Exhibit 99.1



           INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED ANNOUNCES SALES INCREASES AND
                         EXTENSION OF 10-K FILING DATE


Ingles Markets, Incorporated
December 6, 2004

        Ingles Markets, Incorporated (NASDAQ: IMKTA) today announced an increase
in net sales of 8.2% and 7.3% for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year
ended September 25, 2004, respectively. Net sales were $544.1 million and $2.137
billion for the 2004 fourth quarter and fiscal year, respectively, compared to
net sales of $503.0 million and $1.991 billion, respectively, for the 2003
fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year.

        For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, comparable store sales increased
8.2% over the same period of fiscal 2003 and increased 6.7% for the fiscal year
2004 compared to fiscal year 2003. Fiscal 2004 was the 40th consecutive year
Ingles achieved an increase in net sales and the first year the Company has
exceeded the $2 billion sales level. During fiscal 2004, Ingles opened two new
stores, replaced one store, completed major remodel/expansions of two stores,
completed minor remodels of two stores and closed four older stores. Additional
operating results for the 2004 fiscal year will be announced upon filing of the
Company's Form 10-K.

        Ingles further announced that it is the subject of an informal inquiry
by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the accounting for a
vendor contract it entered into in 2002. The SEC has requested certain
documentation regarding that vendor contract, other large vendor contracts
entered into from 2002 through 2004, and related accounting documents. The Audit
Committee of Ingles' Board of Directors has initiated a review of the accounting
issues arising out of the inquiry and others that may arise and has retained
independent legal counsel to assist with that review. Robert P. Ingle, II,
Chairman of Ingles' Board of Directors, commented, "The Board of Directors and
management is fully supportive of the Audit Committee's efforts in this matter."

        Based on information identified to date related to fiscal years 2001
through 2004, Ingles has determined that certain vendor consideration was
included in the determination of operating income in the incorrect periods and
has identified certain revenue and expense items that were incorrectly recorded.
Management believes that Ingles may restate its financial statements for certain
of the periods under review primarily to move recognition of certain vendor
payments from earlier to later periods. Although management is not yet able to
quantify the aggregate amount of operating income that may be moved from period
to period, management does not believe that the restatements will have any
impact on cash flow and does not currently expect the restatements will have a
negative effect on Ingles' results for fiscal 2004.

        The completion of the internal inquiry is a condition to the completion
of Ernst & Young's audit for fiscal 2004 and of Ingles' Form 10-K, due December
9, 2004. As a consequence, Ingles will not be able to file its Form 10-K by the
December 9th deadline. The Company will file for an extension on Form 12b-25 on
or before December 9th. The Audit Committee intends to complete its review as
soon as possible. The Company will publish any







restated  financial  statements  required  together  with its audited  financial
statements for fiscal 2004 as soon as possible after  completion of the inquiry.
The  informal  inquiry by the SEC and the Audit  Committee  review are  ongoing;
therefore,  there can be no assurance that  additional  information  will not be
identified until the completion of these efforts.

        This release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect
management's current views of future events and operations, including, but not
limited to, statements pertaining to restatements of its financial statements.
These forward-looking statements involve certain significant risks and
uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking
statements. Some important factors which may cause results to differ include:
dependence on the import of any relevant facts presently unknown to Ingles'
management, discovery of additional issues in completing the internal inquiry,
whether the SEC's inquiry becomes a formal investigation and the ultimate
resolution of the SEC's inquiry. Other important factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements are discussed
from time to time in Ingles' filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Ingles does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of its
forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show that the
indicated results or events will not be realized.

        Ingles Markets, Incorporated is a leading supermarket chain with
operations in six southeastern states. Headquartered in Asheville, North
Carolina, the Company operates 197 supermarkets. In conjunction with its
supermarket operations, the Company also operates 74 neighborhood shopping
centers, all but 17 of which contain an Ingles supermarket. The Company's Class
A Common Stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under the
symbol IMKTA. For more information about the Company, visit Ingles' website at
www.ingles-markets.com.