Edgar Filing: Knecht Edward F

Ownership Submission

FORM 4

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^*

Knecht Edward F

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP [FIZZ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

_____ Director	_____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below)	_____ Other (specify below)
Executive VP - Procurement

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

8100 SW 10TH STREET, SUITE 4000

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/04/2010

(Street)

PLANTATION, FL 33324

4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
COMMON STOCK	01/04/2010		X		13,320	A	$ 1.37	88,080	D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)

Code

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

SPECIAL STOCK OPTION ⁽¹⁾

$ 1.37

01/04/2010

13,320

11/06/2002

07/05/2011

COMMON STOCK

13,320

$ 1.37

7,320

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Knecht Edward F 8100 SW 10TH STREET SUITE 4000 PLANTATION, FL 33324			Executive VP - Procurement

Signatures

/s/ Edward F. Knecht		01/06/2010
^**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Options granted under the Company's Special Stock Option Plan vest over an 8 year period in relatively equal amounts at approximately 16 month intervals. The exercise price can be reduced and the vesting schedule can be accelerated by the optionee purchasing and maintaining ownership of shares of common stock and/or the Company achieving performance objectives as determined by the Board of Directors. Based upon the maximum required ownership of common stock as provided in the Stock Option Agreement together with the Company achieving the performance targets previously established by the Board, the option can fully vest after approximately 54 months and the exercise price can be reduced to near the par value of the common stock ($.01 per share). Reference is made to Exhibit 10.12 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 2009.

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