QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 1 20, 2002

DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY

DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
North Dakota (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	33-99834 (Commission File Number)	46-0423511 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Pasta Avenue P.O. Box 21 Carrington, North Dakota (Address of principal executive offices)		58421-0021 (Zip Code)

~~(Exact name of~~ Registrant's telephone asnumber, ~~specified~~including inarea ~~its~~code: ~~charter~~(701) 652-2855

North Dakota	33-99834		46-0423511
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)			Identification No.)
One Pasta Avenue
P.O. Box 21
Carrington, North Dakota		58421-0021
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (701) 652-2855

Item 1. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 2. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 3. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 4. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 5. Other Events.

On February 1 27, 2002, ~~Dakota Growers~~pursuant ~~Restructuring~~to ~~Company,~~Rule 425 ~~Inc,~~under athe ~~wholly~~Securities ~~owned~~Act ~~subsidiary~~ of 1933, Dakota Growers Pasta Company (~~the “~~"Company”"), filed ~~a Registration Statement on Form S-4~~ with the ~~United States~~ Securities and Exchange Commission~~. The~~ ~~S-4 describes the proposed conversion of the Company from~~ a ~~North~~letter ~~Dakota~~from ~~cooperative~~Thomas ~~into a North Dakota corporation. Subject to the approval of the members of the Company~~Friezen, the ~~proposed~~Chief ~~conversion~~Financial ~~will~~Officer ~~be effected by a series~~ of ~~mergers as described within~~ the ~~S-4. If the proposed conversion is completed, the~~ Company~~’s wholly owned subsidiary~~, ~~Dakota~~to ~~Growers~~Pam ~~Restructuring~~Muslin ~~Company,~~at ~~Inc., would~~Farmers ~~be the surviving entity, conducting the Company’s on-going business~~Union. ~~Upon~~ ~~completion of the conversion, the surviving entity would adopt the name Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc.~~

Item 6. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

	Exhibit 2.1	Plan of Merger between Dakota Growers Pasta Company and Dakota Growers Pasta Restructuring Cooperative
	Exhibit 2.4	Transaction Agreement
	Exhibit 3.1	Articles of Incorporation of Dakota Growers Restructuring Company, Inc.
	Exhibit 3.2	Bylaws of Dakota Growers Restructuring Company, Inc.

Exhibit 1

Letter to Farmers Union filed under Rule 425 of the Securities Act of 1933

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY
Dated: February 8, 2002	By /s/ Timothy J. Dodd
Dated: February 27, 2002	By	/s/ Timothy J. Dodd Timothy J. Dodd, President, General Manager and Principal Executive Officer
	Timothy J. Dodd, President, General
	Manager and Principal Executive Officer

QuickLinks

Item 1. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 2. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 3. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 4. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 5. Other Events.

Item 6. Not Applicable and therefore Omitted.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

Filing Compare · DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA CO