subject to annual renewal,  but the percentage of contract purchases
may vary from year to year as we determine.  Supply contracts  generally provide
for  pricing in  accordance  with  posted  prices at the time of delivery or the
current prices established at major storage points, and some contracts include a
pricing  formula that  typically is based on such market  prices.  Some of these
agreements  provide maximum and minimum seasonal purchase  guidelines.  We use a
number of  interstate  pipelines,  as well as  railroad  tank cars and  delivery
trucks  to  transport   propane  from  suppliers  to  storage  and  distribution
facilities.



     Supplies of propane from our supply sources  historically have been readily
available.  Although we make no assurance regarding the availability of supplies
of propane in the  future,  we  currently  expect to be able to secure  adequate
supplies during fiscal 2003.  During the year ended  September 28, 2002,  Dynegy
Liquids  Marketing and Trade  ("Dynegy"),  Enterprise  Products  Operating  L.P.
("Enterprise") and Koch Hydrocarbon, LP ("Koch") provided approximately 23%, 15%
and 11%, respectively, of our total domestic propane supply. The availability of
our propane  supply is dependent on several  factors,  including the severity of
winter weather and the price and availability of competing fuels such as natural
gas and heating oil. We believe  that,  if supplies  from Dynegy,  Enterprise or
Koch were interrupted, we would be able to secure adequate propane supplies from
other sources without a material disruption of our operations. However, the cost
of  acquiring  such  propane  might  be  materially  higher  and,  at least on a
short-term basis,  margins could be affected.  Aside from these three suppliers,
no single supplier  provided more than 10% of our total domestic  propane supply
in the year ended September 28, 2002.

     Our product procurement and price risk management group seeks to reduce the
effect  of  price  volatility  on our  product  costs  and to  help  ensure  the
availability of propane during periods of short supply. We are currently a party
to propane  futures  transactions  on the New York  Mercantile  Exchange  and to
forward and option  contracts  with various  third  parties to purchase and sell
product  at fixed  prices in the  future.  These  activities  are  monitored  by
management  through  enforcement of our Commodity Trading Policy. See additional
discussion in Item 7A of this Annual Report.

     We operate large storage  facilities in California  and South  Carolina and
smaller  storage  facilities  in other  locations and have rights to use storage
facilities in additional  locations.  As of September 28, 2002,  the majority of
the  storage  capacity  in  California  and South  Carolina  was leased to third
parties.  Our storage  facilities  allow us to buy and store large quantities of
propane during periods of low demand,  which  generally  occur during the summer
months.  We believe our storage  facilities  help ensure a more secure supply of
propane during periods of intense demand or price instability.

TRADEMARKS AND TRADENAMES

     The  Partnership and its  subsidiaries  utilize a variety of trademarks and
tradenames that they own, including "Suburban Propane".  The Partnership regards
its trademarks,  tradenames and other proprietary  rights as valuable assets and
believes that they have significant value in the marketing of its products.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION; ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY MATTERS

     We are subject to various federal,  state and local  environmental,  health
and safety laws and regulations. Generally, these laws impose limitations on the
discharge of pollutants  and  establish  standards for the handling of solid and
hazardous wastes. These laws include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,   Compensation  and  Liability  Act
("CERCLA"),  the Clean Air Act,  the  Occupational  Safety and Health  Act,  the
Emergency  Planning  and  Community  Right to Know Act,  the Clean Water Act and
comparable  state statutes.  CERCLA,  also known as the "Superfund" law, imposes
joint and  several  liability  without  regard to fault or the  legality  of the
original  conduct on certain  classes of  persons  that are  considered  to have
contributed to the release or threatened release of a "hazardous substance" into
the  environment.  Propane is not a  hazardous  substance  within the meaning of
CERCLA.  However, we own real property where such hazardous substances may exist
as a result of prior activities at such locations.

     National  Fire  Protection  Association  Pamphlets No. 54 and No. 58, which
establish  rules and  procedures  governing  the safe  handling of  propane,  or
comparable regulations, have been adopted as the industry standard in all of the
states in which we operate.  In some states these laws are administered by state
agencies, and in others they are administered on a municipal level. With respect
to the  transportation  of  propane  by truck,  we are  subject  to  regulations



promulgated  under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. These regulations cover
the  transportation  of hazardous  materials and are  administered by the United
States  Department of  Transportation.  We conduct ongoing training  programs to
help  ensure  that our  operations  are in  compliance  with  applicable  safety
regulations.  We maintain  various permits that are necessary to operate some of
our facilities, some of which may be material to our operations. We believe that
the  procedures  currently in effect at all of our  facilities for the handling,
storage and  distribution of propane are consistent with industry  standards and
are  in  compliance,   in  all  material  respects,  with  applicable  laws  and
regulations.

     The Department of  Transportation  has established  regulations  addressing
emergency  discharge control issues. The regulations,  which became effective as
of July 1,  1999,  required  us to modify  the  inspection  and  record  keeping
procedures  for our cargo tank  vehicles.  A schedule of compliance is set forth
within the  regulations.  We have  implemented  the required  discharge  control
systems  and  comply,  in  all  material   respects,   with  current  regulatory
requirements.

     Future developments, such as stricter environmental,  health or safety laws
and  regulations  thereunder,  could affect our  operations.  We anticipate that
compliance with or liabilities under  environmental,  health and safety laws and
regulations,  including  CERCLA,  will not have a material adverse effect on the
Partnership.  To the extent that there are any environmental liabilities unknown
to the  Partnership or  environmental,  health or safety laws or regulations are
made more stringent, there can be no assurance that the Partnership's results of
operations will not be materially and adversely affected.

EMPLOYEES

     As of September  28, 2002,  we had 3,181 full time  employees,  of whom 255
were  engaged  in  general  and  administrative   activities   (including  fleet
maintenance),  27 were engaged in  transportation  and product supply activities
and 2,899 were customer service center employees.  As of September 28, 2002, 149
of such  employees  were  represented  by 11 different  local  chapters of labor
unions.  We  believe  that our  relations  with  both our  union  and  non-union
employees are satisfactory. From time to time, we hire temporary workers to meet
peak seasonal demands.


ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

     As of  September  28,  2002,  we owned  approximately  70% of our  customer
service  center and  satellite  locations  and leased the  balance of our retail
locations  from third  parties.  In  addition,  we own and  operate a 22 million
gallon refrigerated,  above-ground storage facility in Elk Grove, California and
a 60 million gallon underground storage cavern in Tirzah, South Carolina.

     The transportation of propane requires  specialized  equipment.  The trucks
and railroad tank cars utilized for this purpose carry  specialized  steel tanks
that maintain the propane in a liquefied state. As of September 28, 2002, we had
a  fleet  of 14  transport  truck  tractors,  of  which  8  were  owned  by  the
Partnership,  and 252  railroad  tank  cars,  all of which  were  leased  by the
Partnership. In addition, as of September 28, 2002 we utilized 1,200 bobtail and
rack  trucks,  of which  36% were  owned by the  Partnership,  and  1,398  other
delivery  and  service  vehicles,  of which 36% were  owned by the  Partnership.
Vehicles that are not owned by the Partnership  are leased.  As of September 28,
2002, we owned 756,291 customer storage tanks with typical  capacities of 100 to
500 gallons,  36,734 customer storage tanks with typical  capacities of over 500
gallons  and  88,548  portable  cylinders  with  typical  capacities  of 5 to 10
gallons.




ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

LITIGATION

     Our  operations  are subject to all  operating  hazards and risks  normally
incidental to handling,  storing,  and  delivering  combustible  liquids such as
propane.  As a result,  we have been,  and will  continue to be, a defendant  in
various  legal  proceedings  and  litigation  arising in the ordinary  course of
business. We are self-insured for general and product, workers' compensation and
automobile  liabilities  up to  predetermined  amounts  above  which third party
insurance applies.  We believe that the self-insured  retentions and coverage we
maintain are  reasonable  and prudent.  Although any  litigation  is  inherently
uncertain,  based on past experience, the information currently available to us,
and  the  amount  of  our  self-insurance  reserves  for  known  and  unasserted
self-insurance  claims (which was  approximately  $27.0 million at September 28,
2002), we do not believe that these pending or threatened litigation matters, or
known claims or known contingent claims,  will have a material adverse effect on
our results of operations, financial condition or our cash flow.

     On May 23, 2001,  Heritage Propane Partners,  L.P.  ("Heritage")  amended a
complaint  it had filed on  November  30,  1999 in the South  Carolina  Court of
Common Pleas,  Fifth Judicial Circuit,  against SCANA Corporation  ("SCANA") and
Cornerstone Ventures, L.P.  ("Cornerstone") to name the Operating Partnership as
a defendant (Heritage v. SCANA et al., Civil Action 01-CP-40-3262).  Third party
insurance and the self-insurance  reserves referenced above do not apply to this
action. The amended complaint alleges, among other things, that SCANA breached a
contract for the sale of propane assets and asserts claims against the Operating
Partnership  for wrongful  interference  with  prospective  advantage  and civil
conspiracy for allegedly  interfering with Heritage's  prospective contract with
SCANA.  Heritage  claims that it is entitled to recover its alleged lost profits
in the  amount  of  $125.0  million  and that all  defendants  are  jointly  and
severally  liable to it for such  amount.  The  Operating  Partnership  moved to
dismiss the claims asserted  against it for failure to state a claim. On October
24, 2001,  the court denied the  Operating  Partnership's  motion to dismiss the
amended complaint.  Currently,  discovery is ongoing between all parties to this
lawsuit.  A trial date has yet to be set. We believe that the claims  against us
are without merit and are defending the action vigorously.


ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     There  were no  matters  submitted  to a vote of  security  holders  of the
Partnership, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during the fourth
quarter of the year ended September 28, 2002.





                                     PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S UNITS AND RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS


     The  Common  Units,   representing   limited   partner   interests  in  the
Partnership, are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under
the symbol SPH. As of December 13, 2002,  there were 969 Common  Unitholders  of
record. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,  the high and
low sales  prices per Common  Unit,  as reported on the NYSE,  and the amount of
cash distributions paid per Common Unit.


                          COMMON UNIT PRICE RANGE         CASH DISTRIBUTION PAID
                          -----------------------         ----------------------

                          HIGH                 LOW
                          ----                 ---
FISCAL 2001
- -----------
First Quarter         $   22.06           $   19.00            $    0.5375
Second Quarter            24.25               21.75                 0.5500
Third Quarter             27.85               23.40                 0.5500
Fourth Quarter            28.00               21.05                 0.5625


FISCAL 2002
- -----------
First Quarter         $   27.99           $   24.50            $    0.5625
Second Quarter            28.40               24.36                 0.5625
Third Quarter             28.25               25.59                 0.5750
Fourth Quarter            28.49               20.00                 0.5750



     The  Partnership  makes  quarterly  distributions  to  its  partners  in an
aggregate  amount equal to its Available  Cash (as defined in the Second Amended
and Restated Partnership  Agreement) for such quarter.  Available Cash generally
means all cash on hand at the end of the fiscal quarter plus all additional cash
on hand as a result of  borrowings  subsequent  to the end of such  quarter less
cash  reserves  established  by the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  its  reasonable
discretion for future cash requirements.

     The  Partnership  is a  publicly  traded  limited  partnership  that is not
subject to federal income tax. Instead, Unitholders are required to report their
allocable share of the Partnership's earnings or loss, regardless of whether the
Partnership makes distributions.





ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The following table presents  selected  consolidated  historical  financial
data of the Partnership.  The selected consolidated historical financial data is
derived from the audited financial statements of the Partnership. The amounts in
the table below,  except per unit data, are in thousands.



                                                                                 YEAR ENDED
                                                         ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SEPT 28,     SEPT 29,     SEPT 30,     SEPT 25,     SEPT 26,
                                                           2002         2001       2000 (A)       1999         1998
                                                         --------     --------     --------     --------     --------

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
                                                                                             
Revenues ............................................   $ 665,105    $ 931,536    $ 841,304    $ 620,207    $ 667,999
Depreciation and amortization (b) ...................      29,693       38,502       38,772       34,906       36,531
Recapitalization costs (c) ..........................        --           --           --         18,903         --
Gain on sale of assets ..............................       6,768         --         10,328         --           --
Income before interest expense and income taxes......      88,214       91,475       79,560       53,272       68,814
Interest expense, net ...............................      33,987       37,590       40,794       30,765       30,614
Provision for income taxes ..........................         703          375          234           68           35
Net income ..........................................      53,524       53,510       38,532       22,439       38,165
Net income per unit - basic (d) .....................        2.12         2.14         1.70         0.83         1.30
Cash distributions declared per unit ................   $    2.28    $    2.20    $    2.11    $    2.03    $    2.00

BALANCE SHEET DATA (END OF PERIOD)
Current assets ......................................   $ 116,789    $ 124,339    $ 122,160    $  78,637    $ 132,781
Total assets ........................................     700,146      723,006      771,116      659,220      729,565
Current liabilities, incl. current portion of LT debt     187,545      162,103      131,461      103,006       91,550
Long-term borrowings ................................     383,830      430,270      517,219      427,634      427,897
Other long-term liabilities .........................     109,485       71,684       60,607       60,194       62,318
Partners' capital - Common Unitholders ..............     103,680      105,549       58,474       66,342      123,312
Partner's capital - General Partner .................   $   1,924    $   1,888    $   1,866    $   2,044    $  24,488

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS DATA
Cash provided by/(used in)
   Operating activities .............................   $  68,775    $ 101,838    $  59,467    $  81,758    $  70,073
   Investing activities .............................      (6,851)     (17,907)     (99,067)     (12,241)       2,900
   Financing activities .............................   $ (57,463)   $ (59,082)   $  42,853    $(120,944)   $ (32,490)

OTHER DATA
EBITDA (e) ..........................................   $ 117,907    $ 129,977    $ 118,332    $  88,178    $ 105,345
Capital expenditures (f)
   Maintenance and growth ...........................   $  17,464    $  23,218    $  21,250    $  11,033    $  12,617
   Acquisitions .....................................   $    --      $    --      $  98,012    $   4,768    $   4,041
Retail propane gallons sold .........................     455,988      524,728      523,975      524,276      529,796



(a)  Includes  the  results  from  the  November  1999  acquisition  of  certain
     subsidiaries of SCANA Corporation, accounted for under the purchase method,
     from the date of acquisition.

(b)  Depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended September 28, 2002
     reflects the early adoption of Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards
     No.  142,  "Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible  Assets"  ("SFAS  142")  as of



     September  30,  2001 (the  beginning  of our 2002  fiscal  year).  SFAS 142
     eliminates  the  requirement  to amortize  goodwill and certain  intangible
     assets. Amortization expense for the year ended September 28, 2002 reflects
     approximately $7.4 million lower amortization  expense compared to the year
     ended  September 29, 2001 as a result of the  elimination  of  amortization
     expense associated with goodwill.

(c)  We   incurred   expenses   of  $18.9   million  in   connection   with  the
     recapitalization  transaction  described  in  Note  1 to  the  consolidated
     financial  statements  included  in  this  Annual  Report.  These  expenses
     included  $7.6  million   representing  cash  expenses  and  $11.3  million
     representing  non-cash charges  associated with the accelerated  vesting of
     restricted Common Units.

(d)  Net income per limited  partner  unit is  computed by dividing  net income,
     after deducting the General  Partner's  interest,  by the weighted  average
     number of outstanding Common Units.

(e)  EBITDA (earnings before interest,  taxes, depreciation and amortization) is
     calculated  as  income  before  interest  expense  and  income  taxes  plus
     depreciation  and  amortization.  EBITDA  should  not be  considered  as an
     alternative to net income (as an indicator of operating  performance) or as
     an  alternative  to cash flow (as a measure  of  liquidity  or  ability  to
     service  debt  obligations)  and is not in  accordance  with or superior to
     generally  accepted   accounting   principles,   but  provides   additional
     information  for  evaluating  the   Partnership's   ability  to  distribute
     quarterly  distributions or to increase  quarterly  distributions.  Because
     EBITDA  excludes  some,  but not all, items that affect net income and this
     measure may vary among  companies,  the EBITDA data presented above may not
     be comparable to similarly titled measures of other  companies.  EBITDA has
     been calculated  using elements  derived from captions on the  consolidated
     statement of operations included in this Annual Report as follows:



                                                  FISCAL      FISCAL      FISCAL      FISCAL      FISCAL
                                                   2002        2001        2000        1999        1998
                                                  ------      ------      ------      ------      ------
                                                                                  
     Income before interest expense and
         provision for income taxes              $ 88,214    $ 91,475    $ 79,560    $ 53,272    $ 68,814
     Add:  Depreciation and amortization           29,693      38,502      38,772      34,906      36,531
                                                  -------     -------     -------     -------     -------

     EBITDA                                      $117,907    $129,977    $118,332    $ 88,178    $105,345
                                                 ========    ========    ========    ========    ========



(f)  Our  capital  expenditures  fall  generally  into  three  categories:   (i)
     maintenance  expenditures,   which  include  expenditures  for  repair  and
     replacement  of  property,   plant  and  equipment,   (ii)  growth  capital
     expenditures  which  include  new  propane  tanks  and other  equipment  to
     facilitate expansion of our customer base and operating capacity; and (iii)
     acquisition capital expenditures, which include expenditures related to the
     acquisition  of propane and other  retail  operations  and a portion of the
     purchase  price  allocated to  intangibles  associated  with such  acquired
     businesses.




ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS

     The  following is a discussion  of the  financial  condition and results of
operations  of the  Partnership,  which should be read in  conjunction  with the
historical   consolidated   financial  statements  and  notes  thereto  included
elsewhere in this Annual  Report.  Since the Operating  Partnership  and Service
Company account for  substantially  all of the assets,  revenues and earnings of
the  Partnership,   a  separate  discussion  of  the  Partnership's  results  of
operations from other sources is not presented.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  contains  forward-looking  statements
("Forward-Looking  Statements") as defined in the Private Securities  Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 relating to the  Partnership's  future business  expectations
and predictions and financial condition and results of operations. Some of these
statements can be identified by the use of  forward-looking  terminology such as
"prospects,"  "outlook,"  "believes,"  "estimates,"  "intends,"  "may,"  "will,"
"should," "anticipates," "expects" or "plans" or the negative or other variation
of these or similar words, or by discussion or trends and conditions, strategies
or risks and  uncertainties.  These  Forward-Looking  Statements involve certain
risks and  uncertainties  that could cause actual  results to differ  materially
from those discussed or implied in such Forward-Looking  Statements ("Cautionary
Statements").  The risks and uncertainties and their impact on the Partnership's
operations include, but are not limited to, the following risks:

o    The impact of weather conditions on the demand for propane;
o    Fluctuations in the unit cost of propane;
o    The ability of the  Partnership to compete with other  suppliers of propane
     and other energy sources;
o    The impact on  propane  prices and  supply of the  political  and  economic
     instability  of the  oil  producing  nations  and  other  general  economic
     conditions;
o    The ability of the Partnership to retain customers;
o    The impact of energy  efficiency and technology  advances on the demand for
     propane;
o    The ability of management to continue to control expenses;
o    The impact of regulatory developments on the Partnership's business;
o    The impact of legal proceedings on the Partnership's business;
o    The  Partnership's  ability to implement  its  expansion  strategy into new
     business lines and sectors;
o    The Partnership's ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully.

     Some of these  Forward-Looking  Statements  are discussed in more detail in
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations" in this Annual Report.  On different  occasions,  the Partnership or
its representatives  have made or may make  Forward-Looking  Statements in other
filings that the Partnership makes with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,
in press releases or in oral  statements  made by or with the approval of one of
its  authorized  executive  officers.  Readers are  cautioned not to place undue
reliance on Forward-Looking or Cautionary Statements, which reflect management's
opinions only as of the date hereof. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to
update any Forward-Looking or Cautionary  Statement.  All subsequent written and
oral  Forward-Looking  Statements  attributable  to the  Partnership  or persons
acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary
Statements in this Annual Report and in future SEC reports.



The  following  are factors  that  regularly  affect our  operating  results and
financial condition:

PRODUCT COSTS

     The retail propane business is a "margin-based" business where the level of
profitability is largely dependent on the difference  between retail sales price
and product cost.  The unit cost of propane is subject to volatile  changes as a
result of product supply or other market conditions;  including, but not limited
to, economic and political factors impacting crude oil and natural gas supply or
pricing. Propane unit cost changes can occur rapidly over a short period of time
and can impact retail margins.  There is no assurance that the Partnership  will
be able to pass on product cost  increases  fully or  immediately,  particularly
when  product  costs  increase  rapidly.  The  average  cost of  propane  to the
Partnership  was  substantially  less  throughout  the  majority  of fiscal 2002
compared to both fiscal  2001 and 2000.  The average  cost of propane for fiscal
2002 was  approximately 38% below fiscal 2001 levels,  which were  approximately
31%  above  fiscal  2000.  Therefore,  average  retail  sales  prices  can  vary
significantly  from year to year as product costs fluctuate with propane,  crude
oil and natural gas commodity market conditions.

SEASONALITY

     The retail propane  distribution  business is seasonal because of propane's
primary use for heating in residential and commercial  buildings.  Historically,
approximately  two-thirds of the  Partnership's  retail  propane  volume is sold
during  the  six-month   peak  heating   season  from  October   through  March.
Consequently,  sales and operating profits are concentrated in the Partnership's
first and second fiscal  quarters.  Cash flows from operations,  therefore,  are
greatest  during the second and third fiscal  quarters  when  customers  pay for
propane purchased during the winter heating season.  Lower operating profits and
either  net losses or lower net income  during  the  period  from April  through
September (the Partnership's third and fourth fiscal quarters) are expected.  To
the extent  necessary,  the  Partnership  will  reserve cash from the second and
third  quarters for  distribution  to Unitholders in the first and fourth fiscal
quarters.

WEATHER

     Weather  conditions have a significant impact on the demand for propane for
both heating and agricultural  purposes.  Many customers of the Partnership rely
heavily on propane as a heating fuel. Accordingly, the volume of propane sold is
directly  affected by the  severity of the winter  weather in the  Partnership's
service  areas,  which can vary  substantially  from year to year.  In any given
area, sustained  warmer-than-normal  temperatures will tend to result in reduced
propane use, while sustained colder-than-normal temperatures will tend to result
in greater propane use.

RISK MANAGEMENT

     Product  supply  contracts are  generally  one-year  agreements  subject to
annual  renewal and  generally  permit  suppliers to charge posted market prices
(plus  transportation  costs)  at the time of  delivery  or the  current  prices
established  at major  delivery  points.  Since rapid  increases  in the cost of
propane may not be  immediately  passed on to retail  customers,  such increases
could  reduce  profit  margins.  The  Partnership  engages  in  risk  management
activities to reduce the effect of price  volatility on its product costs and to
help ensure the  availability  of propane  during  periods of short supply.  The
Partnership is currently a party to propane futures  contracts traded on the New
York  Mercantile  Exchange  and enters into forward and option  agreements  with
third  parties to purchase and sell propane at fixed prices in the future.  Risk
management  activities  are monitored by management  through  enforcement of the
Partnership's  Commodity Trading Policy and reported to the Partnership's  Audit
Committee.  Risk  management  transactions  do not  always  result in  increased
product margins. See additional discussion in Item 7A of this Annual Report.




CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

     Certain  amounts  included  in  or  affecting  our  consolidated  financial
statements and related  disclosures must be estimated,  requiring  management to
make certain  assumptions  with respect to values or  conditions  that cannot be
known with  certainty at the time the financial  statements  are  prepared.  The
preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with  accounting  principles
generally  accepted in the United States of America requires  management to make
estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets and
liabilities  and disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities at the date of
the  financial  statements  and the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses
during the reporting period. We are also subject to risks and uncertainties that
may cause actual  results to differ from estimated  results.  Estimates are used
when accounting for depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, employee
benefits,  self-insurance  and legal reserves,  allowance for doubtful accounts,
asset valuation assessment and valuation of derivative instruments.  We base our
estimates on historical  experience  and on various other  assumptions  that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the
basis for making  judgments  about the carrying values of assets and liabilities
that are not readily  apparent from other sources.  Any effects on our business,
financial  position or results of operations  resulting  from revisions to these
estimates  are  recorded  in the period in which the facts that give rise to the
revision become known.

     Our significant  accounting  policies are summarized in Note 2 - Summary of
Significant  Accounting  Policies  included  within  the  Notes to  Consolidated
Financial  Statements  section  elsewhere in this Annual Report. We believe that
the following are our critical accounting policies:

REVENUE  RECOGNITION.  We recognize revenue from the sale of propane at the time
product is delivered to the customer.  Revenue from the sale of  appliances  and
equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as
applicable.  Revenue from repair and  maintenance  activities is recognized upon
completion of the service.

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL  ACCOUNTS.  We maintain  allowances for doubtful accounts
for  estimated  losses  resulting  from the  inability of our  customers to make
required  payments.  If the financial  condition of one or more of our customers
were  to  deteriorate  resulting  in an  impairment  in  their  ability  to make
payments, additional allowances could be required.

PENSION AND OTHER  POSTRETIREMENT  BENEFITS.  We estimate  the rate of return on
plan assets,  the discount rate to estimate the present value of future  benefit
obligations  and the cost of future  health  care  benefits in  determining  our
annual  pension and other  postretirement  benefit  costs.  In  accordance  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles,  actual results that differ from our
assumptions  are  accumulated  and amortized  over future periods and therefore,
generally affect our recognized  expense and recorded  obligation in such future
periods.  While we believe that our  assumptions  are  appropriate,  significant
differences in our actual experience or significant changes in market conditions
may materially affect our pension and other  postretirement  obligations and our
future  expense.  For a  discussion  of the impact of recent  conditions  in the
capital markets on our pension plan assets see "Pension Plan Assets" below.

SELF-INSURANCE  RESERVES. Our accrued insurance reserves represent the estimated
costs of known and  anticipated  or  unasserted  claims  under our  general  and
product,  workers'  compensation  and  automobile  insurance  policies.  Accrued
insurance provisions for unasserted claims arising from unreported incidents are
based on an analysis of  historical  claims  data.  For each claim,  we record a
self-insurance provision up to the estimated amount of the probable claim or the
amount of the deductible,  whichever is lower,  utilizing actuarially determined
loss development factors applied to actual claims data.




DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. See Item 7A of this Annual Report
for additional  information  about  accounting for  derivative  instruments  and
hedging activities.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FISCAL YEAR 2002 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 2001
- ---------------------------------------------

     REVENUES.  Revenues  of $665.1  million  in fiscal  2002  decreased  $266.4
million,  or 28.6%,  compared to $931.5 million in fiscal 2001. This decrease is
principally due to a decrease in average selling prices, coupled with a decrease
in  retail  gallons  sold.  Average  selling  prices  declined  as a result of a
significant decline in the commodity price of propane in fiscal 2002 compared to
the prior year. The decrease in volume was  attributable  to record warm weather
conditions  which were most dramatic  during the peak heating  months of October
through March of fiscal 2002 as well as, to a lesser  extent,  the impact of the
economic recession on commercial and industrial customers' buying habits.

     Retail  gallons sold decreased  13.1%,  or 68.7 million  gallons,  to 456.0
million gallons in fiscal 2002 compared to 524.7 million gallons in fiscal 2001.
Nationwide  temperatures  during  fiscal  2002 were 13%  warmer  than  normal as
compared to temperatures  that were 2% colder than normal during fiscal 2001, as
reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA"). During
the peak  heating  months of  October  2001  through  March  2002,  temperatures
nationwide  were 13% warmer  than normal as compared to 5% colder than normal in
the  comparable  period in fiscal  2001,  as reported by NOAA.  Volumes from the
components  of our  customer  mix  that  are  less  weather  sensitive  declined
approximately 12% year-over-year.

     Revenues from  wholesale and risk  management  activities  decreased  $50.1
million,  or 58.1%, to $36.1 million in fiscal 2002 compared to $86.2 million in
fiscal 2001. A less volatile  commodity  price  environment  for propane  during
fiscal  2002  compared  to fiscal  2001  resulted  in  reduced  risk  management
activities and lower volumes in the wholesale market.

     Revenue from other sources, including sales of appliances and related parts
and services,  of $94.8 million in fiscal 2002 increased $2.9 million,  or 3.2%,
over fiscal 2001 revenues of $91.9 million.

     OPERATING EXPENSES. Operating expenses decreased 9.5%, or $24.6 million, to
$234.1  million  in fiscal  2002  compared  to $258.7  million  in fiscal  2001.
Operating  expenses for the year ended September 28, 2002 include a $5.4 million
unrealized  gain  representing  the net  change  in fair  values  of  derivative
instruments not designated as hedges, compared to a $3.1 million unrealized loss
in  fiscal  2001 (see  Item 7A of this  Annual  Report  for  information  on our
policies  regarding  the  accounting  for  derivative  instruments  and  hedging
activities).  Excluding  the impact of  changes in the fair value of  derivative
instruments  on both the  current  and prior year  results,  operating  expenses
decreased  $16.1 million,  or 6.3%,  principally  attributable to our ability to
reduce costs amidst  declining  volumes  resulting  from ongoing  initiatives to
shift  costs  from  fixed  to  variable,  primarily  in the  areas  of  employee
compensation and benefits. The lower compensation costs were offset, in part, by
an  increase in medical  and dental  costs in fiscal 2002  compared to the prior
year.  Additionally,   operating  expenses  were  favorably  impacted  by  lower
provisions  for  doubtful  accounts  and lower  costs of  operating  our  fleet,
including  maintenance  and fuel costs,  in fiscal 2002 compared to fiscal 2001.
Provisions  for doubtful  accounts were higher in fiscal 2001 primarily from the
generally higher selling price environment  driven by the higher average propane
costs.

     GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES.  General and administrative  expenses
decreased  $1.7  million,  or 5.2%,  to $30.8 million in fiscal 2002 compared to
$32.5 million in fiscal 2001, again attributable to lower employee  compensation
and benefit costs, as well as to lower fees for professional services.




     DEPRECIATION  AND  AMORTIZATION.   Depreciation  and  amortization  expense
decreased  22.9%,  or $8.8 million,  to $29.7 million in fiscal 2002 compared to
$38.5  million in the prior year  primarily as a result of our decision to early
adopt Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 142, "Goodwill
and Other  Intangible  Assets"  ("SFAS 142")  effective  September 30, 2001 (the
beginning of fiscal 2002), which eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill
and certain  intangible  assets. If SFAS 142 had been in effect at the beginning
of the prior year,  fiscal 2001 net income would have  improved by $7.4 million.
Refer to "Adoption of New Accounting  Standard" below for further information on
the adoption of SFAS 142.

     GAIN ON SALE OF STORAGE  FACILITY.  On January  31,  2002,  we sold our 170
million gallon propane storage facility in Hattiesburg,  Mississippi,  which was
considered  a  non-strategic  asset,  for net  cash  proceeds  of $8.0  million,
resulting in a gain on sale of approximately $6.8 million.

     INCOME BEFORE INTEREST  EXPENSE AND INCOME TAXES AND EBITDA.  Income before
interest  expense and income taxes  decreased  3.6%, or $3.3  million,  to $88.2
million  compared to $91.5 million in the prior year.  Earnings before interest,
taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization  ("EBITDA")  decreased  9.3%,  or  $12.1
million,  to $117.9  million in fiscal 2002  compared  to $130.0  million in the
prior year. The decreases in income before interest expense and income taxes and
in EBITDA  reflect the impact of the 13.1% lower  retail  volumes sold in fiscal
2002  attributable  to  unseasonably  warm heating season  temperatures  and the
economy;  partially  offset  by (i) the  $26.3  million,  or 9.0%,  decrease  in
combined operating and general and administrative expenses described above, (ii)
the impact of the $6.8 million gain on the sale of our Hattiesburg,  Mississippi
storage  facility and (iii) the impact on  operating  expenses of changes in the
fair value of derivative  instruments  described above. In addition, if SFAS 142
had been in effect at the beginning of the prior year, fiscal 2001 income before
interest expense and income taxes would have improved by $7.4 million.

     EBITDA  should not be  considered  as an  alternative  to net income (as an
indicator  of operating  performance)  or as an  alternative  to cash flow (as a
measure of  liquidity  or ability to  service  debt  obligations)  and is not in
accordance  with or superior to generally  accepted  accounting  principles  but
provides  additional  information  for  evaluating our ability to distribute our
quarterly  distributions or to increase  distributions.  Because EBITDA excludes
some,  but not all, items that affect net income and this measure may vary among
companies,  the EBITDA data  presented  above may not be comparable to similarly
titled measures of other companies.  EBITDA is calculated using elements derived
from captions on the  consolidated  statements  of  operations  included in this
Annual Report.  See Item 6 in this Annual Report for a reconciliation  of EBITDA
to income before interest expense and provision for income taxes.

     INTEREST EXPENSE.  Net interest expense decreased 9.6%, or $3.6 million, to
$34.0 million in fiscal 2002  compared to $37.6 million in the prior year.  This
decrease is primarily  attributable to reductions in average amounts outstanding
during  fiscal  2002  under our  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  as well as lower
average interest rates.




FISCAL YEAR 2001 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 2000
- ---------------------------------------------

     Results for fiscal 2001 reflect 52 weeks of operations compared to 53 weeks
in fiscal 2000.  Results for fiscal 2000 include a $10.3 million gain on sale of
assets.

     REVENUES.  Revenues increased $90.2 million, or 10.7%, to $931.5 million in
fiscal 2001  compared to $841.3  million in fiscal  2000.  Revenues  from retail
propane  activities  increased  $143.9  million,  or 23.6%, to $753.4 million in
fiscal  2001  compared  to $609.5  million  in fiscal  2000.  This  increase  is
primarily  attributable  to higher product costs which resulted in higher retail
sales prices.

     Retail gallons sold increased  slightly to 524.7 million  gallons in fiscal
2001  compared  to 524.0  million  gallons  in fiscal  2000.  This  increase  is
attributable  to  colder  weather  offset  by  customer   conservation  efforts.
Nationwide  temperatures  during  fiscal  2001  were 2%  colder  than  normal as
compared to temperatures that were 11% warmer than normal during fiscal 2000, as
reported by the NOAA.

     Revenues from  wholesale and risk  management  activities  decreased  $58.2
million, or 40.3%, to $86.2 million in fiscal 2001 compared to $144.4 million in
fiscal 2000. Although propane product costs were substantially  higher in fiscal
2001 than in prior years,  product  costs began to decline in the second half of
fiscal 2001. Accordingly, the Partnership reduced its risk management activities
resulting in a decrease in revenues from the risk management sale of propane.

     Revenue from other sources,  including  sales of appliances,  related parts
and services of $91.9 million in fiscal 2001  increased  $4.5 million,  or 5.1%,
compared to fiscal 2000 revenues of $87.4 million.

     OPERATING  EXPENSES.  Operating expenses increased 13.2%, or $30.2 million,
to $258.7 million in fiscal 2001 compared to $228.5 million in fiscal 2000. This
increase is  principally  attributable  to increased  payroll and benefit costs,
including  increased  incentive   compensation  accruals  in  line  with  higher
earnings,  higher provisions for doubtful accounts  resulting from the increases
in  selling  prices,  higher  insurance,   increased  vehicle  fuel  costs,  the
development of retail and service  business  initiatives  and unrealized  losses
recorded under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
133,  "Accounting  for Derivative  Instruments  and Hedging  Activities"  ("SFAS
133"),  related  to  changes  in fair  values  of the  Partnership's  derivative
instruments.

     GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES.  General and administrative  expenses
increased  $3.9 million,  or 13.6%,  to $32.5 million in fiscal 2001 compared to
$28.6 million in fiscal 2000. This increase is primarily  attributable to higher
payroll and benefit costs,  including  incentive  compensation  accruals in line
with higher  earnings,  increased  costs for  professional  services  and higher
equipment  leasing  costs;  offset  in part by gains  realized  on the  sales of
non-strategic assets and corporate investments in fiscal 2001.

     DEPRECIATION  AND  AMORTIZATION.   Depreciation  and  amortization  expense
remained consistent at $38.5 million in fiscal 2001 compared to $38.8 million in
fiscal 2000.

     GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS.  Results  for fiscal  2000  reflect a gain of $10.3
million  associated  with the sale of 23 customer  service  centers  principally
located in Georgia in December 1999.  Total cash proceeds in connection with the
sale amounted to approximately $19.4 million.

     INCOME  BEFORE  INTEREST  EXPENSE AND INCOME TAXES AND EBITDA.  Results for
fiscal 2000 include a $10.3 million gain on the sale of assets.  Excluding  this
one-time item,  income before interest expense and income taxes increased 32.2%,
or $22.3  million,  to $91.5 million in fiscal 2001 compared to $69.2 million in
the prior period. EBITDA, excluding the one-time item, increased 20.4%, or $22.0
million,  to $130.0 million compared to $108.0 million in the prior period.  The
increases in income before  interest  expense and income taxes and in EBITDA are
primarily attributable to higher gross profit of $56.1 million reflecting higher
retail  margins,  partially  offset  by  increased  operating  and  general  and
administrative expenses.




     EBITDA  should not be  considered  as an  alternative  to net income (as an
indicator  of operating  performance)  or as an  alternative  to cash flow (as a
measure of  liquidity  or ability to  service  debt  obligations)  and is not in
accordance  with or superior to generally  accepted  accounting  principles  but
provides  additional  information  for  evaluating our ability to distribute our
quarterly  distributions.  Because EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that
affect net income and this  measure  may vary among  companies,  the EBITDA data
presented  above may not be  comparable  to similarly  titled  measures of other
companies.  EBITDA is  calculated  using  elements  derived from captions on the
consolidated  statement  of  operations  included in this Annual  Report on Form
10-K. See Item 6 in this Annual Report for a reconciliation  of EBITDA to income
before interest expense and provision for income taxes.

     INTEREST EXPENSE.  Net interest expense decreased 7.8%, or $3.2 million, to
$37.6  million  compared  to $40.8  million in the prior year.  The  decrease is
primarily  due to  reductions  in amounts  outstanding  under the  Partnership's
Revolving Credit Agreement and, to a lesser extent, lower interest rates.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     Due to the  seasonal  nature  of the  propane  business,  cash  flows  from
operating  activities  are  greater  during the winter and spring  seasons,  our
second and third fiscal quarters,  as customers pay for propane purchased during
the heating  season.  In fiscal 2002, net cash provided by operating  activities
decreased  $33.0 million,  or 32.4%, to $68.8 million in fiscal 2002 compared to
$101.8  million in fiscal  2001.  The  decrease  is  primarily  due to lower net
income,  after  adjusting  for  non-cash  items  in  both  periods  (principally
depreciation,  amortization and gains on asset disposals), as well as the impact
of  unfavorable  changes in working  capital in  comparison  to the prior  year,
principally reflecting lower compensation and benefit accruals,  offset by lower
inventories.

     Net cash provided by operating activities increased $42.3 million to $101.8
million in fiscal  2001 from $59.5  million in fiscal  2000.  The  increase  was
primarily due to improved  working  capital  principally  reflected in decreased
accounts  receivable,  attributable  to a  decrease  in sales  during the fourth
quarter  of fiscal  2001 in  comparison  to the fourth  quarter of fiscal  2000,
decreased accounts payable, attributable to the decreased cost of propane during
the fourth  quarter of fiscal 2001, and higher net income,  after  adjusting for
non-cash items  (depreciation,  amortization and gains on disposal of assets) in
both periods.

     Net cash used in  investing  activities  was $6.9  million in fiscal  2002,
reflecting  $17.5 million in capital  expenditures  (including $13.0 million for
maintenance  expenditures  and $4.5 million to support the growth of operations)
offset by net proceeds of $10.6 million from the sale of assets  (including  net
proceeds of $8.0 million resulting from the sale of our propane storage facility
in Hattiesburg,  Mississippi).  Net cash used in investing  activities was $17.9
million  in fiscal  2001,  reflecting  $23.2  million  in  capital  expenditures
(including  $6.5  million  for  maintenance  expenditures  and $16.7  million to
support the growth of  operations),  offset by net proceeds of $5.3 million from
the sale of property, plant and equipment. Net cash used in investing activities
was  $99.1  million  in  fiscal  2000,   reflecting  $21.3  million  in  capital
expenditures  (including  $7.5 million for  maintenance  expenditures  and $13.8
million to support the growth of  operations)  and $98.0 million of  acquisition
payments,  including  $97.0 million for the  acquisition  of certain assets from
SCANA  Corporation  in November  1999 (the "SCANA  Acquisition"),  offset by net
proceeds  of $20.2  million  from the sale of  property,  plant  and  equipment,
including 23 customer service centers.

     Net cash used in financing  activities  for fiscal 2002 was $57.5  million,
primarily  reflecting  the  payment  of  quarterly  distributions  to our Common
Unitholders and the General Partner.  Net cash used in financing  activities for
fiscal  2001 was  $59.1  million,  reflecting  repayments  under  the  Operating
Partnership's  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  as amended and restated  effective



January 29, 2001 (the "Revolving Credit  Agreement"),  including a net repayment
of $44.0  million  borrowed  under  the  SCANA  Acquisition  facility  and a net
repayment of $6.5 million borrowed under the net working capital  facility,  and
$54.5  million in  Partnership  distributions,  partly offset by net proceeds of
$47.1 million from a public offering of 2,352,700  Common Units in October 2000.
Net cash  provided by financing  activities  for fiscal 2000 was $42.9  million,
reflecting  $89.7 million in borrowings to fund the SCANA  Acquisition  and $3.8
million of net working capital  borrowings  under the Revolving Credit Agreement
offset  by $47.4  million  in  Partnership  distributions  and $3.1  million  of
expenses to amend the Revolving Credit  Agreement.  The increase of $7.1 million
in Partnership  distributions during fiscal 2001 is attributable to the increase
in Common Units outstanding as a result of the public offering and the increases
in the quarterly distribution amounts.

     On March 5, 1996,  pursuant to a Senior Note  Agreement  (the "1996  Senior
Note  Agreement"),  we issued  $425.0  million of senior notes (the "1996 Senior
Notes") with an annual interest rate of 7.54%.  Our  obligations  under the 1996
Senior Note  Agreement are unsecured and rank on an equal and ratable basis with
our obligations  under the Revolving  Credit  Agreement.  Under the terms of the
1996 Senior Note Agreement, we became obligated to pay the principal on the 1996
Senior Notes in equal annual  payments of $42.5  million  starting July 1, 2002,
with the last such payment due June 30, 2011.  On July 1, 2002,  we received net
proceeds of $42.5 million from the issuance of 7.37% Senior Notes due June, 2012
(the "2002 Senior  Notes") and used the funds to pay the first annual  principal
payment  of  $42.5  million  due  under  the 1996  Senior  Note  Agreement.  Our
obligations  under the  agreement  governing  the 2002  Senior  Notes (the "2002
Senior Note  Agreement")  are  unsecured  and rank on an equal and ratable basis
with our  obligations  under the 1996 Senior Note  Agreement  and the  Revolving
Credit Agreement.  We intend to refinance the second annual principal payment of
$42.5 million on the 1996 Senior Notes due during fiscal 2003 and have initiated
discussions with various third parties.  Alternatively, we currently expect that
we will  generate  sufficient  funds from  operations  to satisfy the  principal
payment.

     Our Revolving Credit Agreement,  as amended on January 29, 2001, provides a
$75.0 million working capital facility and a $50.0 million acquisition facility.
Borrowings  under the Revolving  Credit  Agreement bear interest at a rate based
upon either  LIBOR plus a margin,  Wachovia  National  Bank's  prime rate or the
Federal  Funds  rate plus 1/2 of 1%. An annual fee  ranging  from .375% to .50%,
based  upon  certain  financial  tests,  is  payable  quarterly  whether  or not
borrowings occur. As of September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001, $46.0 million
was outstanding under the acquisition facility of the Revolving Credit Agreement
and there were no borrowings under the working capital  facility.  The Revolving
Credit  Agreement  matures on May 31, 2003 and,  accordingly,  the $46.0 million
outstanding  balance has been classified as a current liability at September 28,
2002.  We have  initiated  discussions  to  extend,  or  otherwise  modify,  the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement  on a  long-term  basis.  Although  there can be no
assurance,  we  currently  believe  that we will be able to extend or  otherwise
modify the Revolving Credit Agreement on terms economically  satisfactory to the
Partnership.

     The 1996 Senior Note  Agreement,  the 2002  Senior Note  Agreement  and the
Revolving Credit Agreement contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants
applicable to the Operating  Partnership,  including (a)  maintenance of certain
financial  tests,  including,  but not limited to, a leverage ratio of less than
5.0 to 1 and an interest  coverage ratio in excess of 2.5 to 1, (b) restrictions
on the incurrence of additional  indebtedness,  and (c)  restrictions on certain
liens,   investments,    guarantees,   loans,   advances,   payments,   mergers,
consolidations,  distributions,  sales of  assets  and  other  transactions.  In
addition,  the 1996 Senior Note  Agreement  contains an Adjusted  Net Worth test
which  requires  that we maintain an Adjusted  Net Worth (as defined in the 1996
Senior Note  Agreement) in excess of $50.0 million.  We were in compliance  with
all covenants and terms of the 1996 Senior Note Agreement,  the 2002 Senior Note
Agreement and the Revolving  Credit  Agreement as of September 28, 2002.  During
December  2002,  we amended the 1996 Senior Note  Agreement to (i) eliminate the
Adjusted Net Worth  financial  test to be  consistent  with the 2002 Senior Note
Agreement and Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  and (ii) add a second tier leverage
ratio which will capture the underfunded portion of our pension obligations. See
"Pension Plan Assets" below.



     We will make distributions in an amount equal to all of our Available Cash,
as  defined  in  the  Second   Amended  and  Restated   Partnership   Agreement,
approximately  45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to holders of record
on the applicable  record dates.  The Board of Supervisors  reviews the level of
Available  Cash  on  a  quarterly  basis  based  upon  information  provided  by
management.  During  each of the first two  quarters  of  fiscal  2002,  we made
distributions  to our Common  Unitholders  of $0.5625 per Common Unit. On May 8,
2002,  the Board of  Supervisors  declared a $0.05  annualized  increase  in the
quarterly  distribution from $0.5625 per Common Unit to $0.5750 per Common Unit,
or $2.30 on an annualized basis, for the third quarter of fiscal 2002, which was
paid on August 13, 2002. On October 23, 2002, the Board of Supervisors  declared
a quarterly  distribution  of $0.5750 per Common Unit for the fourth  quarter of
fiscal  2002,  which  was paid on  November  12,  2002 to  holders  of record on
November 4, 2002.

     These  quarterly   distributions  included  Incentive  Distribution  Rights
("IDRs"),  which are payable to the General  Partner to the extent the quarterly
distribution  exceeds $0.55 per Common Unit. The IDRs represent an incentive for
the General Partner (which is owned by senior  management of the Partnership) to
increase  the  distributions  to Common  Unitholders  in excess of the $0.55 per
Common  Unit  target  level.  With  regard to the first $0.55 of the Common Unit
distribution  paid in each quarter,  98.11% of the Available Cash is distributed
to the Common Unitholders and 1.89% is distributed to the General Partner.  With
regard  to the  balance  of  the  Common  Unit  distributions  paid,  85% of the
Available Cash is distributed to the Common  Unitholders  and 15% is distributed
to the General Partner.

     As discussed  above,  the results of  operations  for the fiscal year ended
September  28,  2002  were  adversely  impacted  by  unseasonably  warm  weather
nationwide  throughout  fiscal  2002 and  during  the peak  heating  season,  in
particular,  as weather was 13% warmer than normal in fiscal 2002 and 15% warmer
than the prior year. Our ability to manage our cost structure,  coupled with our
success in monetizing the Hattiesburg,  Mississippi  storage facility during the
second  quarter of fiscal  2002,  which was  considered a  non-strategic  asset,
helped mitigate some of the negative impact of warmer weather  conditions on our
results of  operations  and cash flow.  Even with near record warm  temperatures
nationwide  throughout fiscal 2002, we effectively managed our cash flow without
the need to utilize our working  capital  facility  under the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement.

     Our anticipated cash  requirements for fiscal 2003 include  maintenance and
growth capital  expenditures of  approximately  $16.0 million for the repair and
replacement  of property,  plant and equipment,  approximately  $34.0 million of
interest  payments  on the 1996  Senior  Notes,  the 2002  Senior  Notes and the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement and a principal  payment of $42.5 million due under
the 1996 Senior Note Agreement.  In addition,  assuming  distributions remain at
the current  level,  we will be required to pay  approximately  $58.1 million in
distributions to Common  Unitholders and the General Partner during fiscal 2003.
Based on our  current  estimate  of our cash  position,  availability  under the
Revolving Credit Agreement (unused borrowing  capacity under the working capital
facility of $75.0  million at September  28,  2002) and expected  cash flow from
operating activities, we expect to have sufficient funds to meet our current and
future obligations.




PENSION PLAN ASSETS

     As a result of continued turbulent capital markets over the past two years,
coupled with the low interest rate environment,  the market value of our pension
portfolio  assets have declined  significantly  while the actuarial value of the
projected  benefit  obligation for our defined benefit pension plan has steadily
increased.  As a result,  the projected  benefit  obligation as of September 28,
2002  exceeded  the market value of pension  plan assets by $53.1  million.  The
unrealized losses  experienced in the pension assets resulted in the Partnership
recording  a  $37.8  million  reduction  to  accumulated   other   comprehensive
(loss)/income,  a component of partners'  capital,  at the end of fiscal 2002 in
order to adjust our pension liability to reflect the underfunded position.  This
pension  adjustment,  coupled with the $47.3 million adjustment  required at the
end of fiscal 2001,  results in a cumulative  reduction of partners'  capital in
the amount of $85.1 million on the  consolidated  balance sheet at September 28,
2002.  These  required  pension  adjustments  are  attributable  to the level of
unrealized losses  experienced on our pension assets over the past two years and
represent  non-cash  charges  to our  partners'  capital  with no  impact on the
results of operations for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002.

     While fiscal 2002 and 2001 results of  operations  were not affected by the
significant  unrealized losses in the pension portfolio assets over the past two
years,  pension  expense is expected  to  increase in fiscal 2003 as  unrealized
losses  begin to affect the net periodic  pension cost  pursuant to SFAS No. 87,
"Employers   Accounting  for  Pensions,"  unless  market   conditions   generate
unrealized  gains in our pension assets to offset past  unrealized  losses.  For
purposes of computing the actuarial  valuation of projected benefit  obligations
and the fair value of plan assets,  we reduced the key valuation  assumptions to
reflect an estimate of current market expectations related to long-term rates of
return on assets and interest  rates.  The expected  long-term rate of return on
plan  assets  was  reduced  from  9.5% as of  September  29,  2001 to 8.5% as of
September  28, 2002 and the discount rate  assumption  was reduced to 6.75% from
7.25%.  There were no funding  requirements for the defined benefit pension plan
during  fiscal 2002 or 2001.  In an effort to minimize  future  increases in the
benefit  obligations,  during the fourth  quarter of fiscal 2002,  we adopted an
amendment to the defined  benefit  pension plan which will cease future  service
credits effective January 1, 2003. This amendment resulted in a curtailment gain
of $1.1 million included within the net periodic pension cost for the year ended
September 28, 2002.  There can be no assurances  that future declines in capital
markets will not have an adverse impact on results of operations or cash flow.

LONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS

     Long-term debt  obligations  and future minimum  rental  commitments  under
noncancelable  operating  lease  agreements  as of September 28, 2002 are due as
follows (amounts in thousands):



                                                                                                          FISCAL
                                             FISCAL          FISCAL         FISCAL         FISCAL        2007 AND
                                              2003            2004           2005           2006        THEREAFTER        TOTAL
                                          --------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  -------------   -------------

                                                                                                         
Long-term debt                                 $ 88,939        $ 42,910       $42,940        $42,980       $255,000        $472,769
Operating leases                                 17,277          15,076        12,254          9,761         11,822          66,190

   Total long-term debt obligations       --------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
      and lease commitments                    $106,216        $ 57,986       $55,194        $52,741       $266,822        $538,959
                                          ==============  ==============  ============  =============  =============   =============




     Additionally,  we have standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of
$29.8  million,  in support of retention  levels  under our  casualty  insurance
programs and certain lease obligations, which expire on March 1, 2003.




RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

     In connection with the Partnership's  recapitalization  in fiscal 1999, the
General Partner acquired the general partner interests from Millennium Chemicals
Inc.  for $6.0  million  (the "GP  Loan")  which  was  borrowed  under a private
placement with Mellon Bank N.A. ("Mellon").  In connection with the GP Loan, the
Operating  Partnership  entered  into an  agreement  with Mellon under which the
Operating  Partnership  was  required  (and had the right) to purchase  the note
evidencing  the GP Loan  in the  event  of a  default  under  the GP Loan by the
General  Partner.  The  Operating  Partnership  agreed  to  maintain  sufficient
borrowing  availability  under  its  available  lines of  credit to enable it to
repurchase  the GP Note in these  circumstances.  If the  Operating  Partnership
elected or was  required  to purchase  the GP Note from  Mellon,  the  Operating
Partnership  had the right to cause up to all of the Common  Units  deposited by
management in a trust  (amounting  to 596,821  Common Units) to be forfeited and
cancelled  (and to cause  all of the  related  distributions  to be  forfeited),
regardless  of the amount paid by the Operating  Partnership  to purchase the GP
Note. In August 2002, the General Partner repaid the remaining balance of the GP
Loan to  Mellon  and,  as a  result,  all of the  arrangements  described  above
terminated.

ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD

     Effective  September  30, 2001,  the  beginning of our 2002 fiscal year, we
elected  to early  adopt the  provisions  of SFAS  142.  SFAS 142  modifies  the
financial  accounting  and reporting for goodwill and other  intangible  assets,
including the requirement that goodwill and certain  intangible assets no longer
be amortized.  This new standard also requires a transitional  impairment review
for  goodwill,  as well as an annual  impairment  review,  to be  performed on a
reporting  unit basis.  As a result of the  adoption  of SFAS 142,  amortization
expense for fiscal 2002 decreased by $7.4 million  compared to fiscal 2001, as a
result of the lack of amortization expense related to goodwill.  Aside from this
change in accounting for goodwill,  no other change in accounting for intangible
assets was  required as a result of the adoption of SFAS 142 based on the nature
of  our  intangible  assets.  In  accordance  with  SFAS  142,  we  completed  a
transitional  impairment review and, as the fair values of identified  reporting
units  exceed  the  respective  carrying  values,  goodwill  was not  considered
impaired as of the date of adoption of SFAS 142 nor as of September 28, 2002.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

     In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 143,
"Accounting for Asset Retirement  Obligations" ("SFAS 143"), which requires that
the fair value of a liability for an asset  retirement  obligation be recognized
in the period in which it is incurred and the associated  asset retirement costs
be capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. Accretion
expense and depreciation  expense related to the liability and capitalized asset
retirement costs,  respectively,  would be recorded in subsequent periods.  SFAS
143 is effective  for fiscal  years  beginning  after June 15,  2002.  We do not
anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material  impact,  if any,
on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

     In  October  2001,  the FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  144,  "Accounting  for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived  Assets" ("SFAS 144").  SFAS 144 applies to
all long-lived assets, including discontinued operations,  and provides guidance
on the measurement  and recognition of impairment  charges for assets to be held
and used,  assets to be abandoned and assets to be disposed of by sale. SFAS 144
supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and
for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of." SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years
beginning  after  December 15, 2001.  The  provisions of this standard are to be
applied prospectively.  We do not anticipate that adoption of this standard will
have a  material  impact on our  consolidated  financial  position,  results  of
operations or cash flows.




     On April 30,  2002,  the FASB  issued  SFAS No.  145,  "Rescission  of FASB
Statements  No.  4,  44,  and  64,  Amendment  of SFAS  No.  13,  and  Technical
Corrections"  ("SFAS 145").  SFAS 145 eliminates the requirement  that gains and
losses  from  the  extinguishment  of  debt  be  aggregated  and,  if  material,
classified  as an  extraordinary  item,  net of the  related  income tax effect.
However,  pursuant  to  SFAS  145,  an  entity  would  not  be  prohibited  from
classifying  such  gains  and  losses  as  extraordinary   items  under  certain
circumstances.  SFAS 145 also  makes  several  other  technical  corrections  to
existing  pronouncements  that  may  change  accounting  practice.  SFAS  145 is
effective for transactions  occurring after May 15, 2002. Based on the nature of
transactions  covered by this new standard,  the standard did not have an impact
on the Partnership's  consolidated financial position or consolidated results of
operations as of and for the year ended  September 28, 2002.  The  provisions of
this standard will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, as applicable.

     On June 28,  2002,  the FASB  issued SFAS No.  146,  "Accounting  for Costs
Associated  with Exit or Disposal  Activities"  ("SFAS 146").  SFAS 146 requires
companies to recognize costs  associated  with exit or disposal  activities when
they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal
plan. The  provisions of SFAS 146 are effective for exit or disposal  activities
initiated  after  December 31, 2002.  The  provisions  of this  standard will be
reviewed by the Partnership on an ongoing basis, as applicable.


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     As of  September  28, 2002,  we were a party to propane  forward and option
contracts  with  various  third  parties  and  futures  traded  on the New  York
Mercantile Exchange (the "NYMEX"). Futures and forward contracts require that we
sell or  acquire  propane  at a fixed  price at fixed  future  dates.  An option
contract  allows,  but does not require,  its holder to buy or sell propane at a
specified price during a specified time period; the writer of an option contract
must fulfill the obligation of the option contract,  should the holder choose to
exercise the option. At expiration, the contracts are settled by the delivery of
propane to the  respective  party or are  settled by the payment of a net amount
equal to the difference  between the then current price of propane and the fixed
contract  price.  The  contracts  are  entered  into in  anticipation  of market
movements and to manage and hedge exposure to  fluctuating  propane  prices,  as
well as to help  ensure  the  availability  of  propane  during  periods of high
demand.

     Market risks  associated  with the trading of futures,  options and forward
contracts  are  monitored  daily for  compliance  with our trading  policy which
includes volume limits for open positions. Open inventory positions are reviewed
and managed daily as to exposures to changing market prices.

MARKET RISK

     The  Partnership  is subject  to  commodity  price risk to the extent  that
propane market prices deviate from fixed contract  settlement  amounts.  Futures
traded  with  brokers  of the NYMEX  require  daily cash  settlements  in margin
accounts.  Forward and option contracts are generally  settled at the expiration
of the  contract  term either by physical  delivery or through a net  settlement
mechanism.

CREDIT RISK

     Futures are  guaranteed by the NYMEX and, as a result,  have minimal credit
risk.  The  Partnership  is  subject  to credit  risk with  forward  and  option
contracts  to the extent the  counterparties  do not  perform.  The  Partnership
evaluates the financial  condition of each  counterparty  with which it conducts
business  and  establishes  credit  limits to reduce  exposure to credit risk of
non-performance.




DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

     We account for derivative  instruments in accordance with the provisions of
SFAS No. 133,  "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments  and Hedging  Activities"
("SFAS  133"),  as  amended  by SFAS No. 137 and SFAS No.  138.  All  derivative
instruments  are reported on the balance  sheet,  within other current assets or
other  current  liabilities,  at their fair  values.  On the date that  futures,
forward and option  contracts are entered into,  we make a  determination  as to
whether the derivative instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge. Prior to
March 31, 2002, we determined that our derivative instruments did not qualify as
hedges  and,  as such,  the  changes in fair  values  were  recorded  in income.
Beginning with contracts entered into subsequent to March 31, 2002, a portion of
the derivative instruments entered into have been designated and qualify as cash
flow hedges.  For  derivative  instruments  designated  as cash flow hedges,  we
formally assess, both at the hedge contract's inception and on an ongoing basis,
whether the hedge  contract is highly  effective in  offsetting  changes in cash
flows of hedged  items.  Changes  in the fair  value of  derivative  instruments
designated as cash flow hedges are reported in accumulated  other  comprehensive
income  (loss)  ("OCI") to the extent  effective and  reclassified  into cost of
products sold during the same period in which the hedged item affects  earnings.
The  mark-to-market  gains or  losses on  ineffective  portions  of  hedges  are
recognized  in cost of products sold  immediately.  Changes in the fair value of
derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges are recorded in current
period earnings.  Fair values for forward contracts and futures are derived from
quoted market prices for similar instruments traded on the NYMEX.

     At September 28, 2002, the fair value of derivative  instruments  described
above  resulted  in  derivative  assets  of $2.1  million.  For the  year  ended
September 28, 2002 operating  expenses include  unrealized gains of $5.4 million
compared to unrealized  losses of $3.1 million for the year ended  September 29,
2001,  attributable  to the change in fair value of derivative  instruments  not
designated  as hedges.  At September  28, 2002,  unrealized  gains on derivative
instruments  designated  as cash flow hedges in the amount of $0.7  million were
included in OCI and are expected to be recognized in earnings during the next 12
months as the hedged transactions occur.  However,  due to the volatility of the
commodities market, the corresponding value in OCI is subject to change prior to
its impact on earnings.

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

     In an effort to estimate our exposure to  unfavorable  market price changes
in propane  related  to our open  positions  under  derivative  instruments,  we
developed a model that incorporated the following data and assumptions:


     A.   The actual fixed  contract price of open positions as of September 28,
          2002 for each of the future periods.


     B.   The estimated  future market prices for futures and forward  contracts
          as of  September  28,  2002 were  derived  from the  NYMEX for  traded
          propane futures for each of the future periods.


     C.   The market prices  determined in B above were adjusted  adversely by a
          hypothetical  10% change in the future  periods  and  compared  to the
          fixed contract  settlement amounts in A above to project the potential
          negative   impact  on  earnings  that  would  be  recognized  for  the
          respective scenario.


     Based on the sensitivity  analysis  described  above,  the hypothetical 10%
adverse  change in  market  prices  for each of the  future  months  for which a
future,  forward and/or option  contract  exists  indicate either a reduction in
potential  future gains or potential  losses in future  earnings by $0.7 million
and $1.5 million, as of September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001, respectively.
The above hypothetical  change does not reflect the worst case scenario.  Actual
results may be significantly  different  depending on market  conditions and the
composition of the open position portfolio.



     As of September 28, 2002, our open position portfolio  reflected a net long
position (purchase) aggregating $7.4 million.

     The average  posted  price of propane on December 2, 2002 at Mont  Belvieu,
Texas (a major  storage  point) was 48.4 cents per gallon as  compared  to 47.75
cents per gallon on September 28, 2002, representing a 1.4% increase.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     The  Partnership's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and the  Report of
Independent  Accountants  thereon  and the  Supplemental  Financial  Information
listed on the accompanying  Index to Financial  Statement  Schedule are included
herein.

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

     Due to the  seasonality  of the retail propane  business,  first and second
quarter  revenues and earnings  are  consistently  greater than third and fourth
quarter results.  The following  presents the Partnership's  selected  quarterly
financial data for the last two fiscal years  (unaudited;  in thousands,  except
per unit amounts).





                                      FIRST       SECOND        THIRD       FOURTH
                                     QUARTER      QUARTER      QUARTER      QUARTER   TOTAL YEAR
                                     -------      -------      -------      -------   ----------
FISCAL 2002
- -----------

                                                                        
Revenues ........................  $ 181,864    $ 235,887    $ 137,635    $ 109,719    $ 665,105
Gain on sale of storage facility.       --          6,768         --           --          6,768
Income/(loss) before interest
   expense and income taxes......     29,475       70,740       (2,828)      (9,173)      88,214
Net income/(loss) ...............     20,613       61,901      (11,028)     (17,962)      53,524
Net income/(loss) per unit -
   Basic ........................       0.82         2.46        (0.44)       (0.71)        2.12

Cash provided by/(used in):
   Operating activities .........      3,421       32,701       29,906        2,747       68,775
   Investing activities .........     (4,018)       4,034       (3,213)      (3,654)      (6,851)
   Financing activities .........    (14,168)     (14,168)     (14,186)     (14,941)     (57,463)

EBITDA (a) ......................  $  37,061    $  78,146    $   4,549    $  (1,849)   $ 117,907
Retail gallons sold .............    123,958      168,621       86,730       76,679      455,988


FISCAL 2001
- -----------

Revenues ........................  $ 295,928    $ 354,893    $ 145,070    $ 135,645    $ 931,536
Income/(loss) before interest
   expense and income taxes .....     42,776       67,535       (5,542)     (13,294)      91,475
Net income/(loss) ...............     32,717       57,176      (14,559)     (21,824)      53,510
Net income/(loss) per unit -
   Basic ........................       1.33         2.28        (0.58)       (0.87)        2.14


Cash provided by/(used in):
   Operating activities .........      1,522       35,871       46,651       17,794      101,838
   Investing activities .........     (3,414)      (4,651)      (3,993)      (5,849)     (17,907)
   Financing activities .........      9,175      (32,984)     (21,435)     (13,838)     (59,082)


EBITDA (a) ......................  $  52,362    $  77,554    $   3,935    $  (3,874)   $ 129,977
Retail gallons sold .............    163,900      185,068       90,129       85,631      524,728





     (a)  EBITDA   (earnings   before   interest,    taxes,   depreciation   and
          amortization) is calculated as  income/(loss)  before interest expense
          and income taxes plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA should not
          be  considered  as an  alternative  to net income (as an  indicator of
          operating performance) or as an alternative to cash flow (as a measure
          of  liquidity or ability to service  debt  obligations)  and is not in
          accordance   with  or  superior  to  generally   accepted   accounting
          principles,  but provides  additional  information  for evaluating the
          Partnership's  ability to  distribute  quarterly  distributions  or to
          increase  quarterly  distributions.  Because EBITDA excludes some, but
          not all,  items that affect net income and this measure may vary among
          companies,  the EBITDA data  presented  above may not be comparable to
          similarly  titled  measures of other  companies.  The  following  is a
          reconciliation  of  EBITDA  to  income  before  interest  expense  and
          provision for income taxes for the respective quarters:




FISCAL  2002                                       FIRST           SECOND          THIRD        FOURTH         TOTAL
- ------------                                      QUARTER          QUARTER        QUARTER       QUARTER        YEAR
                                                  -------          -------        -------       -------       -------
                                                                                              
Income (loss) before interest expense
  and provision for income taxes........         $ 29,475         $ 70,740       $ (2,828)     $ (9,173)     $ 88,214
Add:  Depreciation and amortization.....            7,586            7,406          7,377         7,324        29,693
                                                 --------         --------       --------      --------      --------

EBITDA                                           $ 37,061         $ 78,146        $ 4,549      $ (1,849)     $117,907
                                                 ========         ========       ========      ========      ========


FISCAL  2001                                       FIRST           SECOND          THIRD        FOURTH         TOTAL
- ------------                                      QUARTER          QUARTER        QUARTER       QUARTER        YEAR
                                                  -------          -------        -------       -------       -------
Income (loss) before interest expense
  and provision for income taxes........         $ 42,776         $ 67,535       $ (5,542)    $ (13,294)     $ 91,475
Add:  Depreciation and amortization                 9,586           10,019          9,477         9,420        38,502
                                                 --------         --------       --------      --------      --------

EBITDA                                           $ 52,362         $ 77,554        $ 3,935      $ (3,874)     $129,977
                                                 ========         ========       ========      ========      ========




ITEM  9. CHANGES  IN AND  DISAGREEMENTS   WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     None.



                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT

     The  Partnership  Agreement  provides that all  management  powers over the
business and affairs of the Partnership  are exclusively  vested in its Board of
Supervisors  and,  subject to the  direction  of the Board of  Supervisors,  the
officers of the  Partnership.  No Unitholder has any  management  power over the
business and affairs of the Partnership or actual or apparent authority to enter
into  contracts  on behalf of, or to  otherwise  bind,  the  Partnership.  Three
independent Elected Supervisors and two Appointed Supervisors serve on the Board
of Supervisors pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement. The Appointed
Supervisors are appointed by the General Partner.

     The  three  Elected  Supervisors  serve  on the  Audit  Committee  with the
authority  to  review,  at the  request  of the Board of  Supervisors,  specific
matters as to which the Board of Supervisors believes there may be a conflict of
interest in order to determine if the  resolution of such  conflict  proposed by
the Board of Supervisors is fair and  reasonable to the  Partnership.  Under the
Partnership  Agreement,  any  matters  approved by the Audit  Committee  will be
conclusively  deemed to be fair and reasonable to the  Partnership,  approved by
all partners of the  Partnership  and not a breach by the General Partner or the
Board  of  Supervisors  of any  duties  they  may  owe  the  Partnership  or the
Unitholders.  In addition,  the Audit Committee will review  external  financial
reporting of the  Partnership,  will recommend  engagement of the  Partnership's
independent  accountants  and  will  review  the  Partnership's  procedures  for
internal  auditing and the  adequacy of the  Partnership's  internal  accounting
controls.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

     The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  with respect to the
members of the Board of Supervisors and executive officers of the Partnership as
of December 18, 2002.  Officers are elected for one-year  terms and  Supervisors
are elected or appointed  for  three-year  terms.  The  Partnership  will hold a
tri-annual  meeting  during the third quarter of fiscal 2003 for the election of
the elected members of the Board of Supervisors.

                                       POSITION WITH THE
     NAME              AGE                PARTNERSHIP
- ---------------------  ---   ----------------------------------------
Mark A. Alexander....  44    President and Chief Executive Officer;  Member of
                             the Board of Supervisors (Appointed Supervisor)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr..  53    Senior Vice President - Corporate Development;
                             Member of the Board of Supervisors
                             (Appointed Supervisor)
David R. Eastin......  44    Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Robert M. Plante.....  54    Vice President - Finance
Jeffrey S. Jolly.....  50    Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Michael M. Keating...  49    Vice President - Human Resources and Administration
A. Davin D'Ambrosio..  38    Treasurer
Janice G. Meola......  36    General Counsel and Secretary
Michael A. Stivala...  33    Controller
John Hoyt Stookey....  72    Member of the Board of Supervisors
                             (Chairman and Elected Supervisor)
Harold R. Logan, Jr..  58    Member of the Board of Supervisors
                             (Elected Supervisor)
Dudley C. Mecum......  67    Member of the Board of Supervisors
                             (Elected Supervisor)
Mark J. Anton........  76    Supervisor Emeritus



     Mr.  Alexander  has served as President and Chief  Executive  Officer since
October 1996 and as an Appointed  Supervisor  since March 1996. He was Executive
Vice Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer from March through October 1996. From
1989 until  joining  the  Partnership,  Mr.  Alexander  was an officer of Hanson
Industries (the United States management  division of Hanson plc), most recently
Senior Vice President - Corporate  Department.  Mr. Alexander serves as Chairman
of the Board of Managers of the General Partner. He is a member of the Executive
Committee of the National  Propane Gas  Association and Chairman of the Research
and  Development  Advisory  Committee  of the  Propane  Education  and  Research
Council.

     Mr.  Dunn has served as Senior  Vice  President  since June 1998 and became
Senior Vice  President - Corporate  Development  in November  2002. Mr. Dunn has
served as an  Appointed  Supervisor  since July 1998.  He was Vice  President  -
Procurement  and  Logistics  from March  1997  until June 1998.  From 1983 until
joining the  Partnership,  Mr. Dunn was Vice President of Commodity  Trading for
the investment  banking firm of Goldman Sachs & Company.  Mr. Dunn serves on the
Board of Managers of the General Partner.

     Mr. Eastin has served as Chief Operating  Officer since May 1999 and became
a  Senior  Vice  President  in  November  2000.  From  1992  until  joining  the
Partnership,  Mr. Eastin held various executive  positions with Star Gas Propane
LP, most recently as Vice President - Operations. Mr. Eastin serves on the Board
of Managers of the General Partner.

     Mr.  Plante has served as a Vice  President  since  October 1999 and became
Vice  President - Finance in November  2002.  He was  Treasurer  from March 1996
through October 2002. Mr. Plante held various financial and managerial positions
with predecessors of the Partnership from 1977 until 1996.

     Mr. Jolly has served as Vice President and Chief Information  Officer since
May 1999. He was Vice President - Information  Services from July 1997 until May
1999. From May 1993 until joining the Partnership,  Mr. Jolly was Vice President
- - Information Systems at The Wood Company, a food services company.

     Mr.   Keating  has  served  as  Vice   President  -  Human   Resources  and
Administration  since  July 1996.  He  previously  held  senior  human  resource
positions at Hanson Industries and Quantum Chemical Corporation  ("Quantum"),  a
predecessor of the Partnership.

     Mr.  D'Ambrosio  became  Treasurer in November 2002. He served as Assistant
Treasurer  from  October  2000 to  November  2002 and as  Director  of  Treasury
Services  from  January  1998  to  October  2000.  Mr.   D'Ambrosio  joined  the
Partnership in May 1996 after ten years in the commercial banking industry.

     Ms. Meola has served as General  Counsel and  Secretary of the  Partnership
since May 1999. She was Counsel from July 1998 to May 1999 and Associate Counsel
from September 1996, when she joined the Partnership, until July 1998.

     Mr. Stivala has served as Controller  since December 2001.  From 1991 until
joining the Partnership,  he held several positions with  PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, most recently as Senior Manager in the Assurance practice. Mr. Stivala is a
Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American  Institute of Certified
Public Accountants.

     Mr.  Stookey has served as an Elected  Supervisor and Chairman of the Board
of  Supervisors  since March 1996.  From 1986 until  September  1993, he was the
Chairman,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Quantum  and  served as
non-executive  Chairman and a director of Quantum from its acquisition by Hanson
plc in September  1993 until October 1995.  Mr.  Stookey is a director of United
States Trust Company of New York and Graphic Packaging, Inc.




     Mr. Logan has served as an Elected Supervisor since March 1996. Since 1995,
he has been  Executive  Vice  President - Finance,  Treasurer  and a director of
TransMontaigne  Inc.,  which  provides  logistical  services  (i.e.,   pipeline,
terminaling  and  marketing)  to  producers  and end users of refined  petroleum
products.  He served as Senior  Vice  President  of Finance  and a  director  of
Associated  Natural Gas  Corporation,  an  independent  gatherer and marketer of
natural gas,  natural gas liquids and crude oil, from 1987 until 1995. Mr. Logan
is a director of Union Bankshares Ltd. and Graphic Packaging, Inc.

     Mr. Mecum has served as an Elected  Supervisor since June 1996. He has been
a managing  director of  Capricorn  Holdings,  LLC (a sponsor of and investor in
leveraged  buyouts) since June 1997. Mr. Mecum was a partner of G.L.  Ohrstrom &
Co. (a sponsor of and investor in leveraged buyouts) from 1989 to June 1996. Mr.
Mecum is a director of Lyondell  Chemical Co.,  Dyncorp,  CitiGroup,  Inc.,  CCC
Information Systems Inc. and Mrs. Fields Holding Company, Inc.

     Mr.  Anton has served as  Supervisor  Emeritus of the Board of  Supervisors
since  January  1999.  He is a former  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and
Chairman of the Board of  Directors  of  Suburban  Propane  Gas  Corporation,  a
predecessor  of the  Partnership,  and a  former  Executive  Vice  President  of
Quantum.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Partnership's  directors and
executive  officers to file initial  reports of ownership and reports of changes
in ownership of the Partnership's  Common Units with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Directors,  executive  officers  and ten  percent  Unitholders  are
required to furnish the Partnership  with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that
they file. Based on a review of these filings, the Partnership believes that all
such filings were made timely during fiscal 2002.




ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     The  following  table sets forth a summary of all  compensation  awarded or
paid to or earned by the chief executive  officer and the four other most highly
compensated  executive  officers of the Partnership for services rendered to the
Partnership during each of the last three fiscal years.



                                                              ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                                           ------------------------
                                                                                                          ALL
                                                                                         LTIP            OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                         YEAR   SALARY ($)   BONUS(1)($)   PAYOUT ($)   COMPENSATION(2)($)
- ---------------------------                         ----   ----------   -----------   ----------   ------------------
                                                                                              
Mark A. Alexander ...............................   2002     450,000       157,500       25,382              158,513
President and Chief Executive Officer ...........   2001     450,000       450,000        7,141              166,371
                                                    2000     400,000       304,000         --                128,548

Michael J. Dunn, Jr .............................   2002     275,000        81,813       12,135               85,956
Sr. Vice President - Corporate Development ......   2001     260,000       221,000        3,414               89,321
                                                    2000     235,000       151,810         --                 67,324

David R. Eastin .................................   2002     260,000        77,350        2,018               81,984
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer   2001     240,000       204,000         --                 84,362
                                                    2000     190,000       108,300         --                 48,591

Robert M. Plante ................................   2002     175,000        45,625        3,807               32,938
Vice President - Finance ........................   2001     150,000        75,000        1,071               35,169
                                                    2000     132,500        50,350         --                 24,988

Jeffrey S. Jolly ................................   2002     177,500        31,063        4,600               41,414
Vice President and Chief Information Officer ....   2001     170,000        85,000        1,294               47,660
                                                    2000     150,000        57,000         --                 58,556


(1)  Bonuses are reported for the year earned, regardless of the year paid.

(2)  For Mr.  Alexander,  this amount  includes the following:  $2,750 under the
     Retirement Savings and Investment Plan; $1,479 in administrative fees under
     the Cash  Balance  Pension  Plan;  $135,000  awarded  under  the  Long-Term
     Incentive  Plan;  and  $19,284 for  insurance.  For Mr.  Dunn,  this amount
     includes the following:  $2,750 under the Retirement Savings and Investment
     Plan;  $1,479 in  administrative  fees under the Cash Balance Pension Plan;
     $70,125  awarded  under the  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan;  and  $11,602  for
     insurance. For Mr. Eastin, this amount includes the following: $2,750 under
     the Retirement  Savings and Investment Plan; $1,479 in administrative  fees
     under the Cash Balance  Pension Plan;  $66,300  awarded under the Long-Term
     Incentive  Plan;  and $11,455 for insurance.  For Mr.  Plante,  this amount
     includes the following:  $2,625 under the Retirement Savings and Investment
     Plan;  $1,479 in  administrative  fees under the Cash Balance Pension Plan;
     $26,250  awarded  under  the  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan;  and  $2,584  for
     insurance. For Mr. Jolly, this amount includes the following:  $2,663 under
     the Retirement  Savings and Investment Plan; $1,479 in administrative  fees
     under the Cash Balance  Pension Plan;  $26,625  awarded under the Long-Term
     Incentive Plan; and $10,647 for insurance.




RETIREMENT BENEFITS

     The following  table sets forth the annual  benefits upon retirement at age
65 in 2002, without regard to statutory  maximums,  for various  combinations of
final  average  earnings and lengths of service  which may be payable to Messrs.
Alexander,  Dunn,  Eastin,  Plante and Jolly under the Pension Plan for Eligible
Employees of the Operating  Partnership and its Subsidiaries and/or the Suburban
Propane Company Supplemental  Executive Retirement Plan. Each such plan has been
assumed by the  Partnership  and each such person  will be credited  for service
earned  under such plan to date.  Messrs.  Alexander,  Dunn,  and Eastin  have 6
years,  5 years  and 3  years,  respectively,  under  both  plans.  For  vesting
purposes,  however,  Mr.  Alexander  has 18  years  combined  service  with  the
Partnership  and his prior service with Hanson  Industries.  Messrs.  Plante and
Jolly have 25 years and 5 years, respectively,  under the Pension Plan. They are
currently limited to IRS statutory maximums for defined benefit plans.


                                  PENSION PLAN
     ANNUAL BENEFIT FOR YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE SHOWN (1),(2),(3),(4),(5)


 AVERAGE
 EARNINGS     5 YRS.   10 YRS.   15 YRS.   20 YRS.   25 YRS.   30 YRS.   35 YRS.
 ---------    ------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
 $100,000      7,888    15,775    23,663    31,551    39,438    47,326    55,214
 $200,000     16,638    33,275    49,913    66,551    83,188    99,826   116,464
 $300,000     25,388    50,775    76,163   101,551   126,938   152,326   177,714
 $400,000     34,138    68,275   102,413   136,551   170,688   204,826   238,964
 $500,000     42,888    85,775   128,663   171,551   214,438   257,326   300,214

     (1)  The Plans' definition of earnings consists of base pay only.
     (2)  Annual  Benefits  are  computed on the basis of straight  life annuity
          amounts.  The pension benefit is calculated as the sum of (a) plus (b)
          multiplied by (c) where (a) is that portion of final average  earnings
          up to 125% of social security Covered  Compensation times 1.4% and (b)
          is that portion of final average  earnings in excess of 125% of social
          security Covered  Compensation times 1.75% and (c) is credited service
          up to a maximum of 35 years.
     (3)  Effective  January 1,  1998,  the Plan was  amended to a cash  balance
          benefit  formula for current  and future  Plan  participants.  Initial
          account balances were established based upon the actuarial  equivalent
          value of the  accrued  December  31, 1997 prior plan  benefit.  Annual
          interest  credits  and  pay-based  credits  will be  credited  to this
          account.  The 2002  pay-based  credits  for Messrs.  Alexander,  Dunn,
          Eastin,  Plante  and  Jolly  are  3.0%,  2.0%,  1.5%,  10.0% and 2.0%,
          respectively.  Participants  as of December  31, 1997 will receive the
          greater of the cash balance benefit and the prior plan benefit through
          the year  2002.  It  should  also be noted  that the Plan was  amended
          effective  January 1, 2000. Under this amendment,  individuals who are
          hired or rehired on or after  January 1, 2000 will not be  eligible to
          participate in the Plan.
     (4)  In addition, a supplemental cash balance account was established equal
          to the value of  certain  benefits  related  to  retiree  medical  and
          vacation  benefits.  An initial account value was determined for those
          active  employees who were eligible for retiree medical coverage as of
          April 1, 1998 equal to $415  multiplied  by years of  benefit  service
          (maximum  of 35 years).  Future  pay-based  credits and  interest  are
          credited  to this  account.  The 2002  pay-based  credits  for Messrs.
          Alexander,  Dunn, Eastin,  Plante and Jolly are 2.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 2.0%
          and 0.0%, respectively.
     (5)  Effective  January 1, 2003, all future pay-based credits as determined
          under the cash balance benefit formula will be discontinued.  Interest
          credits  will  continue  to be  applied  based on the  five-year  U.S.
          Treasury bond rate in effect during the preceding  November,  plus one
          percent.




SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

     The  Partnership  has  adopted  a  non-qualified,   unfunded   supplemental
retirement  plan  known  as the  Supplemental  Executive  Retirement  Plan  (the
"SERP"). The purpose of the SERP is to provide certain executive officers with a
level of retirement  income from the  Partnership,  without  regard to statutory
maximums.  Effective January 1, 1998, the Pension Plan for Eligible Employees of
Suburban Propane, L.P. (the "Qualified Plan") was amended and restated as a cash
balance plan. In light of the conversion of the Qualified Plan to a cash balance
formula,  the SERP has been amended and restated  effective January 1, 1998. The
annual amount of the Normal  Retirement  Benefit payable under the SERP shall be
determined as follows:  (a) For Annuity  Starting  Dates or other  determination
dates on or after January 1, 1998 and prior to January 1, 2003, a  Participant's
Normal  Retirement  Benefit shall be equal to the excess of: (i) (A) the greater
of a Participant's  Pension benefit (determined using Average Final Compensation
as defined in  footnote 2 of the  Retirement  Benefits  Section)  or the accrued
benefit based on the Basic Account  (determined  using  Compensation  and Excess
Compensation as defined in the SERP),  plus (B) the accrued benefit based on the
Supplemental   Account,   if  any  (determined  using  Compensation  and  Excess
Compensation  as  defined  in the  SERP);  over (ii) the  Participant's  Pension
Offset. (b) For Annuity Starting Dates or other  determination dates on or after
January 1, 2003, a Participant's Normal Retirement Benefit shall be equal to the
excess of: (i) (A) the greater of a Participant's  Pension benefit determined as
of  January  1, 2003  (based on  Compensation,  Benefit  Service,  and all other
relevant  factors as of January 1,  2003) or the  accrued  benefit  based on the
Basic Account  (determined using Compensation and Excess Compensation as defined
in the SERP), plus (B) the accrued benefit based on the Supplemental Account, if
any (determined  using  Compensation  and Excess  Compensation as defined in the
SERP); over (ii) the Participant's Pension Offset. Messrs. Alexander,  Dunn, and
Eastin currently participate in the SERP.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

     The Partnership has adopted a non-qualified,  unfunded long-term  incentive
plan for officers and key employees, effective October 1, 1997. Awards are based
on a  percentage  of base pay and are  subject  to the  achievement  of  certain
performance  criteria,  including the  Partnership's  ability to earn sufficient
funds and make cash  distributions  on its  Common  Units  with  respect to each
fiscal year.  Awards vest over time with  one-third  vesting at the beginning of
years three, four, and five from the award date.


     Long-Term Incentive Plan awards earned in fiscal 2002 were as follows:


                                   PERFORMANCE OR
                                    OTHER PERIOD
                         AWARD    UNTIL MATURATION    POTENTIAL AWARDS UNDER PLAN
NAME                    FY 2002      OR PAYOUT       THRESHOLD     TARGET   MAXIMUM
- ----                    -------   ----------------   ---------     ------   -------

                                                            
Mark A. Alexander      $135,000         3-5  Years        $  0   $135,000  $135,000
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.     70,125         3-5  Years           0     70,125    70,125
David R. Eastin          66,300         3-5  Years           0     66,300    66,300
Robert M. Plante         26,250         3-5  Years           0     26,250    26,250
Jeffrey S. Jolly         26,625         3-5  Years           0     26,625    26,625






EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     The  Partnership  entered into an  employment  agreement  (the  "Employment
Agreement")  with Mr.  Alexander,  which became  effective March 5, 1996 and was
amended October 23, 1997 and April 14, 1999.

     Mr.  Alexander's  Employment  Agreement had an initial term of three years,
and  automatically  renews  for  successive  one-year  periods,  unless  earlier
terminated by the  Partnership  or by Mr.  Alexander or otherwise  terminated in
accordance  with the  Employment  Agreement.  The  Employment  Agreement for Mr.
Alexander  provides  for an annual base salary of $450,000 as of  September  28,
2002 and  provides  for Mr.  Alexander to earn a bonus up to 100% of annual base
salary (the "Maximum  Annual  Bonus") for services  rendered  based upon certain
performance criteria. The Employment Agreement also provides for the opportunity
to participate  in benefit plans made  available to other senior  executives and
senior managers of the Partnership.  The Partnership also provides Mr. Alexander
with term life insurance with a face amount equal to three times his annual base
salary. If a "change of control" (as defined in the Employment Agreement) of the
Partnership occurs and within six months prior thereto or at any time subsequent
to such change of control the Partnership  terminates the Executive's employment
without  "cause" or the  Executive  resigns with "good  reason" or the Executive
terminates  his  employment  during the six month period  commencing  on the six
month  anniversary  and ending on the twelve month  anniversary  of a "change of
control",  then Mr.  Alexander  will be  entitled  to (i) a lump  sum  severance
payment  equal to three  times the sum of his annual base salary in effect as of
the date of termination and the Maximum Annual Bonus,  and (ii) medical benefits
for three  years from the date of such  termination.  The  Employment  Agreement
provides  that if any payment  received by Mr.  Alexander  is subject to the 20%
federal excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue Code, the payment
will be  grossed  up to  permit  Mr.  Alexander  to  retain a net  amount  on an
after-tax basis equal to what he would have received had the excise tax not been
payable.

     Mr.  Alexander also  participates  in the SERP,  which provides  retirement
income which could not be provided under the  Partnership's  qualified  plans by
reason of limitations contained in the Internal Revenue Code.

SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN FOR KEY EMPLOYEES

     The  Partnership's  officers and key employees are provided with employment
protection  following  a  "change  of  control"  as  defined  in  the  Severance
Protection  Plan. This plan provides for severance  payments equal to sixty-five
(65) weeks of base pay and target  bonuses for such  officers and key  employees
following a "change of control" and termination of employment. Pursuant to their
Severance  Protection  Agreements,  Messrs.  Dunn, Eastin,  Plante and Jolly, as
executive  officers of the Partnership,  have been granted severance  protection
payments of seventy-eight  (78) weeks of base pay and target bonuses following a
"change in control" and  termination of employment in lieu of  participation  in
the Severance Protection Plan.

COMPENSATION  COMMITTEE  INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER  PARTICIPATION  IN  COMPENSATION
DECISIONS

     Compensation of the executive  officers of the Partnership is determined by
the  Compensation  Committee  of its  Board  of  Supervisors.  The  Compensation
Committee is comprised of Messrs. Stookey and Logan, neither of who are officers
or employees of the Partnership.

COMPENSATION OF SUPERVISORS

     Mr.  Stookey,  who is the  Chairman of the Board of  Supervisors,  receives
annual  compensation of $75,000 for his services to the  Partnership.  Mr. Logan
and Mr. Mecum, the other two Elected  Supervisors,  receive $50,000 per year and
Mr. Mark J. Anton, who serves as Supervisor Emeritus, receives $15,000 per year.
All Elected  Supervisors and the Supervisor  Emeritus  receive  reimbursement of
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred in connection with meetings of the
Board of  Supervisors.  The  Partnership  does not expect to pay any  additional
remuneration  to its  employees  (or  employees  of any  of its  affiliates)  or
employees of the General Partner or any of its affiliates for serving as members
of the Board of Supervisors.



ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The following table sets forth certain  information as of December 18, 2002
regarding the  beneficial  ownership of Common Units and Incentive  Distribution
Rights by each member of the Board of Supervisors,  each executive officer named
in the Summary  Compensation  table, all members of the Board of Supervisors and
executive  officers as a group and each person or group known by the Partnership
(based upon filings under Section 13(d) or (g) under The Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) to own  beneficially  more than 5% thereof.  Except as set forth in the
notes to the table,  the business  address of each  individual  or entity in the
table is c/o the Partnership, 240 Route 10 West, Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206
and each  individual  or entity has sole  voting and  investment  power over the
Common Units reported.


SUBURBAN PROPANE, L.P.


                                                                 AMOUNT AND NATURE OF    PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS             NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER              BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP    OF CLASS
- --------------             ------------------------              --------------------    --------
                        <c>                                                             
Common Units               Mark A. Alexander (a)                           30,000             *
                           Michael J. Dunn, Jr. (a)                             0             -
                           David R. Eastin (a)                                  0             -
                           Robert M. Plante (a)                               250             -
                           Jeffrey S. Jolly (a)                                 0             -

                           John Hoyt Stookey                               11,519             *
                           Harold R. Logan, Jr.                            15,064             *
                           Dudley C. Mecum                                  5,634             *
                           Mark J. Anton (b)                                4,600             *
                           All Members of the Board
                           of Supervisors and Executive
                           Officers as a Group (13 persons)                67,167             *

                           Goldman, Sachs & Co. (c)                     2,317,166          9.6%
                           85 Broad Street                           Common Units
                           New York, NY   10004

Incentive Distribution     Suburban Energy Services
Rights                     Group LLC                                          N/A           N/A



*    Less than 1%.

(a)  Excludes the  following  numbers of Common Units as to which the  following
     individuals  deferred  receipt as described below; Mr. Alexander - 243,902;
     Mr. Dunn - 48,780; Mr. Eastin - 19,512; Mr. Plante - 19,512 and Mr. Jolly -
     19,512.  In connection  with the  Partnership's  recapitalization  in 1999,
     members  of the  General  Partner  elected  to defer  receipt of a total of
     596,821  Common  Units  issuable  to them  until  the  date the GP Loan was
     repaid.  These  Common Units are held in trust  pursuant to a  Compensation
     Deferral Plan, and the individuals who deferred receipt will have no voting
     or investment  power over these Common Units until they are  distributed by
     the trust.  The GP Loan was repaid in full in August of 2002.  Accordingly,
     except as noted  below,  the  deferred  units  will be  distributed  to the
     members of the General Partner in January 2003 in accordance with the terms
     of the  Compensation  Deferral  Plan and may be voted and/or  freely traded



     thereafter.  Mr.  Alexander  and Mr.  Dunn have  elected to  further  defer
     receipt of their  deferred  units  (totaling  292,682  Common  Units) until
     January 2008. As a  consequence,  their  deferred  units will remain in the
     trust until that time and they will have no voting or investment power over
     these deferred units. In the interim,  however,  Mr. Alexander and Mr. Dunn
     have elected to receive the quarterly cash  distributions on these deferred
     units.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if a "change of  control"  of the
     Partnership  occurs (as defined in the Compensation  Deferral Plan), all of
     the deferred  Common Units (and  related  distributions)  held in the trust
     automatically become distributable to the members.

(b)  Mr. Anton shares voting and  investment  power over 3,600 Common Units with
     his wife and over 1,000 Common Units with Lizmar  Partners,  L.P., a family
     owned limited partnership of which he is its general partner.

(c)  Holder reports having shared voting power with respect to all of the Common
     Units and shared dispositive power with respect to all of the Common Units.




ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     In connection with the Partnership's  recapitalization in 1999, the General
Partner  acquired the general partner  interests from Millennium  Chemicals Inc.
for $6.0 million (the "GP Loan")  which was borrowed  under a private  placement
with Mellon Bank N.A. ("Mellon").  In connection with the GP Loan, the Operating
Partnership  entered  into an agreement  with Mellon  under which the  Operating
Partnership was required (and had the right) to purchase the note evidencing the
GP Loan in the event of a default under the GP Loan by the General Partner.

     The  Operating   Partnership  agreed  to  maintain   sufficient   borrowing
availability  under its available lines of credit to enable it to repurchase the
GP Note in these  circumstances.  If the  Operating  Partnership  elected or was
required to purchase the GP Note from Mellon, the Operating  Partnership had the
right to cause up to all of the Common Units  deposited by management in a trust
(amounting to 596,821  Common Units) to be forfeited and cancelled (and to cause
all of the related distributions to be forfeited), regardless of the amount paid
by the  Operating  Partnership  to purchase  the GP Note.  In August  2002,  the
General Partner repaid the remaining  balance of the GP Loan to Mellon and, as a
result, all of the arrangements described above terminated.


ITEM 14. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

     Within  90  days  prior  to the  filing  date of this  Annual  Report,  the
Partnership  carried  out an  evaluation,  under  the  supervision  and with the
participation of the Partnership's management, including the Partnership's Chief
Executive Officer and Principal  Financial Officer,  of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of the  Partnership's  disclosure  controls and  procedures
pursuant to Rule 13a-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act").  Based upon that  evaluation,  the Chief Executive  Officer and Principal
Financial  Officer  concluded  that the  Partnership's  disclosure  controls and
procedures are effective.

     Disclosure  controls and procedures are controls and other  procedures that
are designed to ensure that information  required to be disclosed in the reports
filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported,  within  the time  period  specified  in the SEC's  rules  and  forms.
Disclosure  controls and procedures include,  without  limitation,  controls and
procedures  designed to ensure that  information  required  to be  disclosed  in
reports  filed  under  the  Exchange  Act is  accumulated  and  communicated  to
management  including the Chief  Executive  Officer and the Principal  Financial
Officer,   as  appropriate,   to  allow  timely  decisions   regarding  required
disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

     There were no significant  changes in internal controls or in other factors
that could significantly  affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our
most recent evaluation.




                                     PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)  The following documents are filed as part of this Report:

          1.   (i) Financial Statements

               See  "Index to Financial Statements" set forth on page F-1.

               (ii) Supplemental Financial Information

               Balance Sheet Information of Suburban Energy Services Group LLC

               See  "Index to Supplemental  Financial  Information" set forth on
               page F-23.

          2.   Financial Statement Schedule

               See  "Index to Financial  Statement  Schedule"  set forth on page
               S-1.

          3.   Exhibits

               See  "Index to Exhibits" set forth on page E-1.

     (b)  The Partnership  filed a Form 8-K on January 11, 2002, April 11, 2002,
          July 11, 2002 and October 10, 2002, each incorporating a press release
          announcing  the  Partnership's  Quarterly  Earnings  Conference  Call.
          Additionally, the Partnership filed a Form 8-K on July 24, 2002.






                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

                                    Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.


                                    By:  /S/ MARK A. ALEXANDER
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                         Mark A. Alexander
                                         President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                         Appointed Supervisor


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual
Report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:




      SIGNATURE                  TITLE                                 DATE
      ---------                  -----                                 ----


                                                                 
/S/ MICHAEL J. DUNN, JR          Senior Vice President - Corporate     December 20, 2002
- -----------------------          Development
    (Michael J. Dunn, Jr.)       Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
                                 Appointed Supervisor


/S/ JOHN HOYT STOOKEY            Chairman and Elected Supervisor       December 20, 2002
- ---------------------
    (John Hoyt Stookey)

/S/ HAROLD R. LOGAN, JR.         Elected Supervisor                    December 20, 2002
- ------------------------
    (Harold R. Logan, Jr.)

/S/ DUDLEY C. MECUM              Elected Supervisor                    December 20, 2002
- -------------------
    (Dudley C. Mecum)

/S/ ROBERT M. PLANTE             Vice President - Finance              December 20, 2002
- --------------------             Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
    (Robert M. Plante)           (Principal Financial Officer)


/S/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA           Controller                            December 20, 2002
- ----------------------           Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
    (Michael A. Stivala)         (Principal Accounting Officer)








                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Mark A. Alexander, certify that:

1.   I have  reviewed  this  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K of  Suburban  Propane
     Partners, L.P.;

2.   Based on my  knowledge,  this  Annual  Report  does not  contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary to
     make the statements  made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such
     statements  were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this Annual Report;

3.   Based on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
     information included in this Annual Report,  fairly present in all material
     respects the financial  condition,  results of operations and cash flows of
     the registrant as of and for the periods presented in this Annual Report;

4.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officer  and  I are  responsible  for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

     a)   Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  to ensure  that
          material  information  relating  to  the  registrant,   including  its
          consolidated subsidiaries,  is made known to us by others within those
          entities,  particularly  during the period in which this Annual Report
          is being prepared;

     b)   Evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure  controls
          and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
          this Annual Report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

     c)   Presented   in  this   Annual   Report  our   conclusions   about  the
          effectiveness  of the disclosure  controls and procedures based on our
          evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant's  other certifying  officer and I have disclosed,  based on
     our most recent  evaluation,  to the  registrant's  auditors  and the audit
     committee of registrant's  Board of Supervisors (or persons  performing the
     equivalent functions):

     a)   All  significant  deficiencies  in the design or operation of internal
          controls  which could  adversely  affect the  registrant's  ability to
          record,  process,   summarize  and  report  financial  data  and  have
          identified for the  registrant's  auditors any material  weaknesses in
          internal controls; and

     b)   Any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management or other
          employees who have a  significant  role in the  registrant's  internal
          controls; and

6.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officer and I have  indicated in this
     Annual Report whether there were significant  changes in internal  controls
     or in other  factors  that could  significantly  affect  internal  controls
     subsequent  to the  date  of our  most  recent  evaluation,  including  any
     corrective  actions with regard to  significant  deficiencies  and material
     weaknesses.


December 20, 2002                     /S/ MARK A. ALEXANDER
                                    ---------------------------------
                                    Mark A. Alexander
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer


I, Robert M. Plante, certify that:

1.   I have  reviewed  this  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K of  Suburban  Propane
     Partners, L.P.;

2.   Based on my  knowledge,  this  Annual  Report  does not  contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary to
     make the statements  made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such
     statements  were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this Annual Report;

3.   Based on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
     information included in this Annual Report,  fairly present in all material
     respects the financial  condition,  results of operations and cash flows of
     the registrant as of and for the periods presented in this Annual Report;

4.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officer  and  I are  responsible  for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

     a)   Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  to ensure  that
          material  information  relating  to  the  registrant,   including  its
          consolidated subsidiaries,  is made known to us by others within those
          entities,  particularly  during the period in which this Annual Report
          is being prepared;

     b)   Evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure  controls
          and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
          this Annual Report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

     c)   Presented   in  this   Annual   Report  our   conclusions   about  the
          effectiveness  of the disclosure  controls and procedures based on our
          evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant's  other certifying  officer and I have disclosed,  based on
     our most recent  evaluation,  to the  registrant's  auditors  and the audit
     committee of registrant's  Board of Supervisors (or persons  performing the
     equivalent functions):

     a)   All  significant  deficiencies  in the design or operation of internal
          controls  which could  adversely  affect the  registrant's  ability to
          record,  process,   summarize  and  report  financial  data  and  have
          identified for the  registrant's  auditors any material  weaknesses in
          internal controls; and

     b)   Any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management or other
          employees who have a  significant  role in the  registrant's  internal
          controls; and

6.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officer and I have  indicated in this
     Annual Report whether there were significant  changes in internal  controls
     or in other  factors  that could  significantly  affect  internal  controls
     subsequent  to the  date  of our  most  recent  evaluation,  including  any
     corrective  actions with regard to  significant  deficiencies  and material
     weaknesses.



December 20, 2002                     /S/ ROBERT M. PLANTE
                                    ---------------------------------
                                    Robert M. Plante
                                    Vice President - Finance
                                    (Principal Financial Officer)




                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------

The  exhibits  listed on this  Exhibit  Index  are filed as part of this  Annual
Report.  Exhibits  required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, which are
not listed below, are not applicable.

    EXHIBIT
    NUMBER    DESCRIPTION
    ------    -----------

D    2.1      Recapitalization Agreement dated as of November 27, 1998 by and
              among the Partnership, the Operating Partnership, the General
              Partner, Millennium and Suburban Energy Services Group LLC.

K    3.1      Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
              the Partnership dated as of May 26, 1999.

K    3.2      Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
              the Operating Partnership dated as of May 26, 1999.

G    10.1     Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 29, 2001
              by and among Suburban Propane, L.P., the Lenders referred to
              therein, First Union National Bank, as Administrative Agent, Fleet
              National Bank, as Syndication Agent and the Bank of New York, as
              Managing Agent.

I    10.2     First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as
              of April 3, 2002 between Suburban Propane, L.P., the Lenders
              referred to therein, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
              Administrative Agent, Fleet National Bank, as Syndication Agent.

A    10.3     Note Agreement dated as of February 28, 1996 among certain
              investors and the Operating Partnership relating to $425 million
              aggregate principal amount of 7.54% Senior Notes due
              June 30, 2011.

L    10.4     Amendment No. 1 to the Note Agreement dated May 13, 1998 among
              certain investors and the Operating Partnership relating to $425
              million aggregate principal amount of 7.54% Senior Notes due
              June 30, 2011.

L    10.5     Amendment No. 2 to the Note Agreement dated March 29, 1999 among
              certain investors and the Operating Partnership relating to $425
              million aggregate principal amount of 7.54% Senior Notes due
              June 30, 2011.

L    10.6     Amendment No. 3 to the Note Agreement dated December 6, 2000 among
              certain investors and the Operating Partnership relating to $425
              million aggregate principal amount of 7.54% Senior Notes due
              June 30, 2011.

I    10.7     Amendment No. 4 to the Note Agreement dated March 21, 2002 among
              certain investors and the Operating Partnership relating to $425
              million aggregate principal amount of 7.54% Senior Notes due
              June 30, 2011.

L    10.8     Amendment No. 5 to the Note Agreement dated November 20, 2002
              among certain investors and the Operating Partnership relating to
              $425 million aggregate principal amount of 7.54% Senior Notes due
              June 30, 2011.

                                      E-1


I    10.9     Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 11, 2002 provided by four
              direct subsidiaries of Suburban Propane, L.P. for the 7.54% Senior
              Notes due June 30, 2011.

I    10.10    Intercreditor Agreement dated March 21, 2002 between First Union
              National Bank, the Lenders under the Operating Partnership's
              Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Noteholders of the
              Operating Partnership's 7.54% Senior Notes due June 30, 2011.

J    10.11    Note Agreement dated as of April 19, 2002 among certain investors
              and the Operating Partnership relating to $42.5 million aggregate
              principal amount of 7.37% Senior Notes due June 30, 2012.

J    10.12    Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 1, 2002 provided by certain
              subsidiaries of Suburban Propane, L.P. for the 7.37% Senior Notes
              due June 30, 2012.

A    10.13    Employment Agreement dated as of March 5, 1996 between the
              Operating Partnership and Mr. Alexander.

C    10.14    First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of March 5, 1996
              between the Operating Partnership and Mr. Alexander entered into
              as of October 23, 1997.

E    10.15    Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of March 5, 1996
              between the Operating Partnership and Mr. Alexander entered into
              as of April 14, 1999.

A    10.16    The Partnership's 1996 Restricted Unit Plan.

F    10.17    Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2000 Restricted Unit Plan.

B    10.18    The Partnership's Severance Protection Plan dated September 1996.

L    10.19    Suburban Propane L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended and
              restated effective October 1, 1999.

E    10.20    Benefits Protection Trust dated May 26, 1999 by and between
              Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and First Union National Bank.

E    10.21    Compensation Deferral Plan of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and
              Suburban Propane, L.P. dated May 26, 1999.

H    10.22    First Amendment to the Compensation Deferral Plan of Suburban
              Propane Partners, L.P. and Suburban Propane, L.P. dated
              November 5, 2001.

H    10.23    Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of the
              Partnership (effective as of January 1, 1998).

H    10.24    Amended and Restated Retirement Savings and Investment Plan of
              Suburban Propane (effective as of January 1, 1998).

L    10.25    Amendment No. 1 to the Retirement Savings and Investment Plan of
              Suburban Propane (effective January 1, 2002).

L    21.1     Listing of Subsidiaries of the Partnership.


                                      E-2


L    23.1     Consent of Independent Accountants.

L    99.1     Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
              pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A    Incorporated by reference to the same numbered Exhibit to the Partnership's
     Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 1996.

B    Incorporated by reference to the same numbered Exhibit to the Partnership's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 1996.

C    Incorporated by reference to the same numbered Exhibit to the Partnership's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 1997.

D    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current
     Report on Form 8-K filed December 3, 1998.

E    Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 26, 1999.

F    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Partnership's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000.

G    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(A) to the Partnership's Quarterly
     Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 30, 2000.

H    Incorporated by reference to the same number Exhibit to the Partnership's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2001.

I    Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2002.

J    Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2002.

K    Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Proxy Statement filed
     pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on
     April 22, 1999.

L    Filed herewith.

                                      E-3



                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES




                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----

Report of Independent Accountants...................................       F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets - as of September 28, 2002 and
September 29, 2001..................................................       F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations -
  Years Ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and
  September 30, 2000................................................       F-4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
  Years Ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and
  September 30, 2000................................................       F-5

Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital -
  Years Ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and
  September 30, 2000................................................       F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..........................       F-7


                                      F-1







                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS






To the Board of Supervisors and Unitholders of
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.:

     In our opinion,  the consolidated  financial statements listed in the index
appearing  under Item  15.(a)1.(i)  on page 37 present  fairly,  in all material
respects,  the financial  position of Suburban  Propane  Partners,  L.P. and its
subsidiaries  (the  "Partnership")  at September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001
and the results of their  operations  and their cash flows for each of the three
fiscal  years  in the  period  ended  September  28,  2002  in  conformity  with
accounting  principles  generally  accepted in the United States of America.  In
addition,  in our opinion,  the financial statement schedule listed in the index
appearing  under Item  15.(a)2.  on page 37  presents  fairly,  in all  material
respects,  the information  set forth therein when read in conjunction  with the
related  consolidated  financial  statements.  These  financial  statements  and
financial  statement  schedule  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Partnership's
management;  our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements and financial  statement  schedule based on our audits.  We conducted
our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing  standards  generally
accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence  supporting the amounts and  disclosures  in the financial  statements,
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  and evaluating the overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.





PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham Park, NJ
October 23, 2002

                                      F-2



               SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (in thousands)




                                                               September 28,    September 29,
                                                                   2002             2001
                                                               -------------    -------------

ASSETS
Current assets:
                                                                            
    Cash and cash equivalents ................................   $  40,955        $  36,494
    Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful  accounts
       of $1,894 and $3,992, respectively ....................      33,002           42,702
    Inventories ..............................................      36,367           41,891
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets ................       6,465            3,252
                                                                 ---------        ---------
            Total current assets .............................     116,789          124,339
Property, plant and equipment, net ...........................     331,009          344,374
Goodwill, net ................................................     243,260          243,789
Other intangible assets, net .................................       1,474            1,990
Other assets .................................................       7,614            8,514
                                                                 ---------        ---------
             Total assets ....................................   $ 700,146        $ 723,006
                                                                 =========        =========


LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable .........................................   $  27,412        $  38,685
    Accrued employment and benefit costs .....................      21,430           29,948
    Current portion of long-term borrowings ..................      88,939           42,907
    Accrued insurance ........................................       8,670            7,860
    Customer deposits and advances ...........................      26,125           23,217
    Accrued interest .........................................       8,666            8,318
    Other current liabilities ................................       6,303           11,168
                                                                 ---------        ---------
              Total current liabilities ......................     187,545          162,103
Long-term borrowings .........................................     383,830          430,270
Postretirement benefits obligation ...........................      33,284           34,521
Accrued insurance ............................................      18,299           17,881
Accrued pension liability ....................................      53,164           13,703
Other liabilities ............................................       4,738            5,579
                                                                 ---------        ---------
               Total liabilities .............................     680,860          664,057
                                                                 ---------        ---------

Commitments and contingencies

Partners' capital:
      Common Unitholders (24,631 units issued and outstanding)     103,680          105,549
      General Partner ........................................       1,924            1,888
      Deferred compensation ..................................     (11,567)         (11,567)
      Common Units held in trust, at cost ....................      11,567           11,567
      Unearned compensation ..................................      (1,924)          (1,211)
      Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) .................     (84,394)         (47,277)
                                                                 ---------        ---------
                Total partners' capital ......................      19,286           58,949
                                                                 ---------        ---------
                Total liabilities and partners' capital ......   $ 700,146        $ 723,006
                                                                 =========        =========





The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.

                                      F-3







                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                     (in thousands, except per unit amounts)




                                                                                 Year Ended
                                                               -----------------------------------------------
                                                               September 28,    September 29,    September 30,
                                                                   2002             2001             2000
                                                               -------------    -------------    -------------

Revenues
                                                                                          
  Propane ...................................................    $ 570,280        $ 839,607        $ 753,931
  Other .....................................................       94,825           91,929           87,373
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------
                                                                   665,105          931,536          841,304

Costs and expenses
  Cost of products sold .....................................      289,055          510,313          476,176
  Operating .................................................      234,140          258,735          228,495
  General and administrative ................................       30,771           32,511           28,629
  Depreciation and amortization .............................       29,693           38,502           38,772
  Gain on sale of storage facility ..........................       (6,768)            --               --
  Gain on sale of assets ....................................         --               --            (10,328)
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------
                                                                   576,891          840,061          761,744
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------

Income before interest expense and provision for income taxes       88,214           91,475           79,560
Interest expense, net .......................................       33,987           37,590           40,794
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------

Income before provision for income taxes ....................       54,227           53,885           38,766
Provision for income taxes ..................................          703              375              234
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------
Net income ..................................................    $  53,524        $  53,510        $  38,532
                                                                 =========        =========        =========

General Partner's interest in net income ....................    $   1,362        $   1,048        $     771
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------
Limited Partners' interest in net income ....................    $  52,162        $  52,462        $  37,761
                                                                 =========        =========        =========

Net income per unit - basic .................................    $    2.12        $    2.14        $    1.70
                                                                 =========        =========        =========
Weighted average number of units outstanding - basic ........       24,631           24,514           22,275
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------

Net income per unit - diluted ...............................    $    2.12        $    2.14        $    1.70
                                                                 =========        =========        =========
Weighted average number of units outstanding - diluted ......       24,665           24,530           22,275
                                                                 ---------        ---------        ---------


















The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.

                                      F-4





                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (in thousands)




                                                                                                  Year Ended
                                                                                -----------------------------------------------
                                                                                September 28,    September 29,    September 30,
                                                                                    2002             2001             2000
                                                                                -------------    -------------    -------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                                                                                           
     Net income .............................................................     $  53,524        $  53,510        $  38,532
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
      provided by operations:
          Depreciation expense ..............................................        27,857           28,517           29,142
          Amortization of intangible assets .................................         1,836            9,985            9,630
          Amortization of unearned compensation .............................           985              440              215
          (Gain) on disposal of property, plant and
            equipment, net ..................................................          (546)          (3,843)         (11,313)
          (Gain) on sale of storage facility ................................        (6,768)            --               --
     Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
      and dispositions:
          Decrease/(increase) in accounts receivable ........................         9,635           18,601          (21,072)
          Decrease/(increase) in inventories ................................         5,402             (260)          (6,016)
          (Increase)/decrease in prepaid expenses and
             other current assets ...........................................        (2,526)           1,699           (2,504)
          (Decrease)/increase in accounts payable ...........................       (10,862)         (21,109)          19,726
          (Decrease)/increase in accrued employment
             and benefit costs ..............................................        (8,518)          10,969             (650)
          Increase/(decrease) in accrued interest ...........................           348              147              (79)
          (Decrease)/increase in other accrued liabilities ..................        (1,153)           4,635            4,403
          Net change in other noncurrent assets and liabilities .............          (439)          (1,453)            (547)
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
                Net cash provided by operating activities ...................        68,775          101,838           59,467
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures ..................................................       (17,464)         (23,218)         (21,250)
      Acquisitions ..........................................................          --               --            (98,012)
      Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, net ..............        10,613            5,311           20,195
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
                Net cash (used in) investing activities .....................        (6,851)         (17,907)         (99,067)
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
      Long-term debt (repayments)/borrowings, net ...........................          (408)         (44,428)          89,659
      Short-term debt (repayments)/borrowings, net ..........................          --             (6,500)           3,750
      Credit agreement fees .................................................          --               (730)          (3,123)
      Net proceeds from public offering .....................................          --             47,079             --
      Partnership distributions .............................................       (57,055)         (54,503)         (47,433)
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
                Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities..........       (57,463)         (59,082)          42,853
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents ...................................         4,461           24,849            3,253
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ..............................        36,494           11,645            8,392
                                                                                  ---------        ---------        ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ....................................        40,955           36,494           11,645
                                                                                  =========        =========        =========

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
    Cash paid for interest ..................................................     $  34,134        $  37,774        $  40,944
                                                                                  =========        =========        =========
    Non-cash adjustment for minimum pension liability .......................     $  37,800        $  47,277        $    --
                                                                                  =========        =========        =========






The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.

                                      F-5





                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                 (in thousands)






                                                                                                         Common
                                                 Number of       Common       General      Deferred      Units Held      Unearned
                                                Common Units    Unitholder    Partner    Compensation    in Trust      Compensation
                                                ------------    ----------    -------    ------------    --------      ------------

                                                                                                         
Balance at September  25, 1999 ..............        22,235      $ 66,342    $ 2,044       $ (10,712)   $ 10,712           $   --
Net income ..................................                      37,761        771
Other comprehensive income:
   Unrealized gain on securities ............

Comprehensive income ........................

Partnership distributions ...................                     (46,484)      (949)
Grants issued under Compensation
   Deferral Plan ............................            43           855                       (855)        855               (855)
Amortization of Compensation
  Deferral Plan .............................            --            --         --              --          --                215
                                                ------------    ----------    -------    ------------    --------      ------------

Balance at September 30, 2000 ...............        22,278        58,474      1,866         (11,567)     11,567               (640)
Net income ..................................                      52,462      1,048
Other comprehensive income:
   Unrealized holding loss ..................
  Less: Reclassification adjustment
    for gains included in net income ........
   Minimum pension liability adjustment .....

Comprehensive income ........................

Partnership distributions ...................                     (53,477)    (1,026)
Sale of Common Units under
  public offering, net of expenses ..........         2,353        47,079
Grants issued under Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............                       1,011                                                    (1,011)
Amortization of Compensation
  Deferral Plan .............................                                                                                   212
Amortization of Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............            --            --         --              --          --                228
                                                ------------    ----------    -------    ------------    --------      ------------

Balance at September  29, 2001 ..............        24,631       105,549      1,888         (11,567)     11,567             (1,211)
Net income ..................................                      52,162      1,362
Other comprehensive income:
  Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges ..
  Less: Reclassification of realized
      gains on cash flow hedges into earnings
  Minimum pension liability adjustment ......

Comprehensive income ........................

Partnership distributions ...................                     (55,729)    (1,326)
Grants issued under Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............                       1,698                                                    (1,698)
Amortization of Compensation
  Deferral Plan .............................                                                                                   382
Amortization of Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............            --            --         --              --          --                603
                                                ------------    ----------    -------    ------------    --------      ------------

Balance at September 28, 2002 ...............        24,631     $ 103,680    $ 1,924       $ (11,567)   $ 11,567           $ (1,924)
                                                ============    ==========    =======    ============    ========      ============




                                                  Accumulated
                                                     Other
                                                    Compre-          Total      Compre-
                                                    hensive        Partners'    hensive
                                                 (Loss)/Income      Capital     Income
                                                 -------------      -------     -------

                                                                        
Balance at September  25, 1999 ..............         $   --      $ 68,386
Net income ..................................                       38,532    $ 38,532
Other comprehensive income:
   Unrealized gain on securities ............          2,129         2,129       2,129
                                                                              --------
Comprehensive income ........................                                 $ 40,661
                                                                              ========
Partnership distributions ...................                      (47,433)
Grants issued under Compensation
   Deferral Plan ............................                           --
Amortization of Compensation
  Deferral Plan .............................             --           215
                                                -------------       -------

Balance at September 30, 2000 ...............          2,129        61,829
Net income ..................................                       53,510    $ 53,510
Other comprehensive income:
   Unrealized holding loss ..................         (1,046)       (1,046)     (1,046)
  Less: Reclassification adjustment
    for gains included in net income ........         (1,083)       (1,083)     (1,083)
   Minimum pension liability adjustment .....        (47,277)      (47,277)    (47,277)
                                                                              --------
Comprehensive income ........................                                 $  4,104
                                                                              ========
Partnership distributions ...................                      (54,503)
Sale of Common Units under
  public offering, net of expenses ..........                       47,079
Grants issued under Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............                           --
Amortization of Compensation
  Deferral Plan .............................                          212
Amortization of Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............             --           228
                                                -------------       -------

Balance at September  29, 2001 ..............        (47,277)       58,949
Net income ..................................                       53,524    $ 53,524
Other comprehensive income:
  Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges ..            838           838         838
  Less: Reclassification of realized
      gains on cash flow hedges into earnings           (155)         (155)       (155)
  Minimum pension liability adjustment ......        (37,800)      (37,800)    (37,800)
                                                                              --------
Comprehensive income ........................                                 $ 16,407
                                                                              ========
Partnership distributions ...................                      (57,055)
Grants issued under Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............                           --
Amortization of Compensation
  Deferral Plan .............................                          382
Amortization of Restricted
  Unit Plan, net of forfeitures .............             --           603
                                                -------------       -------

Balance at September 28, 2002 ...............      $ (84,394)     $ 19,286
                                                =============       =======




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.


                                      F-6




                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                 (Dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts)

1.   PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION

Suburban Propane Partners,  L.P. (the  "Partnership") was formed on December 19,
1995 as a Delaware  limited  partnership.  The  Partnership  and its subsidiary,
Suburban Propane, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"), were formed to acquire and
operate  the propane  business  and assets of  Suburban  Propane,  a division of
Quantum Chemical Corporation (the "Predecessor Company"). In addition,  Suburban
Sales & Service,  Inc.  (the "Service  Company"),  a subsidiary of the Operating
Partnership,  was formed to acquire and operate the service  work and  appliance
and parts businesses of the Predecessor Company. The Partnership,  the Operating
Partnership and the Service Company  commenced  operations on March 5, 1996 (the
"Closing  Date") upon  consummation  of an initial public offering of 21,562,500
common units  representing  limited partner  interests in the  Partnership  (the
"Common Units"), the private placement of $425,000 aggregate principal amount of
Senior Notes due 2011 issued by the  Operating  Partnership  and the transfer of
all the propane assets  (excluding the net accounts  receivable  balance) of the
Predecessor Company to the Operating Partnership and the Service Company.

On January 5, 2001,  Suburban  Holdings,  Inc.,  a subsidiary  of the  Operating
Partnership,  was formed to hold the stock of Gas Connection,  Inc.,  Suburban @
Home, Inc. and Suburban Franchising,  Inc. Gas Connection,  Inc. (d/b/a HomeTown
Hearth  &  Grill)  sells  and  installs  natural  gas and  propane  gas  grills,
fireplaces and related  accessories  and supplies;  Suburban @ Home, Inc. sells,
installs,  services  and  repairs a full range of heating  and air  conditioning
products;  and Suburban  Franchising,  Inc. creates and develops propane related
franchising business opportunities.  The Partnership, the Operating Partnership,
the  Service  Company,   Suburban  Holdings,   Inc.  and  its  subsidiaries  are
collectively referred to hereinafter as the "Partnership Entities."

From the Closing  Date  through May 26,  1999,  Suburban  Propane GP, Inc.  (the
"Former  General  Partner"),  a wholly-owned  indirect  subsidiary of Millennium
Chemicals,  Inc., served as the general partner of the Partnership and Operating
Partnership  owning a 1%  general  partner  interest  in the  Partnership  and a
1.0101% general partner interest in the Operating Partnership.  In addition, the
Former  General  Partner owned a 24.4%  limited  partner  interest  evidenced by
7,163,750  Subordinated  Units and a special  limited  partner  interest  in the
Partnership.

On  May  26,  1999,   the   Partnership   completed  a   recapitalization   (the
"Recapitalization")  which included the redemption of the Subordinated Units and
special  limited  partner  interest  from the Former  General  Partner,  and the
substitution of Suburban  Energy  Services Group LLC (the "General  Partner") as
the  new  general  partner  of the  Partnership  and the  Operating  Partnership
following the General Partner's purchase of the combined 2.0101% general partner
interests for $6,000 in cash. The General Partner is owned by senior  management
of the Partnership and, following the public offering discussed in Note 13, owns
a combined 1.89% general  partner  interest in the Partnership and the Operating
Partnership.

The  Partnership  Entities are engaged in the retail and wholesale  marketing of
propane  and  related   appliances   and  services.   The   Partnership   serves
approximately   750,000   active   residential,   commercial,   industrial   and
agricultural  customers from  approximately 330 customer service centers in over
40 states.  The  Partnership's  operations are concentrated in the east and west
coast regions of the United States. No single customer accounted for 10% or more
of the  Partnership's  revenues during fiscal 2002, 2001 or 2000.  During fiscal
2002 and 2001, three suppliers provided approximately 49% and 47%, respectively,
of the  Partnership's  total domestic propane supply.  The Partnership  believes
that, if supplies from any of these three suppliers were  interrupted,  it would
be able to  secure  adequate  propane  supplies  from  other  sources  without a
material disruption of its operations.

                                      F-7


2.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION.  The consolidated  financial statements include the
accounts of the Partnership Entities. All significant intercompany  transactions
and account  balances have been  eliminated.

FISCAL PERIOD.  The Partnership's  fiscal year ends on the last Saturday nearest
to September 30. As fiscal 2000 ended on Saturday,  September  30, 2000,  fiscal
2000 includes 53 weeks of operations compared to 52 weeks in each of fiscal 2002
and fiscal 2001.

REVENUE  RECOGNITION.  Sales of propane are  recognized  at the time  product is
delivered to the customer.  Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is
recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete,  as applicable.
Revenue from repair and maintenance  activities is recognized upon completion of
the service.

USE OF ESTIMATES.  The  preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting  period.  Estimates  have  been  made by  management  in the  areas of
insurance and  litigation  reserves,  pension and other  postretirement  benefit
liabilities  and costs,  valuation of derivative  instruments,  asset  valuation
assessment, as well as the allowance for doubtful accounts. Actual results could
differ from those  estimates,  making it  reasonably  possible  that a change in
these estimates could occur in the near term.

CASH AND CASH  EQUIVALENTS.  The  Partnership  considers  all highly liquid debt
instruments  purchased  with an original  maturity of three months or less to be
cash  equivalents.  The carrying amount  approximates  fair value because of the
short maturity of these instruments.

INVENTORIES.  Inventories  are  stated at the lower of cost or  market.  Cost is
determined using a weighted average method for propane and a standard cost basis
for appliances, which approximates average cost.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. The Partnership is exposed to the
impact of market fluctuations in the commodity price of propane. The Partnership
routinely  uses  commodity  futures,  forward and option  contracts to hedge its
commodity  price risk and to ensure  supply during  periods of high demand.  All
derivative  instruments are reported on the balance sheet,  within other current
assets or other  current  liabilities,  at their fair  values.  On the date that
futures,  forward and option contracts are entered into, the Partnership makes a
determination as to whether the derivative  instrument qualifies for designation
as a  hedge.  Prior to March  31,  2002,  the  Partnership  determined  that its
derivative  instruments  did not qualify as hedges and, as such,  the changes in
fair values were  recorded in income.  Beginning  with  contracts  entered  into
subsequent to March 31, 2002, a portion of the  derivative  instruments  entered
into by the  Partnership  have been  designated and qualify as cash flow hedges.
For  derivative  instruments  designated  as cash flow hedges,  the  Partnership
formally  assesses,  both at the hedge  contract's  inception  and on an ongoing
basis,  whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting  changes in
cash flows of hedged items. Changes in the fair value of derivative  instruments
designated as cash flow hedges are reported in accumulated  other  comprehensive
income  (loss) to the extent  effective and  reclassified  into cost of products
sold  during the same  period in which the hedged  item  affects  earnings.  The
mark-to-market  gains or losses on ineffective portions of hedges are recognized
in cost of products  sold  immediately.  Changes in the fair value of derivative
instruments  that are not  designated  as hedges are recorded in current  period
earnings.

                                      F-8


LONG-LIVED ASSETS.  Long-lived assets include:

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost.
Expenditures  for maintenance and routine repairs are expensed as incurred while
betterments  are  capitalized as additions to the related assets and depreciated
over the asset's  remaining  useful  life.  The  Partnership  capitalizes  costs
incurred  in  the  acquisition  and  modification  of  computer   software  used
internally, including consulting fees and costs of employees dedicated solely to
a specific project.  At the time assets are retired,  or otherwise  disposed of,
the asset and related  accumulated  depreciation  are removed from the accounts,
and  any  resulting  gain  or  loss is  recognized  within  operating  expenses.
Depreciation is determined for related groups of assets under the  straight-line
method based upon their estimated useful lives as follows:

  Buildings                                                     40 Years
  Building and land improvements                             10-40 Years
  Transportation equipment                                    4-30 Years
  Storage facilities                                            20 Years
  Equipment, primarily tanks and cylinders                    3-40 Years
  Computer software                                            3-5 Years

GOODWILL.  Goodwill  represents  the excess of the purchase  price over the fair
value of net assets acquired. Effective September 30, 2001, the beginning of the
Partnership's  2002  fiscal  year,  the  Partnership  elected to early adopt the
provisions  of  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 142,
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" ("SFAS 142"). As a result of the adoption
of SFAS 142, goodwill is no longer amortized to expense, rather is subject to an
impairment review at a reporting unit level, at least annually.

OTHER  INTANGIBLE   ASSETS.   Other  intangible   assets  consist  primarily  of
non-compete  agreements which are amortized under the straight-line  method over
the periods of the related agreements,  ending periodically between fiscal years
2003 and 2011.

The  Partnership   reviews  the   recoverability   of  long-lived   assets  when
circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  of the  asset  may  not be
recoverable and the  undiscounted  cash flows estimated to be generated by these
assets under  various  assumptions  are less than the carrying  amounts of those
assets. When necessary, impairment losses are measured and recorded by comparing
the estimated fair value of the assets to their carrying  amount.  No impairment
of long-lived assets was required during fiscal year 2002, 2001 or 2000.

ACCRUED INSURANCE. Accrued insurance represents the estimated costs of known and
anticipated or unasserted  claims under the  Partnership's  general and product,
workers'  compensation  and automobile  insurance  policies.  Accrued  insurance
provisions for unasserted claims arising from unreported  incidents are based on
an analysis of historical claims data. For each claim, the Partnership records a
self-insurance provision up to the estimated amount of the probable claim or the
amount of the deductible,  whichever is lower,  utilizing actuarially determined
loss  development  factors  applied to actual claims data.  Claims are generally
settled within 5 years of origination.

INCOME TAXES.  As discussed in Note 1, the Partnership  Entities  consist of two
limited partnerships,  the Partnership and the Operating  Partnership,  and five
corporate  entities.  For federal and state  income tax  purposes,  the earnings
attributable to the  Partnership  and Operating  Partnership are included in the
tax returns of the individual  partners.  As a result,  no recognition of income
tax expense  has been  reflected  in the  Partnership's  consolidated  financial
statements   relating  to  the  earnings  of  the   Partnership   and  Operating
Partnership.  The earnings attributable to the corporate entities are subject to
federal and state income  taxes.  Accordingly,  the  Partnership's  consolidated
financial  statements  reflect  income  tax  expense  related  to the  corporate
entities'  earnings.  Net earnings for financial  statement  purposes may differ
significantly  from taxable  income  reportable  to  Unitholders  as a result of
differences  between the tax basis and financial  reporting  basis of assets and
liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements under the Partnership
Agreement.

                                      F-9



Income taxes for the  corporate  entities  are  provided  based on the asset and
liability approach to accounting for income taxes.  Under this method,  deferred
tax  assets  and   liabilities  are  recognized  for  the  expected  future  tax
consequences  of differences  between the carrying  amounts and the tax basis of
assets and  liabilities  using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which
the differences  are expected to reverse.  The effect on deferred tax assets and
liabilities  of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period when
the change is enacted.

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION. The Partnership accounts for unit-based compensation in
accordance  with  Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 25,  "Accounting for
Stock  Issued  to  Employees",  and  related  interpretations.   Upon  award  of
restricted  units  under  the  Partnership's   Restricted  Unit  Plan,  unearned
compensation  equivalent to the market price of the Restricted Units on the date
of grant is  established  as a reduction  of  partners'  capital.  The  unearned
compensation is amortized  ratably to expense over the restricted  periods.  The
Partnership  follows the disclosure only provision of SFAS No. 123,  "Accounting
for Stock-Based  Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). Pro forma net income and net income
per  limited  partner  unit  under  the fair  value  method  of  accounting  for
Restricted Units under SFAS 123 would be the same as reported net income and net
income per limited partner unit.

NET INCOME PER UNIT.  Basic net income per limited  partner  unit is computed by
dividing  net income,  after  deducting  the General  Partner's  approximate  2%
interest,  by the weighted average number of outstanding  Common Units.  Diluted
net income per limited  partner unit is computed by dividing  net income,  after
deducting the General Partner's approximate 2% interest, by the weighted average
number of  outstanding  Common Units and time vested  Restricted  Units  granted
under the 2000 Restricted  Unit Plan. In computing  diluted net income per unit,
weighted  average  units  outstanding  used to compute basic net income per unit
were  increased by 34,000  units and 16,000 units for the years ended  September
28, 2002 and September 29, 2001, respectively, to reflect the potential dilutive
effect of the time vested  Restricted Units outstanding using the treasury stock
method.  Net income is  allocated  to the  Common  Unitholders  and the  General
Partner in accordance with their  respective  Partnership  ownership  interests,
after  giving  effect  to  any  priority   income   allocations   for  incentive
distributions allocated to the General Partner.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME. The Partnership reports comprehensive income (the total of
net income and all other  non-owner  changes in  partners'  capital)  within the
consolidated  statement  of partners'  capital.  Comprehensive  income  includes
unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow
hedges,   unrealized  gains  and  losses  on  equity  securities  classified  as
available-for-sale and minimum pension liability adjustments.

RECENTLY  ISSUED  ACCOUNTING  STANDARDS.  In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No.
143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement  Obligations" ("SFAS 143"), which requires
that the fair  value  of a  liability  for an  asset  retirement  obligation  be
recognized  in the  period  in which it is  incurred  and the  associated  asset
retirement costs be capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived
asset.  Accretion expense and depreciation  expense related to the liability and
capitalized  asset  retirement  costs,   respectively,   would  be  recorded  in
subsequent periods.  SFAS 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June
15, 2002. The  Partnership  does not  anticipate  that adoption of this standard
will have a material  impact,  if any, on its consolidated  financial  position,
results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived  Assets" ("SFAS 144"). SFAS 144 applies to all long-lived
assets,  including  discontinued  operations,   and  provides  guidance  on  the
measurement  and  recognition  of  impairment  charges for assets to be held and
used,  assets to be  abandoned  and assets to be disposed  of by sale.  SFAS 144
supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and
for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of." SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years
beginning  after  December 15, 2001.  The  provisions of this standard are to be
applied prospectively. The Partnership does not anticipate that adoption of this
standard will have a material  impact on its  consolidated  financial  position,
results of operations or cash flows.

                                      F-10


On April 30, 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145,  "Rescission of FASB Statements
No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of SFAS No. 13, and Technical  Corrections"  ("SFAS
145").  SFAS 145  eliminates  the  requirement  that gains and  losses  from the
extinguishment  of  debt  be  aggregated  and,  if  material,  classified  as an
extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect.  However,  pursuant to
SFAS 145, an entity  would not be  prohibited  from  classifying  such gains and
losses as extraordinary items under certain  circumstances.  SFAS 145 also makes
several other technical  corrections to existing  pronouncements that may change
accounting practice.  SFAS 145 is effective for transactions occurring after May
15, 2002. Based on the nature of transaction  covered by this new standard,  the
standard  did not have an impact  on the  Partnership's  consolidated  financial
position  or  consolidated  results of  operations  as of and for the year ended
September  28, 2002.  The  provisions  of this  standard  will be reviewed on an
ongoing basis, as applicable.

On June 28, 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated
with Exit or Disposal  Activities"  ("SFAS 146"). SFAS 146 requires companies to
recognize  costs  associated  with  exit or  disposal  activities  when they are
incurred  rather than at the date of a commitment  to an exit or disposal  plan.
The  provisions  of SFAS  146 are  effective  for  exit or  disposal  activities
initiated  after  December 31, 2002.  The  provisions  of this  standard will be
reviewed by the Partnership on an ongoing basis, as applicable.

RECLASSIFICATIONS.  Certain  prior  period  amounts  have been  reclassified  to
conform with the current period presentation.

3.   DISTRIBUTIONS OF AVAILABLE CASH

The Partnership makes distributions to its partners  approximately 45 days after
the end of each fiscal quarter of the  Partnership in an aggregate  amount equal
to its Available Cash for such quarter. Available Cash, as defined in the Second
Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement,  generally means all cash on hand at
the end of the  respective  fiscal  quarter  less the  amount  of cash  reserves
established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable  discretion for future
cash  requirements.  These  reserves are retained for the proper  conduct of the
Partnership's  business,  the payment of debt  principal  and  interest  and for
distributions during the next four quarters. Distributions by the Partnership in
an amount equal to 100% of its Available  Cash will  generally be made 98.11% to
the Common Unitholders and 1.89% to the General Partner,  subject to the payment
of incentive  distributions  to the General  Partner to the extent the quarterly
distributions exceed a target distribution of $0.55 per Common Unit.

As defined in the Second Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, the General
Partner has certain  Incentive  Distribution  Rights ("IDRs") which represent an
incentive  for  the  General  Partner  to  increase   distributions   to  Common
Unitholders in excess of the target  quarterly  distribution of $0.55 per Common
Unit. With regard to the first $0.55 quarterly  distributions  paid in any given
quarter,  98.11% of the Available Cash is distributed to the Common  Unitholders
and 1.89% is distributed to the General  Partner.  With regard to the balance of
quarterly   distributions  in  excess  of  the  $0.55  per  Common  Unit  target
distribution, 85% of the Available Cash is distributed to the Common Unitholders
and 15% is distributed to the General Partner.


                                      F-11



The following  summarizes the quarterly  distributions  per Common Unit declared
and paid for each of the  quarters in the three fiscal years in the period ended
September 28, 2002:

                              September 28,   September 29,   September 30,
                                  2002            2001            2000
                              -------------   -------------   -------------

     First Quarter                $ 0.5625        $ 0.5375        $ 0.5250
     Second Quarter                 0.5625          0.5500          0.5250
     Third Quarter                  0.5750          0.5500          0.5250
     Fourth Quarter               $ 0.5750        $ 0.5625        $ 0.5375


On October  23,  2002,  the  Partnership  declared a quarterly  distribution  of
$0.5750 per Common Unit, or $2.30 on an annualized basis, for the fourth quarter
of fiscal  2002  that was paid on  November  12,  2002 to  holders  of record on
November 4, 2002. This quarterly  distribution includes incentive  distributions
payable to the General Partner to the extent the quarterly  distribution exceeds
$0.55 per Common Unit,  pursuant to the IDRs provided for in the Second  Amended
and Restated Partnership Agreement.

4.   ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD

Effective  September 30, 2001,  the beginning of the  Partnership's  2002 fiscal
year,  the  Partnership  elected to early adopt the provisions of SFAS 142 which
modifies  the  financial   accounting  and  reporting  for  goodwill  and  other
intangible   assets,   including  the  requirement  that  goodwill  and  certain
intangible  assets no longer be  amortized.  This new standard  also  requires a
transitional  impairment  review for goodwill,  as well as an annual  impairment
review,  to be performed on a reporting unit basis.  As a result of the adoption
of SFAS  142,  amortization  expense  for the  year  ended  September  28,  2002
decreased  by $7,416  compared to the year ended  September  29, 2001 due to the
lack of  amortization  expense  related to  goodwill.  Aside from this change in
accounting for goodwill, no other change in accounting for intangible assets was
required  as a result of the  adoption  of SFAS 142  based on the  nature of the
Partnership's  intangible  assets.  In accordance with SFAS 142, the Partnership
completed  its  transitional  impairment  review  and,  as the  fair  values  of
identified reporting units exceeded the respective carrying values, goodwill was
not  considered  impaired  as of the  date of  adoption  of  SFAS  142 nor as of
September 28, 2002.

The  following  table  reflects  the effect of the  adoption  of SFAS 142 on net
income and net income per unit as if SFAS 142 had been in effect for the periods
presented:




                                        September 28,   September 29,   September 30,
                                            2002            2001            2000
                                        -------------   -------------   -------------
                                                                
Net income:
    As reported ......................   $   53,524      $   53,510      $   38,532
    Goodwill amortization ............         --             7,416           7,292
                                         ----------      ----------      ----------
    As adjusted ......................   $   53,524      $   60,926      $   45,824
                                         ==========      ==========      ==========

Basic and diluted net income per unit:
    As reported ......................   $     2.12      $     2.14      $     1.70
    Goodwill amortization ............         --              0.29            0.32
                                         ----------      ----------      ----------
    As adjusted ......................   $     2.12      $     2.43      $     2.02
                                         ==========      ==========      ==========



                                      F-12



Other  intangible  assets at September  28, 2002 and  September 29, 2001 consist
primarily of non-compete  agreements  with a gross carrying amount of $4,240 and
$4,540,  respectively,  and  accumulated  amortization  of  $2,766  and  $2,550,
respectively. These non-compete agreements are amortized under the straight-line
method over the periods of the agreements,  ending  periodically  between fiscal
years 2003 and 2011. Aggregate  amortization expense related to other intangible
assets for the years ended September 28, 2002,  September 29, 2001 and September
30, 2000 was $498, $563 and $597, respectively.

Aggregate  amortization  expense related to other intangible  assets for each of
the five succeeding fiscal years as of September 28, 2002 is as follows:  2003 -
$427; 2004 - $360; 2005 - $303; 2006 - $232; and, 2007 - $75.

For the year ended  September  28,  2002,  the net  carrying  amount of goodwill
decreased by $529 as a result of the sale of certain assets during the period.

5.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

In  connection  with the  Partnership's  recapitalization  in 1999,  the General
Partner  acquired the general partner  interests from Millennium  Chemicals Inc.
for $6,000 (the "GP Loan") which was  borrowed  under a private  placement  with
Mellon Bank N.A.  ("Mellon").  In  connection  with the GP Loan,  the  Operating
Partnership  entered  into an agreement  with Mellon  under which the  Operating
Partnership was required (and had the right) to purchase the note evidencing the
GP Loan in the event of a default under the GP Loan by the General Partner.

The Operating  Partnership agreed to maintain sufficient borrowing  availability
under its available  lines of credit to enable it to  repurchase  the GP Note in
these  circumstances.  If the Operating  Partnership  elected or was required to
purchase the GP Note from Mellon,  the  Operating  Partnership  had the right to
cause up to all of the Common Units deposited by management in a trust under the
Compensation  Deferral Plan  (amounting to 596,821 Common Units) to be forfeited
and cancelled (and to cause all of the related  distributions  to be forfeited),
regardless  of the amount paid by the Operating  Partnership  to purchase the GP
Note. As of September 29, 2001,  the balance  outstanding  under the GP Loan was
$1,895.  In August 2002, the General Partner repaid the remaining balance of the
GP Loan to Mellon  and, as a result,  all of the  arrangements  described  above
terminated.

6.   SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

Inventories consist of the following:


                                                 September 28,   September 29,
                                                     2002            2001
                                                 -------------   -------------

  Propane ...................................        $28,799         $33,080
  Appliances ................................          7,568           8,811
                                                     -------         -------
                                                     $36,367         $41,891
                                                     =======         =======

The Partnership  enters into contracts to buy propane for supply purposes.  Such
contracts  generally have terms of less than one year,  with propane costs based
on market prices at the date of delivery.

                                      F-13



Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:


                                                 September 28,   September 29,
                                                     2002            2001
                                                 -------------   -------------

  Land and improvements .....................       $ 28,043        $ 28,490
  Buildings and improvements ................         57,245          56,276
  Transportation equipment ..................         46,192          52,973
  Storage facilities ........................         31,797          25,378
  Equipment, primarily tanks and cylinders ..        393,079         388,217
  Construction in progress ..................         11,935           9,060
                                                    --------        --------
                                                     568,291         560,394
  Less: accumulated depreciation ............        237,282         216,020
                                                    --------        --------
                                                    $331,009        $344,374
                                                    ========        ========


Depreciation  expense for the years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001
and September 30, 2000 amounted to $27,857, $28,517 and $29,142, respectively.

7.   LONG-TERM BORROWINGS

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:


                                                 September 28,   September 29,
                                                     2002            2001
                                                 -------------   -------------

Senior Notes, 7.54%, due June 30, 2011 ......       $382,500        $425,000
Senior Notes, 7.37%, due June 30, 2012 ......         42,500            --
Note payable, 8%, due in annual installments
   through 2006..............................          1,698           2,048
Amounts outstanding under Acquisition
   Facility of Revolving Credit Agreement ...         46,000          46,000
Other long-term liabilities .................             71             129
                                                    --------        --------
                                                     472,769         473,177
Less: current portion .......................         88,939          42,907
                                                    --------        --------
                                                    $383,830        $430,270
                                                    ========        ========


On the Closing Date,  pursuant to a Senior Note Agreement (the "1996 Senior Note
Agreement") the Operating Partnership issued $425,000 of Senior Notes (the "1996
Senior   Notes")  with  an  annual   interest  rate  of  7.54%.   The  Operating
Partnership's obligations under the 1996 Senior Note Agreement are unsecured and
rank on an equal and ratable basis with the Operating Partnership's  obligations
under the Revolving Credit Agreement discussed below. The 1996 Senior Notes will
mature June 30, 2011, and require  semiannual  interest payments which commenced
June 30, 1996.  The 1996 Senior Note  Agreement  requires  that the principal be
paid in equal annual payments of $42,500 starting July 1, 2002.

Pursuant to the Partnership's  intention to refinance the first annual principal
payment of $42,500,  the Partnership  executed on April 19, 2002 a Note Purchase
Agreement for the private placement of 10-year 7.37% Senior Notes due June, 2012
(the "2002 Senior Note  Agreement").  On July 1, 2002, the Partnership  received
$42,500  from the  issuance  of the  Senior  Notes  under the 2002  Senior  Note
Agreement  and used the  funds to pay the  first  annual  principal  payment  of
$42,500 due under the 1996 Senior Note  Agreement.  The Operating  Partnership's
obligations  under the 2002 Senior Note  Agreement  are unsecured and rank on an
equal and ratable basis with the Operating  Partnership's  obligations under the
1996 Senior Note Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement.

                                      F-14


The  Partnership  intends to refinance  the second annual  principal  payment of
$42,500 during fiscal year 2003 and has initiated discussions with various third
parties  to  reach  a  refinancing   agreement  with  favorable   terms  to  the
Partnership.  Alternatively,  the  Partnership  currently  expects  that it will
generate  sufficient funds from operations to make the principal payment when it
comes due.

On November 10, 1999, in connection with the acquisition of certain subsidiaries
of SCANA  Corporation  (the "SCANA  Acquisition";  see Note 14,  Acquisition and
Dispositions), the Partnership replaced its former Bank Credit Facilities, which
had consisted of a $75,000  working capital  facility and a $25,000  acquisition
facility,  with a new $175,000  Revolving  Credit  Agreement with a syndicate of
banks  led by  Wachovia  Bank,  N.A.  (f/k/a  First  Union  National  Bank),  as
Administrative  Agent.  Effective January 29, 2001, the Partnership  amended its
existing  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  reducing the acquisition  facility from
$100,000 to $50,000 and  extending  the term to May 31, 2003.  In addition,  the
covenant to maintain a minimum net worth was eliminated and the maximum ratio of
consolidated  total  indebtedness  to EBITDA (as defined in the  amendment)  was
reduced from 5.10 to 1 to 5.00 to 1 from April 1, 2001 through May 31, 2003. The
Partnership's working capital facility was retained at $75,000. Borrowings under
the Revolving  Credit  Agreement bear interest at a rate based upon either LIBOR
plus a margin,  Wachovia Bank's prime rate or the Federal Funds rate plus 1/2 of
1%. An annual fee  ranging  from .375% to .50%,  based  upon  certain  financial
tests, is payable quarterly whether or not borrowings occur. As of September 28,
2002,  the fee was .50%.  The  Partnership  has initiated  discussions  with the
Administrative Agent for the Revolving Credit Agreement in order to either renew
or refinance the existing Revolving Credit Agreement on a long-term basis.

As of September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001,  $46,000 was outstanding  under
the acquisition  facility of the Revolving Credit  Agreement  resulting from the
SCANA  Acquisition  and there  were no  amounts  outstanding  under the  working
capital  facility of the Revolving Credit  Agreement.  As of September 28, 2002,
the Partnership had borrowing capacity of $4,000 under the acquisition  facility
and  $75,000  under  the  working  capital  facility  of  the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement.  The weighted  average interest rate associated with borrowings under
the Revolving Credit Agreement was 3.67%,  6.98% and 8.04% for fiscal year 2002,
2001 and 2000, respectively.

The 1996 Senior Note Agreement, the 2002 Senior Note Agreement and the Revolving
Credit  Agreement   contain  various   restrictive  and  affirmative   covenants
applicable to the Operating  Partnership;  including (a)  maintenance of certain
financial tests,  including,  but not limited to, a leverage ratio less than 5.0
to 1 and an interest  coverage ratio in excess of 2.50 to 1, (b) restrictions on
the  incurrence  of additional  indebtedness,  and (c)  restrictions  on certain
liens,   investments,    guarantees,   loans,   advances,   payments,   mergers,
consolidations,  distributions,  sales of  assets  and other  transactions.  The
Partnership  was in  compliance  with all covenants and terms of the 1996 Senior
Note  Agreement,  the  2002  Senior  Note  Agreement  and the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement as of September 28, 2002.

Debt  origination  costs  representing the costs incurred in connection with the
placement of, and the subsequent amendment to, the $425,000 of Senior Notes were
capitalized within other assets and are being amortized on a straight-line basis
over 15 years. Other assets at September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001 include
debt  origination  costs  with a net  carrying  amount  of  $5,926  and  $6,612,
respectively.   Aggregate   amortization   expense   related  to  deferred  debt
origination costs included within depreciation and amortization  expense for the
years ended  September  28, 2002,  September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000 was
$1,338, $2,005 and $1,740, respectively.

The aggregate  amounts of long-term debt maturities  subsequent to September 28,
2002 are as  follows:  2003 - $88,939;  2004 - $42,910;  2005 - $42,940;  2006 -
$42,980; 2007 - $42,500; and, thereafter - $212,500.

                                      F-15


8.   RESTRICTED UNIT PLANS

In November 2000, the Partnership  adopted the Suburban Propane  Partners,  L.P.
2000 Restricted Unit Plan (the "2000 Restricted Unit Plan") which authorizes the
issuance of Common  Units with an  aggregate  value of $10,000  (487,804  Common
Units  valued  at the  initial  public  offering  price of  $20.50  per unit) to
executives,  managers and other employees of the  Partnership.  Restricted Units
issued under the 2000 Restricted Unit Plan vest over time with 25% of the Common
Units  vesting at the end of each of the third and fourth  anniversaries  of the
issuance  date and the  remaining  50% of the Common Units vesting at the end of
the fifth  anniversary  of the  issuance  date.  The 2000  Restricted  Unit Plan
participants are not eligible to receive  quarterly  distributions or vote their
respective  Restricted Units until vested.  Restrictions  also limit the sale or
transfer of the units during the restricted periods. The value of the Restricted
Unit is established by the market price of the Common Unit at the date of grant.
Restricted  Units are subject to forfeiture in certain  circumstances as defined
in the 2000 Restricted Unit Plan.

In 1996, the Partnership  adopted the 1996 Restricted Unit Award Plan (the "1996
Restricted  Unit Plan")  which  authorized  the issuance of Common Units with an
aggregate  value of $15,000  (731,707  Common Units valued at the initial public
offering  price  of  $20.50  per  unit)  to  executives,  managers  and  Elected
Supervisors of the Partnership. According to the change of control provisions of
the 1996 Restricted Unit Plan, all outstanding  Restricted  Units on the closing
date of the Recapitalization vested and converted into Common Units. At the date
of the  Recapitalization,  individuals who became members of the General Partner
surrendered receipt of 553,896 Common Units,  representing  substantially all of
their vested Restricted Units, in exchange for the right to participate in a new
compensation deferral plan of the Partnership and the Operating Partnership (see
Note 9, Compensation Deferral Plan).

Following is a summary of activity in the Restricted Unit Plans:


                                                                Weighted Average
                                                                Grant Date Fair
                                                    Units        Value Per Unit
                                                 ------------   ----------------

Outstanding September 30, 2000 ..............          --             $   --
Awarded .....................................        78,228              20.66
Forfeited ...................................       (29,268)             20.66
                                                   --------           --------
Outstanding September 29, 2001 ..............        48,960              20.66
Awarded .....................................        66,298              26.63
Forfeited ...................................        (3,272)            (20.66)
                                                   --------           --------
Outstanding September 28, 2002 ..............       111,986           $  24.19
                                                   ========           ========


During  the  years  ended  September  28,  2002  and  September  29,  2001,  the
Partnership  amortized  $603 and $228,  respectively,  of unearned  compensation
associated with the 2000 Restricted Unit Plan, net of forfeitures.

9.   COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PLAN

Effective May 26, 1999, in connection with the  Partnership's  Recapitalization,
the Partnership  adopted the  Compensation  Deferral Plan (the "Deferral  Plan")
which provided for eligible employees of the Partnership to defer receipt of all
or a portion of the vested  Restricted  Units granted under the 1996  Restricted
Unit  Plan in  exchange  for the right to  participate  in and  receive  certain
payments  under the  Deferral  Plan.  The  Deferral  Plan also  allows  eligible
employees  to  defer  receipt  of  Common  Units  subsequently  granted  by  the
Partnership under the Deferral Plan. The Partnership  granted Common Units under
the Deferral  Plan only once.  The Common Units  granted under the Deferral Plan
and related Partnership distributions were subject to forfeiture provisions such
that (a) 100% of the Common Units would be forfeited if the grantee ceased to be

                                      F-16


employed prior to the third anniversary of the  Recapitalization,  (b) 75% would
be forfeited if the grantee  ceased to be employed  after the third  anniversary
but prior to the fourth anniversary of the Recapitalization and (c) 50% would be
forfeited if the grantee ceased to be employed after the fourth  anniversary but
prior  to  the  fifth  anniversary  of  the  Recapitalization.   All  forfeiture
provisions  lapsed in August of 2002  upon the  repayment  of the GP Loan.  Upon
issuance  of  Common  Units  under  the  Deferral  Plan,  unearned  compensation
equivalent  to the  market  value  of the  Common  Units at the date of grant is
recorded. The unearned compensation is amortized in accordance with the Deferral
Plan's forfeiture  provisions.  The unamortized  unearned  compensation value is
shown as a  reduction  of  partners'  capital in the  accompanying  consolidated
balance sheets.

Senior  management of the Partnership  surrendered  553,896 Common Units, at the
date of the Recapitalization,  into the Deferral Plan. The Partnership deposited
into a trust on behalf of these individuals  553,896 Common Units. During fiscal
2000,  certain members of management  deferred  receipt of an additional  42,925
Common Units  granted under the Deferral  Plan,  with a fair value of $19.91 per
Common  Unit at the date of  grant,  by  depositing  the units  into the  trust.
Pursuant to the  Deferral  Plan,  these  individuals  deferred  receipt of these
Common Units and related  distributions by the Partnership until the date the GP
Loan (See Note 5, Related Party  Transaction)  was repaid in full or the seventh
anniversary of the date of the  Recapitalization  was completed,  whichever they
may  have  chosen,  but  subject  to the  earlier  distribution  and  forfeiture
provisions  of the Deferral  Plan. As a result of the repayment of the remaining
balance of the GP Loan in August 2002, the Common Units deposited into the trust
are now eligible to be distributed to the participants.

As of September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001,  596,821 Common Units were held
in trust under the Deferral Plan. The value of the Common Units deposited in the
trust and the related  deferred  compensation  trust  liability in the amount of
$11,567  are  reflected  in the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  as
components  of partners'  capital.  During the years ended  September  28, 2002,
September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, the Partnership  amortized $382, $212
and $215,  respectively,  of unearned compensation  associated with the Deferral
Plan.

10.  PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

DEFINED  BENEFIT PLAN. The  Partnership  has a  noncontributory  defined benefit
pension plan which was  originally  designed to cover all eligible  employees of
the  Partnership  who met certain  requirements as to age and length of service.
Effective January 1, 1998, the Partnership amended its  noncontributory  defined
benefit pension plan to provide for a cash balance format as compared to a final
average  pay format  which was in effect  prior to  January  1,  1998.  The cash
balance format is designed to evenly spread the growth of a participant's earned
retirement  benefit  throughout  his/her career as compared to the final average
pay format,  under  which a greater  portion of  employee  benefits  were earned
toward  the  latter  stages  of  one's  career.   Effective   January  1,  2000,
participation in the noncontributory defined benefit pension plan was limited to
eligible  participants  in  existence  on that  date  with  no new  participants
eligible  to  participate  in the plan.  On  September  20,  2002,  the Board of
Supervisors  approved an amendment to the defined  benefit pension plan whereby,
effective  January 1,  2003,  future  service  credits  will cease and  eligible
employees will receive  interest  credits only toward their ultimate  retirement
benefit.

Contributions, as needed, are made to a trust maintained by the Partnership. The
trust's assets consist  primarily of common stock,  fixed income  securities and
real  estate.  Contributions  to  the  defined  benefit  plan  are  made  by the
Partnership in accordance  with the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974 minimum funding  standards plus additional  amounts which may be determined
from time to time.

DEFINED  CONTRIBUTION  PLAN. The  Partnership  has a defined  contribution  plan
covering  most  employees.   Contributions  and  costs  are  a  percent  of  the
participating  employees'  compensation.  These amounts totaled $947, $4,560 and
$1,908 for the years ended September 28, 2002,  September 29, 2001 and September
30, 2000, respectively.

                                      F-17



POSTRETIREMENT   BENEFITS  OTHER  THAN  PENSIONS.   The   Partnership   provides
postretirement  health care and life  insurance  benefits  for  certain  retired
employees. Partnership employees hired prior to July 1993 and that retired prior
to March  1998 are  eligible  for such  benefits  if they  reached  a  specified
retirement age while working for the Partnership. Effective January 1, 2000, the
Partnership   terminated  its  postretirement  benefit  plan  for  all  eligible
employees  retiring after March 1, 1998.  All active and eligible  employees who
were to receive  benefits under the  postretirement  plan subsequent to March 1,
1998, were provided a settlement by increasing their accumulated  benefits under
the cash balance pension plan,  noted above.  The Partnership  does not fund its
postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plans.

The  following  table  provides a  reconciliation  of the changes in the benefit
obligations  and the fair value of the plan  assets for each of the years  ended
September  28, 2002 and  September 29, 2001 and a statement of the funded status
for both years:




                                                                                  Other
                                                    Pension Benefits      Postretirement Benefits
                                                 ----------------------   -----------------------
                                                    2002         2001        2002         2001
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                                            
Reconciliation of benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year ......   $ 167,187    $ 151,415    $  37,559    $  38,254
Service cost .................................       4,445        5,024           16          123
Interest cost ................................      11,581       11,034        2,574        2,794
Actuarial loss/(gain) ........................       8,700       15,875        3,852       (1,270)
Curtailment gain .............................      (1,812)        --           --           --
Benefits paid ................................     (15,403)     (16,161)      (2,865)      (2,342)
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Benefit obligation at end of year ............   $ 174,698    $ 167,187    $  41,136    $  37,559
                                                 =========    =========    =========    =========

Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year   $ 143,116    $ 177,051    $    --      $    --
Actual return on plan assets .................      (6,179)     (17,774)        --           --
Employer contributions .......................        --           --          2,865        2,342
Benefits paid ................................     (15,403)     (16,161)      (2,865)      (2,342)
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year .....   $ 121,534    $ 143,116    $    --      $    --
                                                 =========    =========    =========    =========

Funded status:
Funded status at end of year .................   $ (53,164)   $ (24,071)   $ (41,136)   $ (37,559)
Unrecognized prior service cost ..............        --         (1,303)      (3,026)      (3,746)
Net unrecognized actuarial losses ............      85,077       58,948        8,060        4,249
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) .......     (85,077)     (47,277)        --           --
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Accrued benefit liability ....................     (53,164)     (13,703)     (36,102)     (37,056)
Less: Current portion ........................        --           --          2,818        2,535
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Non-current benefit liability ................   $ (53,164)   $ (13,703)   $ (33,284)   $ (34,521)
                                                 =========    =========    =========    =========



As a result of continued  declines in the United States  capital  markets during
the  majority  of fiscal  2001 and 2002,  the  pension  portfolio  assets of the
Partnership's   defined  benefit  pension  plan  have  experienced   significant
unrealized losses over the past two fiscal years. Additionally,  the current low
interest rate  environment  at the end of fiscal 2002 resulted in a reduction in
the discount rate assumptions  impacting the valuation of benefit obligations as
of  September  28,  2002.  As a result of the  unrealized  losses in the pension

                                      F-18


portfolio  assets and decline in  valuation  assumptions,  the  Partnership  was
required to adjust the accrued pension  liability by $37,800 as of September 28,
2002.  This  adjustment  for the minimum  pension  liability,  coupled  with the
$47,277  adjustment  required as of September 29, 2001 (the end of fiscal 2001),
results in a cumulative  adjustment of $85,077 which is offset by a reduction to
accumulated other comprehensive (loss), a component of partners' capital.

In an effort to  minimize  future  increases  in the  benefit  obligations,  the
Partnership  adopted an amendment to the defined benefit pension plan which will
cease future service credits effective January 1, 2003. This amendment  resulted
in a curtailment  gain of $1,093 included  within the net periodic  pension cost
for the  year  ended  September  28,  2002.  Additionally,  as a  result  of the
amendment, as of September 28, 2002 there is no difference between the projected
benefit obligation and the accumulated benefit obligation.

The following  table provides the  components of net periodic  benefit costs for
the years ended September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001:





                                                                       Other
                                         Pension Benefits      Postretirement Benefits
                                      ----------------------   -----------------------
                                         2002         2001        2002         2001
                                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------

                                                                  
Service cost .....................     $  4,445     $  5,024     $     16     $    123
Interest cost ....................       11,581       11,034        2,574        2,794
Expected return on plan assets ...      (14,974)     (15,735)        --           --
Amortization of prior service cost         (210)        (210)        (720)        (721)
Curtailment gain .................       (1,093)        --           --           --
Recognized net actuarial loss ....        1,912         --             41          145
                                       --------     --------     --------     --------
Net periodic benefit cost ........     $  1,661     $    113     $  1,911     $  2,341
                                       ========     ========     ========     ========



Pension  benefit income was ($189) and other  postretirement  benefit costs were
$2,330  for the year ended  September  30,  2000.  The  assumptions  used in the
measurement of the Partnership's  benefit obligations are shown in the following
table:





                                                                                  Other
                                             Pension Benefits            Postretirement Benefits
                                      -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                      September 28,   September 29,   September 28,   September 29,
                                          2002            2001            2002            2001
                                      -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------


                                                                                
Weighted-average discount rate ...          6.75%           7.25%           6.75%           7.25%
Average rate of compensation
  increase........................          3.50%           3.50%             --             --
Weighted-average expected long-term
  rate of return on plan assets...          8.50%           9.50%             --             --





The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was based on a 12% increase in
the cost of  covered  health  care  benefits  at  September  28,  2002 and an 8%
increase in the cost of covered  health care benefits at September 29, 2001. The
12% increase in health care costs  assumed at  September  28, 2002 is assumed to
decrease  gradually  to  5.00%  in  fiscal  2010  and to  remain  at that  level
thereafter.  Increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by 1.0% in each
year would  increase the  Partnership's  benefit  obligation as of September 28,
2002  by  approximately  $1,552  and  the  aggregate  of  service  and  interest
components  of net periodic  postretirement  benefit  expense for the year ended
September 28, 2002 by approximately $119.

                                      F-19



11.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. The Partnership purchases propane
at various  prices  that are  eventually  sold to its  customers,  exposing  the
Partnership  to  market   fluctuations  in  the  price  of  propane.  A  control
environment has been established which includes policies and procedures for risk
assessment and the approval,  reporting and monitoring of derivative instruments
and hedging  activities.  The Partnership closely monitors the potential impacts
of commodity price changes and, where  appropriate,  utilizes commodity futures,
forward and option  contracts  to hedge its  commodity  price  risk,  to protect
margins  and  to  ensure  supply  during  periods  of  high  demand.  Derivative
instruments  are  used  to  hedge  a  portion  of the  Partnership's  forecasted
purchases for no more than one year in the future.

SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments and Hedging Activities," as
amended by SFAS No. 137 and SFAS No. 138 ("SFAS 133")  requires all  derivatives
(with certain exceptions),  whether designated in hedging  relationships or not,
to be  recorded  on the  consolidated  balance  sheet  at fair  value.  SFAS 133
requires that changes in the  derivative  instrument's  fair value be recognized
currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special
accounting for qualifying hedges,  either fair value hedges or cash flow hedges,
allows a derivative's  gains and losses to offset related  results on the hedged
item in the  statement  of  operations,  and  requires  that a company  formally
document,  designate and assess the  effectiveness of transactions  that receive
hedge accounting.  Fair value hedges are derivative  financial  instruments that
hedge the  exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or  liability or an
identified  portion thereof  attributable to a particular risk. Cash flow hedges
are derivative  financial  instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in
expected future cash flows attributable to a particular risk.

Since March 31, 2002, the  Partnership's  futures and forward  contracts qualify
and have been  designated  as cash  flow  hedges  and,  as such,  the  effective
portions  of  changes  in the fair  value of these  derivative  instruments  are
recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI") and are recognized in cost
of products  sold when the hedged item impacts  earnings.  As of  September  28,
2002, unrealized gains on derivative  instruments designated as cash flow hedges
in the amount of $683 were  included in OCI and are expected to be recognized in
earnings during the next 12 months as the hedged forecasted  transactions occur.
However,  due to the volatility of the  commodities  market,  the  corresponding
value in OCI is subject to change prior to its impact on earnings.

Option contracts are not classified as hedges and, as such,  changes in the fair
value of these derivative  instruments are recognized within operating  expenses
in the consolidated statement of operations as they occur.  Additionally,  prior
to March 31, 2002,  the  Partnership's  futures and forward  contracts  were not
designated  as  cash  flow  hedges  and  the  changes  in fair  value  of  these
instruments  were  recognized in earnings as they  occurred.  For the year ended
September 28, 2002,  operating expenses included  unrealized gains in the amount
of $5,356 compared to unrealized losses of ($3,071) for the year ended September
29, 2001,  attributable  to changes in the fair value of derivative  instruments
not designated as hedges.

CREDIT  RISK.  The  Partnership's   principal   customers  are  residential  and
commercial end users of propane  served by  approximately  330 customer  service
centers in over 40 states.  No single  customer  accounted  for more than 10% of
revenues  during fiscal 2002, 2001 or 2000 and no  concentration  of receivables
exists at the end of fiscal 2002 or 2001.

Futures  contracts  are  traded on and  guaranteed  by the New York  Merchantile
Exchange ("NYMEX") and as a result,  have minimal credit risk. Futures contracts
traded  with  brokers  of the NYMEX  require  daily cash  settlements  in margin
accounts.  The  Partnership  is subject to credit  risk with  forward and option
contracts   entered  into  with  various   third   parties  to  the  extent  the
counterparties do not perform. The Partnership evaluates the financial condition
of each  counterparty  with which it conducts  business and  establishes  credit
limits  to  reduce  exposure  to  credit  risk  based  on  non-performance.  The
Partnership does not require collateral to support the contracts.

                                      F-20


FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents
are  not  materially  different  from  their  carrying  amounts  because  of the
short-term nature of these  instruments.  The fair value of the Revolving Credit
Agreement   approximates  the  carrying  value  since  the  interest  rates  are
periodically  adjusted to reflect market conditions.  Based on the current rates
offered  to the  Partnership  for debt of the  same  remaining  maturities,  the
carrying value of the Partnership's  Senior Notes approximates their fair market
value.

12.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS.  The  Partnership  leases  certain  property,  plant and equipment,
including portions of the Partnership's vehicle fleet, for various periods under
noncancelable leases. Rental expense under operating leases was $25,452, $24,690
and $19,931 for the years  ended  September  28,  2002,  September  29, 2001 and
September 30, 2000, respectively.

Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements
as of September 28, 2002 are as follows:

     FISCAL YEAR
     -----------
     2003                                                    $ 17,277
     2004                                                      15,076
     2005                                                      12,254
     2006                                                       9,761
     2007 and thereafter                                       11,822

CONTINGENCIES.  As  discussed in Note 2, the  Partnership  is  self-insured  for
general and product,  workers'  compensation  and  automobile  liabilities up to
predetermined  amounts above which third party insurance  applies.  At September
28,  2002  and  September  29,  2001,  the  Partnership  had  accrued  insurance
liabilities  of  $26,969  and  $25,741,  respectively,  representing  the  total
estimated losses under these  self-insurance  programs.  The Partnership is also
involved in various  legal  actions  which have  arisen in the normal  course of
business,  including  those  relating  to  commercial  transactions  and product
liability.  Management believes,  based on the advice of legal counsel, that the
ultimate  resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on
the  Partnership's  financial  position or future results of  operations,  after
considering its self-insurance liability for known and unasserted self-insurance
claims.

The Partnership is subject to various  federal,  state and local  environmental,
health and safety laws and regulations. Generally, these laws impose limitations
on the discharge of pollutants and establish standards for the handling of solid
and hazardous wastes. These laws include the Resource  Conservation and Recovery
Act, the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act
("CERCLA"),  the Clean Air Act,  the  Occupational  Safety and Health  Act,  the
Emergency  Planning  and  Community  Right to Know Act,  the Clean Water Act and
comparable  state statutes.  CERCLA,  also known as the "Superfund" law, imposes
joint and  several  liability  without  regard to fault or the  legality  of the
original  conduct on certain  classes of  persons  that are  considered  to have
contributed to the release or threatened release of a "hazardous substance" into
the  environment.  Propane is not a  hazardous  substance  within the meaning of
CERCLA.  However,  the  Partnership  owns real  property  where  such  hazardous
substances may exist.

Future developments,  such as stricter environmental,  health or safety laws and
regulations  thereunder,  could affect Partnership  operations.  The Partnership
anticipates that compliance with or liabilities under environmental,  health and
safety laws and regulations,  including CERCLA, will not have a material adverse
effect on the  Partnership.  To the  extent  that  there  are any  environmental
liabilities  unknown to the Partnership or environmental,  health or safety laws
or  regulations  are made more  stringent,  there can be no  assurance  that the
Partnership's  results  of  operations  will  not be  materially  and  adversely
affected.


                                      F-21


13. PUBLIC OFFERING

On October 17, 2000, the  Partnership  sold  2,175,000  Common Units in a public
offering at a price of $21.125 per Common  Unit  realizing  proceeds of $43,500,
net of  underwriting  commissions and other offering  expenses.  On November 14,
2000, following the underwriter's partial exercise of its over-allotment option,
the  Partnership  sold an  additional  177,700  Common  Units at the same price,
generating  additional  net proceeds of $3,600.  The  aggregate  net proceeds of
$47,100 were applied to reduce the  Partnership's  outstanding  Revolving Credit
Agreement  borrowings.  These transactions  increased the total number of Common
Units  outstanding  to  24,631,287.  As a result  of the  public  offering,  the
combined general partner interest in the Partnership was reduced from 2.0101% to
1.89% while the Common Unitholder interest in the Partnership increased from 98%
to 98.11%.

14.  ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITIONS

On January 31, 2002, the Partnership sold its 170 million gallon propane storage
facility in  Hattiesburg,  Mississippi,  which was  considered  a  non-strategic
asset,  for net cash proceeds of  approximately  $8,000,  resulting in a gain on
sale of approximately $6,768.

On December 3, 1999 the Partnership sold 23 customer service centers principally
located in Georgia for total cash proceeds of approximately $19,400 and recorded
a gain of $10,328.

On November 8, 1999, the  Partnership  acquired the assets of SCANA Propane Gas,
Inc.,  SCANA Propane  Storage,  Inc.,  SCANA Propane Supply,  Inc., USA Cylinder
Exchange,  Inc., and C&T Pipeline,  LLC from SCANA  Corporation for $86,000 plus
working capital.  SCANA Propane Gas, Inc.  distributes  approximately 20 million
gallons  annually  and  services  more than  40,000  customers  from 22 customer
service  centers  in North and  South  Carolina.  USA  Cylinder  Exchange,  Inc.
operates an automated 20-lb. propane cylinder  refurbishing and refill center in
Hartsville,   South  Carolina,   selling  to  approximately  1,600  grocery  and
convenience  stores in the  Carolinas,  Georgia  and  Tennessee.  SCANA  Propane
Storage,  Inc. owns a 60 million gallon storage cavern in Tirzah, South Carolina
which is connected to the Dixie  Pipeline by the 62 mile propane  pipeline owned
by C&T Pipeline,  LLC. The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting.  Accordingly, the purchase price has been allocated to the
assets and  liabilities  based on their estimated fair values and the balance of
$54,283 has been recorded as goodwill.  Unaudited pro forma consolidated results
after giving effect to the acquisition  during the year ended September 30, 2000
would not have been materially different from the reported amounts for the year.









                                      F-22



                   INDEX TO SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                       SUBURBAN ENERGY SERVICES GROUP LLC


                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----

Report of Independent Accountants ..............................           F-24

Balance Sheets-September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001........           F-25

Notes to Balance Sheets ........................................           F-26



                                      F-23




                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS






To the Stockholders of
Suburban Energy Services Group LLC:

In our opinion,  the accompanying balance sheets present fairly, in all material
respects,  the  financial  position of  Suburban  Energy  Services  Group LLC at
September  28,  2002  and  September  29,  2001 in  conformity  with  accounting
principles  generally accepted in the United States of America.  These financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management;   our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.  We conducted  our audits of these  statements  in  accordance  with
auditing  standards  generally  accepted in the United States of America,  which
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable  assurance about
whether the balance sheets are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes
examining,  on a test basis,  evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the balance  sheets,  assessing the accounting  principles  used and significant
estimates  made  by  management,   and  evaluating  the  overall  balance  sheet
presentation.  We believe  that our audits  provide a  reasonable  basis for our
opinion.





PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham Park, NJ
October 23, 2002


                                      F-24



                      SUBURBAN ENERGY SERVICES GROUP LLC


                                BALANCE SHEETS




                                                                               September 28,    September 29,
                                                                                   2002             2001
                                                                               -------------    -------------

ASSETS
Current assets:
                                                                                            
    Cash and cash equivalents ...............................................    $    4,363       $    8,668
                                                                                 ----------       ----------
            Total current assets ............................................         4,363            8,668
Investment in Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. ...............................     1,924,003        1,888,492
Goodwill, net ...............................................................     3,112,560        3,112,560
                                                                                 ----------       ----------
             Total assets ...................................................    $5,040,926       $5,009,720
                                                                                 ==========       ==========


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
    Current portion of note payable .........................................    $     --         $1,600,000
    Accrued interest ........................................................          --             13,487
                                                                                 ----------       ----------
              Total current liabilities .....................................          --          1,613,487
Note payable ................................................................          --            295,000
                                                                                 ----------       ----------
               Total liabilities ............................................          --          1,908,487
                                                                                 ----------       ----------

Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock, $1 par value, 2,000 shares issued and outstanding .......         2,000            2,000
      Additional paid-in capital ............................................     3,405,108        2,790,886
      Retained earnings .....................................................     1,633,818          308,347
                                                                                 ----------       ----------
                Total stockholders' equity ..................................     5,040,926        3,101,233
                                                                                 ----------       ----------
                Total liabilities and stockholders' equity ..................    $5,040,926       $5,009,720
                                                                                 ==========       ==========


















The accompanying notes are an integral part of these balance sheets.

                                      F-25







                       SUBURBAN ENERGY SERVICES GROUP LLC
                             NOTES TO BALANCE SHEETS
                    SEPTEMBER 28, 2002 AND SEPTEMBER 29, 2001

1.       ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION

Suburban  Energy  Services  Group LLC (the  "Company") was formed on October 26,
1998 as a limited  liability  company pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act. The Company was formed to purchase the general partner interests in
Suburban Propane Partners,  L.P. (the  "Partnership")  from Suburban Propane GP,
Inc. (the "Former  General  Partner"),  a  wholly-owned  indirect  subsidiary of
Millennium Chemicals Inc., and become the successor general partner. The Company
purchased a 1% general partner interest in the Partnership and a 1.0101% general
partner interest in Suburban Propane, L.P., the Operating Partnership.

The Partnership is a  publicly-traded  master limited  partnership  whose common
units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is engaged in the retail and
wholesale marketing of propane and related appliances and services.  As a result
of a public  offering by the  Partnership  on October 17,  2000,  the  Company's
interest in the  Partnership  was  reduced to .88%.  The  Company's  interest in
Suburban Propane, L.P. was not affected.

The Company  acquired the general partner  interests from  Millennium  Chemicals
Inc. on May 26, 1999 (the  "Closing  Date") for  $6,000,000,  which was borrowed
under a credit agreement with Mellon Bank, N.A. ("Mellon"). The Company is owned
by senior management of Suburban Propane,  L.P. Each owner has contributed their
pro-rata  share of $2,000 as their  initial  capital  contribution.  The Company
repaid the $6,000,000 from the general partner  distributions  received from the
Partnership and from capital  contributions from its owners. On August 16, 2002,
the Company repaid the remaining balance of the loan from Mellon.

2.       SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

ACCOUNTING  PERIOD.  The Company's  accounting  period ends on the last Saturday
nearest to September 30.

USE OF ESTIMATES.  The  preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

CASH  AND CASH  EQUIVALENTS.  The  Company  considers  all  highly  liquid  debt
instruments  purchased  with an original  maturity of three months or less to be
cash  equivalents.  The carrying amount  approximates  fair value because of the
short maturity of these instruments.

INVESTMENT IN SUBURBAN PROPANE  PARTNERS,  L.P. As previously noted, the Company
acquired a combined  2%  general  partner  interest  in the  Partnership  on the
Closing Date which was  subsequently  reduced to 1.89%. The Company accounts for
its  investment  under the  equity  method of  accounting  whereby  the  Company
recognizes in income its share of net income of Suburban Propane Partners,  L.P.
consolidated net income (loss) and reduces its investment  balance to the extent
of  partnership   distributions  the  Company  receives  from  Suburban  Propane
Partners, L.P.

GOODWILL.  The  Company  recorded  goodwill on the  Closing  Date of  $3,305,340
representing the excess of the $6,000,000 purchase price over the carrying value
of the General  Partner's  capital  account  reflected  on the books of Suburban
Propane  Partners,  L.P.  Effective  September  30, 2001,  the  beginning of the
Company's 2002 fiscal year, the Company elected to early adopt the provisions of
Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 142,  "Goodwill  and

                                      F-26


Other  Intangible   Assets"  ("SFAS  142").  SFAS  142  modifies  the  financial
accounting and reporting for goodwill and other intangible assets, including the
requirement that goodwill and certain  intangible assets no longer be amortized.
This new standard also requires a transitional  impairment  review for goodwill,
as well as an annual impairment review. As a result of the adoption of SFAS 142,
amortization  expense for the year ended September 28, 2002 decreased by $82,620
compared to the year ended  September  29, 2001 due to the lack of  amortization
expense related to goodwill.  The Company's  transitional  impairment review did
not result in the recognition of an impairment loss.

INCOME TAXES. For federal and state income tax purposes, the earnings and losses
attributable  to the Company are  included in the tax returns of the  individual
stockholders.  As a result, no recognition of income taxes has been reflected in
the accompanying financial statements.

3.       NOTE PAYABLE

On the Closing Date, the Company borrowed $6,000,000 under a loan agreement (the
"GP Loan") with Mellon to finance the purchase of the general partner  interests
held by the Former General  Partner.  The GP loan was secured by a pledge of the
general partner interests held by the Company.

The GP Loan had a term of five years from the Closing Date and required interest
to be paid at a rate  equal to LIBOR  plus 2% with such  interest  to be paid no
less frequently than quarterly.  The original GP Loan maturities as of September
30, 2000 were:  $1,030,000 in 2001,  $1,600,000 in 2002,  $1,600,000 in 2003 and
$795,000 in 2004.  During fiscal 2001,  the Company  prepaid a portion of the GP
loan modifying the loan maturities to: $1,600,000 in 2002 and $295,000 in 2003.

Upon the  occurrence  and  continuance of an event of default under the GP Loan,
Mellon  had the right to cause  Suburban  Propane,  L.P.  to  purchase  the note
evidencing  the GP Loan (the "GP Note").  Suburban  Propane,  L.P. had agreed to
maintain borrowing availability under its available lines of credit, which would
be sufficient to enable it to repurchase the GP Note in these circumstances. The
GP Note also  cross-defaulted  to the  obligations of Suburban  Propane,  L.P.'s
obligations  under its Senior Note Agreement and its Revolving Credit Agreement.
Upon a GP Note default,  Suburban  Propane,  L.P. also had the right to purchase
the GP Note from Mellon.

As discussed  above, the GP Loan was repaid in full on August 16, 2002 and, as a
result, the arrangements described above terminated.






                                      F-27





                      INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES




                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----


Schedule II     Valuation and Qualifying Accounts-Years Ended
                September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and
                September 30, 2000.                                        S-2


















                                      S-1





                                                                                                              SCHEDULE II
                                                                                                              ===========

                SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                                 (in thousands)


                                       Balance at      Charged                                   Balance
                                       Beginning     to Costs and      Other                     at End
                                       of Period       Expenses      Additions    Deductions    of Period
                                       ----------    ------------    ---------    ----------    ---------

Year Ended September 30, 2000
- -----------------------------

                                                                                  
Allowance for doubtful accounts ....    $ 2,089          $ 3,137     $     --      $ (2,251)     $ 2,975
                                       ==========    ============    =========    ==========    =========


Year Ended September 29, 2001
- -----------------------------

Allowance for doubtful accounts ....    $ 2,975          $ 5,328     $     --      $ (4,311)     $ 3,992
                                       ==========    ============    =========    ==========    =========


Year Ended September 28, 2002
- -----------------------------

Allowance for doubtful accounts ....    $ 3,992          $ 1,147     $     --      $ (3,245)     $ 1,894
                                       ==========    ============    =========    ==========    =========








                                      S-2





                                                                   EXHIBIT 21.1
                                                                   ------------


                 SUBSIDIARIES OF SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.


Suburban Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

Suburban Sales & Service, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Suburban Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Gas Connection, Inc., an Oregon corporation

Suburban @ Home, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Suburban Franchising, Inc., a Nevada corporation












                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1
                                                                   ------------


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statements  on Form  S-8 (No.  333-10197  and No.  333-72972)  and Form S-4 (No.
333-95077)  of our report  dated  October  23, 2002  relating  to the  financial
statements, which appears in the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.'s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year  ended  September  28,  2002.  We also  consent to the
incorporation  by reference of our report dated October 23, 2002 relating to the
financial statement schedule,  which appears in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We  also  consent  to  the  incorporation  by  reference  in  such  registration
statements of our report dated  October 23, 2002 on the financial  statements of
Suburban  Energy Services Group LLC, which appears in such Annual Report on Form
10-K.





PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham  Park, NJ
December 20, 2002