SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

x

Rule 13d-1(b)

o

Rule 13d-1(c)

o

Rule 13d-1(d)

CUSIP No. 55302G103

13G

(1)

Names of Reporting Persons; S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons.
MGP Ingredients, Inc.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

48-6107197

(2)

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)

o

(b)

x

(3)

SEC Use Only

(4)

Citizenship or Place of Organization
Kansas.

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With

(5)

Sole Voting Power
0

(6)

Shared Voting Power
736,960

(7)

Sole Dispositive Power
0

(8)

Shared Dispositive Power
736,960

(9)

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
736,960

(10)

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  o

(11)

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
4.3 %

(12)

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
EP

Item 1

(a).

Name of Issuer:
MGP Ingredients, Inc.

Item 1

(b).

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:
Cray Business Plaza

100 Commercial

Atchison, Kansas  66002

Item 2

(a).

Name of Person Filing:
MGP Ingredients, Inc.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Item 2

(b).

Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
Cray Business Plaza

100 Commercial

Atchison, Kansas  66002

Item 2

(c).

Citizenship:
Kansas

Item 2

(d).

Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, No Par Value

Item 2

(e).

CUSIP Number:
55302G 103

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:

(f)

x

employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)

Item 4.

Ownership.

The following information is provided as of December 31, 2009:

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:   

736,960

(b)

Percent of class, based on 17,086,159 shares outstanding:

4.3%

(c)

Number of shares as to which Such person has:

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:   

0

(ii)

Shared power to vote or direct the vote:    

736,960

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:   

0

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:   

736,960

The MGP Ingredients, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan disclaims beneficial ownership in all of the above-referenced shares.

The reporting person is the stock ownership plan of MGP Ingredients, Inc.  The Employee Stock Ownership Plan is managed by four Trustees consisting of Timothy W. Newkirk, Randy M. Schrick, Don Tracy and Dave Rindom, all of whom are employees of MGP Ingredients, Inc. and all of whom have addresses at Cray Business Plaza, 100 Commercial, Atchison, Kansas 66002.

The Trustees of the Plan are obligated to vote the shares which are allocated to participants (736,960 shares at December 31, 2009) in accordance with instructions given by such participants.  Unallocated shares (0 shares at December 31, 2009) are voted by the Trustees.

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

Not applicable

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not applicable

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.

Not applicable

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not applicable

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not applicable

Item 10.

Certifications.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

MGP INGREDIENTS, INC..

EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

Date: February 12, 2009

By:

/s/ Timothy W. Newkirk

Timothy W. Newkirk, Trustee and Member of the Administrative Committee