Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.4

                                FIRST AMENDMENT

      THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (this "Amendment") dated as of June 12, 2001, to the
Credit Agreement referenced below, is by and among Owens & Minor, Inc., a
Virginia corporation (the "Borrower"), the Subsidiaries of the Borrower
identified as "Guarantors" on the signature pages hereto, the Banks identified
herein and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the
"Administrative Agent").  Terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings provided to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                              W I T N E S S E T H

      WHEREAS, a $225 million credit facility has been extended to the Borrower
pursuant to the terms of that Credit Agreement dated as of April 24, 2000 (as
amended, modified and supplemented, the "Credit Agreement") among the Borrower,
the Subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, the Banks identified
therein and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent;

      WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested certain modifications to the Credit
Agreement; and

      WHEREAS, the Required Banks have agreed to the requested modifications on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

      1.  Amendments.

      1.1  The Applicable Percentage for the Commitment Fee as set forth in the
pricing grid in the definition of "Applicable Percentage" in Section 1.1 of the
Credit Agreement is increased by 2.5 basis points (0.025%) at each Pricing Level
and, after giving effect to such increase, the pricing grid shall read as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Consolidated                       Eurodollar       Base
Pricing                          Total Leverage                         Rate          Rate           Commitment    Utilization
 Level                               Ratio                             Margin        Margin              Fee           Fee
 -----                               -----                             ------        ------              ---           ---
<S>     <C>
  I                           greater than 3.25                         1.50%        0.00%            0.300%         0.250%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  II            greater than 2.50 but less than or equal to 3.25        1.25%        0.00%            0.275%         0.250%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  III         greater than 1.75 but less than or equal to 2.50          1.00%        0.00%            0.250%         0.250%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  IV                     less than or equal to 1.75                     0.75%        0.00%            0.225%         0.250%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

      1.2    In the definition of "Pro Forma Basis" in Section 1.1 of the Credit
             Agreement:

             (a) The second sentence thereof is amended to read as follows:

                 As used herein, "transaction" shall mean (i) any merger or
                 consolidation as referred to in Section 8.4, (ii) any Asset
                 Disposition as referred to in Section 8.5, (iii) any
                 Acquisition as referred to in Section 8.4 or (iv) any
                 prepayment or redemption of any Senior Subordinated Notes or
                 Junior Subordinated Notes as referred to in Section 8.7.
<PAGE>

          (b)    The "and" at the end of clause (A) thereof is deleted, the "."
          at the end of clause (B) thereof is deleted and replaced with ";" and
          a  new clause (C) is added thereto to read as follows:

               (C)    for purposes of any calculation of the Consolidated Senior
               Leverage Ratio in respect of any prepayment or redemption of any
               Senior Subordinated Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes referred
               to in Section 8.7, any Indebtedness incurred by any member of the
               Consolidated Group in connection with such transaction shall be
               deemed to have replaced such Subordinated Debt as of the first
               day of the applicable period.

     1.3  Clause (b) of Section 7.10 of the Credit Agreement is amended to read
as follows:

          (b)    Consolidated Net Worth.  The Borrower will maintain at all
          times Consolidated Net Worth of not less than the sum of
          (i) $267,000,000 plus (ii) as of the end of each fiscal quarter
          beginning with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2000, an amount
          equal to fifty percent (50%) of Consolidated Net Income (to the extent
          positive) for such fiscal quarter, such increases to be cumulative,
          plus (iii) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the net
          proceeds from Equity Transactions occurring after the Closing Date,
          minus (iv) the amount of any payments made by the Borrower to
          repurchase Junior Subordinated Debentures to the extent such
          repurchase is permitted under Section 8.7(b)(iv).

     1.4  In clause (b) of Section 8.7 of the Credit Agreement, clauses (iv) and
(v) thereof are renumbered as clauses (v) and (vi) thereof and a new clause (iv)
is added thereto to read as follows:

          (iv)   prepayments and redemptions of the Junior Subordinated
          Debentures not to exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal
          year, provided that, prior to the making of any such prepayment or
          redemption, the Borrower shall have (A) demonstrated compliance with
          the financial covenants hereunder on a Pro Forma Basis after giving
          effect to such prepayment or redemption, and (B) delivered to the
          Administrative Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer (or
          equivalent) of the Borrower containing reasonably detailed
          calculations demonstrating that the Consolidated Senior Leverage Ratio
          on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such prepayment or
          redemption is less than 2.50:1.0 (such certification shall also
          include a reaffirmation of the representations and warranties
          hereunder as of such date before and after giving effect to such
          transaction).

  2.      Consent. The Borrower has requested that the Required Banks consent to
the issuance of up to $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior
subordinated notes (the "New Senior Subordinated Notes") to (a) refinance the
10.875% Senior Subordinated Notes of the Borrower due 2006 (the "Existing Senior
Subordinated Notes"), (b) finance the redemption or repurchase of up to
$50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures, (c)
reduce the amount outstanding under the Borrower's accounts receivable
securitization facility, and (d) finance working capital and other corporate
purposes.  Pursuant to Sections 8.1(d)(i) and 8.7(b) of the Credit Agreement,

                                       2
<PAGE>

the Borrower is permitted to refinance the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes
provided that (i) the terms and conditions of the New Senior Subordinated Notes
are no less favorable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than the terms and
conditions of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes and (ii) the principal
amount of the New Senior Subordinated Notes does not exceed the then outstanding
principal amount of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes.  However, the
principal amount of the New Senior Subordinated Notes will exceed the
outstanding principal amount of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes.
Notwithstanding Sections 8.1(d)(i) and 8.7(b) of the Credit Agreement, the
Required Banks hereby consent to the issuance of the New Senior Subordinated
Notes and the terms, conditions and documentation therefor, provided that (a)
the proceeds therefrom are used to refinance the Existing Senior Subordinated
Notes in full, (b) the terms and conditions of the New Senior Subordinated Notes
are no less favorable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than the terms and
conditions of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes and (c) the subordination
provisions of the New Senior Subordinated Notes are identical in all material
respects to the subordination provisions of the Existing Senior Subordinated
Notes.  The Credit Parties and the Required Banks agree that immediately upon
the issuance of the New Senior Subordinated Notes, the term "Senior Subordinated
Notes" as defined in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement shall include the New
Senior Subordinated Notes.

        3.      Conditions Precedent.  This Amendment shall be effective as of
the date set forth above upon satisfaction of the following conditions
precedent:

                (a)  receipt by the Administrative Agent of multiple
     counterparts of this Amendment executed by the Credit Parties and the
     Required Banks; and

                (b)  receipt by the Administrative Agent, for the ratable
     benefit of each Bank that executes this Amendment, of an amendment fee
     equal to one-tenth of one percent (0.10%) on the aggregate Commitments of
     the Banks that execute this Amendment.

        4.      Representations and Warranties.  The Credit Parties hereby
affirm that the representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Documents
are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (except
those which expressly relate to an earlier period).

        5.      Reaffirmation of Guaranty.  Each of the Guarantors (i)
acknowledges and consents to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment,
(ii) affirms all of its obligations under the Credit Documents and (iii) agrees
that this Amendment and all documents executed in connection herewith do not
operate to reduce or discharge such Guarantor's obligations under the Credit
Documents.

        6.       No Other Modifications.  Except as modified hereby, all of the
terms and provisions of the Credit Documents (including schedules and exhibits
thereto) shall remain in full force and effect.

        7.      Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Amendment to
produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

        8.      Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract
made under, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

                                       3
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a
counterpart of this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date
irst above written.

BORROWER:                      OWENS & MINOR, INC.,
--------                       a Virginia corporation

                               By:________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

GUARANTORS:                    OWENS & MINOR MEDICAL, INC.,
----------                     a Virginia corporation
                               NATIONAL MEDICAL SUPPLY CORPORATION,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               OWENS & MINOR WEST, INC.,
                               a California corporation
                               KOLEY'S MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC.,
                               a Nebraska corporation
                               STUART MEDICAL, INC.,
                               a Pennsylvania corporation

                               By:_________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:
                                    of each of the Guarantors
<PAGE>

BANKS:                         BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
-----                          individually in its capacity as a Bank
                               and in its capacity as Administrative Agent

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               SUNTRUST BANK

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               BANK ONE, NA

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

                               By:________________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:EXHIBIT 10.1
                            W. MATTHEW DUFFIELD, JR.

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), effective February 12, 2001,
is by and between AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("Employer"), and WILLARD MATTHEW DUFFIELD, JR., an individual ("Employee")
(collectively "the parties") and supersedes any and all prior oral or written
agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                                   WITNESSETH:

      WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the business of durum wheat milling and
pasta production/marketing; and

      WHEREAS, in connection with such business, Employer desires to employ
Employee in the capacity of Senior Vice President (AIPC), International
Operations and Managing Director (IAPC), and that Employee serve as a member of
the Italian American Pasta Company Board of Directors; and

      WHEREAS, Employee desires to be employed by Employer in the aforesaid
capacities.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:

     1. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of Section 7 hereof, the
term of Employee's employment under this Agreement (the "Initial Employment
Term") will commence as of the date hereof (the "Effective Date") and terminate
on the third anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, provided,
however, that the term of Employee's employment shall be extended automatically
for successive one-year periods unless, not later than six months prior to such
automatic extension, Employer shall have given written notice to the contrary
(each an "Additional Term"). The period of time between the Effective Date and
the termination of the Initial Employment Term or the last Additional Term, if
any, is referred to herein as the "Employment Term."

     2. Duties of Employee.

     2.1 In accepting such employment, Employee shall undertake and assume the
responsibility of performing for and on behalf of Employer such duties as shall
be assigned to Employee by Employer at any time and from time to time. It is
understood and agreed that Employee's principal duties on behalf of Employer at
the date of execution hereof are and shall be overall responsibility for
Employer's International Operations and it is further understood and agreed that
any modification in or expansion of Employee's duties hereunder shall not,
unless specifically agreed to by Employee and Employer in a duly-executed
amendment of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.6 hereof, result in
any modification in Employee's compensation referred to in Section 3 hereof.
<PAGE>

     2.2 Employee will to the reasonable satisfaction of Employer at all times
faithfully, industriously, and to the best of his ability, experience, and
talents perform all of the duties that may be required of and from Employee
pursuant to the express and implicit terms hereof.

     2.3 Employee shall devote substantially all of his professional time,
attention, knowledge, and skills solely to the business and interests of
Employer; provided, however, that Employee shall be entitled annually to three
(3) weeks vacation, and Employer shall be entitled to all of the benefits,
profits, and other issues arising from or incident to all professional work,
services, and advice of Employee.

     3. Compensation. Employer shall pay Employee, and Employee shall accept
from Employer, in payment for Employee's services rendered to Employer hereunder
an annual base salary ("Base Salary") equal to One Hundred Forty Thousand
Dollars ($140,000.00). Such Base Salary shall be paid in equal bi-weekly
installments and shall be subject to annual merit increase reviews each January.
If Employee's assignment to Italy extends beyond the Initial Employment Term
into an Additional Term and if Employee's performance is rated by Employer as
Two (2) or better, then Employer agrees to adjust Employee's annual base salary
to not less than the salary range midpoint appropriate at the time of such
extension.

     3.1 Bonuses. During the term of this Agreement, Employee will be eligible
to participate in and bonuses may be awarded to Employee at the discretion of
the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of Employer's 1998 Salaried
Bonus Plan (the "Bonus Plan") attached hereto as Exhibit A, as the same may be
amended, modified, or terminated from time to time. Under that Bonus Plan,
Employee's Normal Bonus will be fifty-percent (50%) of his Base Salary.

     3.2 Car Allowances. In addition to Employee's Base Salary, Employer shall
(i) provide Employee a company car in Italy and (ii) lease a car for Employee's
spouse during his assignment to Italy at Six Thousand Three Hundred Sixty
Dollars ($6,360.00) per year. The cost of (ii) shall be deducted from Employee's
annual Base Salary described in Section 3 hereof, thus reducing Employee's Base
Salary to be paid out in equal bi-weekly installments during his assignment to
Italy to One Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Forty Dollars
($133,640.00).

     3.3 Housing Allowance. During Employee's assignment to Italy, Employer
shall provide Employee with housing, for which housing Employee shall reimburse
Employer Sixteen Thousand Two Hundred Dollar ($16,200) annually, which
reimbursement shall be deducted from Employee's annual Base Salary described in
Section 3 hereof, thus reducing--in conjunction with Section 3.2
hereof--Employee's Base Salary to be paid out in equal bi-weekly installments
during his assignment to Italy to One Hundred Seventeen Thousand Four Hundred
Forty Dollars ($117,440.00).

     3.4 Cost Of Living Adjustment. During Employee's assignment to Italy,
Employer shall provide Employee with an expense adjustment based on an agreed
expense level of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year multiplied by a
cost of living adjustment of Twenty Eight Percent (28%), which shall increase
the amount to be paid out to Employee in
<PAGE>

equal bi-weekly installments during his assignment to Italy to One Hundred
Thirty Four Thousand Two Hundred Forty Dollars ($134,240.00). Employer further
agrees to review the Twenty Eight Percent (28%) cost of living adjustment every
six months using Organization Resource Counselor's, Inc.'s recommendations and
to adjust Employee's equal bi-weekly installments upward accordingly, if
necessary.

     3.5 Reimbursement of Business Expenses. Employer agrees to reimburse
Employee for reasonable travel, entertainment, and other business expenses
incurred in the performance of Employee's duties hereunder in accordance with
Employer's policies on terms no less favorable than those policies in effect
immediately prior to the date hereof.

     3.6 Reimbursement of Moving Expenses. Employer agrees to reimburse Employee
for reasonable expenses incurred in relocating Employee's and Employee's
family's personal belongings to Italy and to reimburse Employee for reasonable
expenses incurred in relocating Employee's and Employee's family's personal
belongings to the United States upon the end of Employee's assignment to Italy
or in the event Employee terminates Employee's employment with Employer under
Section 7.1 hereof.

     3.7 Benefits. Employer agrees to provide Employee with full benefits
commensurate with Employee's Base Salary and to maintain family medical coverage
in the United States while Employee is assigned to Italy to provide for
emergencies, for long term illness, or for preference for care in the United
States. Further, Employee shall be entitled to participate in an equitable
manner with other senior executive employees of Employer in all welfare benefit,
incentive compensation, or other plans or arrangements authorized, adopted, and
maintained from time to time by Employer, including, without limitation, the
following: profit sharing plan, medical reimbursement plan, group life insurance
plan, medical and dental insurance plan, and long-term disability income plan,
if in effect with Employer.

     3.8 Travel. Employer agrees to reimburse Employee for two return visits
annually to the United States for Employee and his family at business class
rates consistent with Employer's travel policy.

     3.9 Taxes. Employer agrees to be responsible for any adverse income tax
impact related exclusively to Employee's assignment to Italy.

     4. Non-Competition.

     4.1 Employee acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of
the business of Employer and its affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:
during the Employment Term and until the date that is eighteen (18) months after
the date that Employee ceases employment with Employer (such period hereinafter
referred to as the "Noncompetition Period"), Employee will not, in any area in
the world where Employer conducts business, directly or indirectly own, manage,
operate, control, be employed by, consult with, or be connected in any manner
with the ownership (other than passive investments of not more than one percent
of the outstanding shares of, or any other equity interest in, any company or
entity listed or traded on a national securities exchange or in an
over-the-counter securities market), management, operation, or control of any
business engaged in the production and/or marketing
<PAGE>

of dry pasta for human consumption. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, if Employee is employed by Employer, then any breach
of the provisions of this Section 4.1 shall permit Employer to terminate the
employment of Employee for Cause (as defined below), and, whether or not
Employee is employed by Employer, from and after any breach by Employee of the
provisions of this Section 4.1, then Employer shall cease to have any
obligations to make payments to Employee under this Agreement.

     4.2 During the Noncompetition Period, Employee will not directly or
indirectly induce or attempt to induce any employee of Employer or any of its
affiliates to engage in any activity in which Employee is prohibited from
engaging by Section 4.1 hereof or to terminate his or her employment with
Employer or any of its affiliates, will not directly or indirectly assist or
attempt to assist others in engaging in any of the activities in which Employee
is prohibited from engaging by Section 4.1 hereof, and will not directly or
indirectly employ or offer employment to any person who was employed by Employer
or any of its affiliates unless such person shall have ceased to be employed by
Employer or any of its affiliates for a period of at least 12 months.

     4.3 In addition to any payments Employer is required to make pursuant to
Section 7 hereof, Employer and Employee hereby agree that Employer may, in its
sole discretion, continue to pay Employee all or a portion of his Base Salary
during the Noncompetition Period. During such period of continued payment, if
any, Employee agrees to be available, consistent with the portion of the Base
Salary continued to be paid and other responsibilities that he may then have, to
answer questions and provide advice to Employer.

     5. Confidentiality. Employee acknowledges that, in and as a result of his
employment by Employer, he has been and will be making use of, acquiring, and/or
adding to confidential information of a special and unique nature and value
relating to such matters as Employer's trade secrets, systems, procedures,
manuals, confidential reports, and lists of customers and/or other services
rendered by Employer, the equipment and methods used and preferred by Employer's
customers, and the prices paid by such customers. As a material inducement to
Employer to enter into this Agreement, and to pay to Employee the compensation
referred to in Section 3 hereof, Employee covenants and agrees he shall not, at
any time during or after the Employment Term, directly or indirectly disclose,
divulge, or use for his own benefit or purposes or the benefit or purposes of
any other person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, or
other business organization, entity, or enterprise other than Employer and any
of its subsidiaries or affiliates any trade secrets, information, data, or other
confidential information relating to customers, development programs, costs,
prices, marketing, trading, investment, sales activities, promotion, credit and
financial data, manufacturing processes, financing methods, plans, or the
business and affairs of Employer generally or of any subsidiary or affiliate of
Employer, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to information
that is not unique to Employer or that is generally known to the industry or the
public other than as a result of breach of this covenant. Employee agrees that,
upon termination of his employment with Employer for any reason, he will return
to Employer immediately all memoranda, books, manuals, training materials,
records, computer software, papers, plans, contracts, agreements, information,
letters, and other data, and all copies thereof or therefrom, in any way
relating to the business of Employer and its affiliates, except that he may
retain personal notes, notebooks, and diaries. Employee further agrees that he
will not retain or use for his account at any time any
<PAGE>

trade names, trademark, or other proprietary business designation used or owned
in connection with the business of Employer or its affiliates.

     6. Specific Performance. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employer's
remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of
Section 4 hereof or Section 5 hereof would be inadequate and, in recognition of
this fact, Employee agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened
breach, in addition to any remedies at law, Employer, without posting any bond,
shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific
performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction, or
any other equitable remedy that may then be available.

     7. Termination of Employment

     7.1 Termination without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason.

     7.1.1 General. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1.2 and 7.1.3
hereof, if Employee's employment is terminated by Employer without Cause, as
defined in Section 7.3, or if Employee resigns from his employment for Good
Reason, as defined in Section 7.4, then Employer shall pay Employee his accrued
unpaid Base Salary to the date of termination or resignation and any bonus
earned but not paid as of that date, and shall continue to pay Employee his
annual Base Salary, as adjusted under Section 3, as of the date of termination
or resignation plus his bonus, if any, for the year in which such termination or
resignation occurs (calculated as if the Normal Bonus for that year is earned)
for a period of one (1) year following the date of termination or resignation
(such period, as applicable, being referred to hereinafter as the "Severance
Period"). The Base Salary shall be payable in equal bi-weekly installments
during the Severance Period, and any bonus shall be payable at the conclusion of
the Severance Period. During the Severance Period and for a period of six (6)
months thereafter, Employee shall also be eligible to participate on the same
terms and conditions as in effect immediately prior to such termination or
resignation in all health, medical, supplemental medical, and life insurance
plans or programs provided to Employee by Employer pursuant to Section 3.7
hereof ("Employee Welfare Plans") at the time of such termination or resignation
and which are provided by Employer to its employees following the date of such
termination or resignation; provided, however, that Employee's eligibility to
participate in these Employee Welfare Plans shall end at such time as Employee
becomes eligible to receive coverage under comparable programs of a subsequent
employer and further provided that if Employee participates in the Employee
Welfare Plans for a period of eighteen (18) months from the date of termination
or resignation, then Employee's COBRA rights shall commence at the end of such
eighteen (18) month period. If, during the Severance Period, Employee is
precluded from participating in any Employee Welfare Plan by its terms or
applicable law, then Employer will provide Employee with benefits that are
reasonably equivalent to those Employee would have received under such plan had
Employee been eligible to participate therein. Anything to the contrary herein
notwithstanding, Employer shall have no obligation to continue to maintain any
Employee Welfare Plan during the Severance Period solely as a result of this
Agreement. As an example and solely for purposes of illustration: If Employer
were to terminate its dental insurance plan prior to or during the Severance
Period, then Employer would have no obligation to maintain such plan or provide
to Employee individual dental insurance to satisfy its obligations under this
Section 7.1.1.
<PAGE>

     7.1.2 Mitigation. Employee will not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment provided for in Section 7.1.1 hereof by seeking other employment,
and the amount of any such payment will not be reduced by any compensation
earned by Employee as the result of his employment by another employer
subsequent to termination of Employee's employment with Employer.

     7.1.3 Death During Severance Period. If Employee dies during the Severance
Period, then the Severance Period shall immediately cease, Employer shall not be
obligated to make any further payments pursuant to this Section 7, and the
provisions of Section 8.1 hereof shall apply as though Employee's death had
occurred immediately prior to termination of Employee's employment hereunder.

     7.1.4 Date of Termination. The date of termination of employment without
Cause shall be the date specified in a written notice of termination to Employee
which in no case shall be more than 30 days following the date of notice. The
date of resignation for Good Reason shall be the date specified in the written
notice of resignation from Employee to Employer which in no case shall be more
than 30 days following the date of notice.

     7.2 Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason.

     7.2.1 General. If Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by Employer
for Cause, or if Employee resigns from his employment hereunder other than for
Good Reason (a "Voluntary Termination"), then Employee shall be entitled only to
payment of his Base Salary, as adjusted under Section 3, earned through and
including the date of termination or resignation. Employee shall have no further
right to receive any other compensation or to participate in any other plan,
arrangement, or benefit, after such termination for Cause or Voluntary
Termination.

     7.2.2 Date of Termination. Subject to Section 7.3 hereof, the date of
termination for Cause shall be the date of receipt by Employee of notice such
termination. The date of Voluntary Termination shall be the date specified in
the notice of resignation from Employee to Employer, or if no date is specified
therein, then at any time selected by Employer within 10 business days after
receipt by Employer of written notice or resignation from Employee.

     7.3 Cause. Termination for "Cause" means termination of Employee's
employment because, in Employer's good faith belief, (i) Employee willfully and
continually failed substantially to perform his duties under the Agreement
(other than as a result of Permanent Disability, as defined below), (ii)
Employee failed to comply with any of the material term(s) of this Agreement,
including, but not limited to, Section 4 hereof, (iii) Employee committed an act
or acts that constituted a misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) or
a felony under the laws of the United States (including any subdivision thereof)
or any country to which Employee is assigned (including any subdivision
thereof), including, but not limited to, Employee's conviction for or plea of
guilty or no contest ("nolo contendre") to any such misdemeanor or felony, (iv)
Employee committed an act or acts in violation of Employer's policies and/or
practices applicable to employees at the level of Employee within Employer's
organization, (v) Employee willfully acted, or willfully failed to act, in a
manner that was
<PAGE>

injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of Employer or any
of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or (vi) Employee acted or failed to act in a
manner that is unbecoming of his position with Employer, regardless of whether
such action or inaction occurs in the course of the performance of Employee's
duties with Employer.

     7.4 Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means any of
the following actions taken by Employer without Employee's prior written
consent: (i) the continued failure of Employer to pay compensation due to
Employee under this Agreement, which failure is uncorrected for a period of 15
days following receipt by Employer of written notice thereof from Employee; (ii)
a material diminution in Employee's position, authority, duties, or
responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial, or
inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and that is remedied by Employer
promptly after receipt of written notice thereof given by Employee; provided,
however, that a mere change of Employee's title shall not constitute Good Reason
so long as Employee continues to perform duties, functions, and responsibilities
substantially equivalent to those performed by him prior to such change of
title; (iii) Employer's material failure or refusal to comply with the
provisions of this Agreement, which failure or refusal to comply is uncorrected
for a period of 15 days following receipt by Employer of written notice thereof
from Employee. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that
Employer's failure to deliver a notification extending the Initial Employment
Term as referred to in Section 1 hereof shall not constitute a termination
without Cause.

     7.5 Stock Options. Employer has awarded to Employee Thirty Five Thousand
(35,000) options to acquire shares of Employer's Class A Convertible Common
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), under a stock option
agreement by and between Employer and Employee dated August 29, 2000 (the
"Option Agreement") under the American Italian Pasta Company 1997 Equity
Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan").

     8. Death or Permanent Disability.

     8.1 Death. If Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by death, then
Employer shall, within 90 days of the date of death, make a lump sum payment to
Employee's estate (or other beneficiary designated by him in writing) equal to
all Base Salary and bonuses, if any, earned and accrued through the date of
death. Thereafter, Employer shall have no further obligation to Employee under
the Agreement.

     8.2 Permanent Disability. If Employee becomes physically or mentally
disabled while employed by Employer under this Agreement so that Employee
is--with or without reasonable accommodation--unable to render the services
provided for by this Agreement for a period of six consecutive months or for
shorter periods aggregating six months during any 24-month period, or so that
Employee has a Disability (as defined under Employer's then-current disability
policy), then Employer may, at any time after the last day of the six
consecutive months of disability, the day on which the shorter periods of
disability equal an aggregate of six months, or the day on which Employee is
determined to have a Disability, terminate Employee's employment hereunder for
"Permanent Disability" by written notice to Employee. Following such
termination, Employee shall be entitled to receive from Employer (i) all Base
Salary and bonuses, if any, accrued through the date of termination and (ii) any
other
<PAGE>

benefits payable under Employer's then-current disability policy, but all other
rights of Employee hereunder shall terminate as of the date of Employee's
termination.

     9. Change of Control.

     9.1 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if Employer
terminates Employee without Cause upon or within six months following a Change
of Control (as defined below), then Employer shall pay Employee his accrued
unpaid Base Salary to the date of termination and any bonus earned but not paid
and shall continue to pay Employee his annual Base Salary as of the date such
termination occurs (calculated as if the Normal Bonus for that year is earned)
for a period of one (1) year following the date of termination as severance pay
(such period, as applicable, being referred to hereinafter as the "Change of
Control Severance Period"). Any severance payable pursuant to this Section 9.1
will be in substitution for and not in addition to any severance that might be
payable pursuant to Section 7 hereof. To the extent Employer makes payments
pursuant to this Section 9.1, it will have no additional obligations under
Section 7 hereof. The Base Salary shall be payable in bi-weekly payments during
the Change of Control Severance Period, and the bonus shall be paid at the
conclusion of the Change of Control Severance Period.

     9.2 For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" means any one of
the following:

     (a) any person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) acquiring beneficial
ownership of more than 50% of Employer's then outstanding Common Stock or 51 %
or more of the combined voting power of Employer's then outstanding securities
entitled generally to vote for the election of Employer's Directors;

     (b) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of Employer with any
other corporation, other than a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary, the sale
of substantially all of the assets of Employer, or the liquidation or
dissolution of Employer, unless, in the case of a merger or consolidation, (x)
the Directors in office immediately prior to such merger or consolidation will
constitute at least majority of the Board of Directors of the surviving
corporation of such merger or consolidation and any parent (as such term is
defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such corporation, or (y) the
voting securities of Employer outstanding immediately prior thereto represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving entity) more than 66 2/3% of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of Employer or such surviving entity and are owned by all or
substantially all of the persons who were the holders of the voting securities
of Employer immediately prior to the transaction in substantially the same
proportions as such holders owned such voting securities immediately prior to
the transaction; or

     (c) Continuing Directors (as defined below) no longer constitute at least a
majority of the Board or a similar body of any successor to Employer. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Continuing Directors" means any individual who
either (i) is a member of Employer's Board of Directors on the Effective Date,
(ii) who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose election or
nomination for election by Employer's shareholders, was
<PAGE>

approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors (either by
a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of Employer in which such
person is named as nominee for director, without objection to such nomination),
or (iii) is designated by any party pursuant to its rights under Section 2.1 of
Employer's Amended and Restated Shareholders' Agreement dated as of October 4,
1997, as amended.

     9.3 Excess Parachute Payments. If any payment or the receipt of any benefit
under this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute an "excess parachute payment"
as such term is described in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), so as to result in the loss of a deduction to Employer
under Code Section 280G or in the imposition of an excise tax on the Employee
under Code Section 4999, or any successor sections thereto, then the amounts
payable or the benefits provided under this Agreement shall be reduced to the
minimum extent necessary so that no such deduction will be lost by Employer and
no such excise tax will be imposed on the Employee. Employer, in its sole
discretion, shall determine whether or not an "excess parachute payment" would
otherwise occur and shall determine the amount and method of the foregoing
reduction.

     10. Miscellaneous.

     10.1 Assignment of Employee Benefits. Absent the prior written consent of
Employer, and subject to will and the laws of descent and distribution, Employee
shall have no right to exchange, convert, encumber, or dispose of the rights of
Employee to receive benefits and payments under this Agreement, which payments,
benefits, and rights thereto are non-assignable and non-transferable.

     10.2 Burden and Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall
inure to the benefit of, Employer and Employee, their respective heirs,
personal, and legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

     10.3 Governing Law. In view of the fact that the principal office of
Employer is located in the State of Missouri, the parties understand and agree
that the construction and interpretation of this Agreement shall at all times
and in all respects be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri.

     10.4 Severability. It is expressly understood and agreed that although
Employee and Employer consider the restrictions contained in this Agreement to
be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent
jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in
this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Employee, then the
provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed
amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum
extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable.
Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction
contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be
amended so as to make it enforceable, then such finding shall not affect the
enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

     10.5 Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for
reference only and not to limit, expand, or otherwise affect the contents of
this Agreement.
<PAGE>

     10.6 Entire Agreement; Modification. Except as to Employer's Stock Option
Plans, any instrument relating to an Option granted thereunder and written
agreements signed by both of the parties hereto from time to time after the date
hereof, this Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding by and
between Employer and Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any
representations, promises, agreements, or understandings, written or oral, not
herein contained shall be of no force or effect. No change, waiver, or
modification of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless
the same is in writing and duly executed by both parties and no evidence of any
waiver or modification shall be offered or received in evidence of any
proceeding, arbitration, or litigation between the parties hereto arising out of
or affecting this Agreement, or the rights or obligations of the parties
hereunder, unless such waiver or modification is in writing, duly executed as
aforesaid, and the parties further agree that the provisions of this Section
10.6 may not be waived except as set forth herein.

     10.7 Waiver of Breach. The waiver by Employer of a breach of any provision
of this Agreement by Employee shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of
any subsequent breach by Employee.

     10.8 Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respective addresses set forth on the execution page of this Agreement,
provided, however, that all notices to Employer shall be directed to the
attention of the Board of Directors of Employer with a copy to the Secretary of
Employer, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the
other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt.

     10.9 Withholding Taxes. Employer may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such federal, state, and local taxes as may be required to
be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

     10.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto
and hereto were upon the same instrument.

<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employer and Employee have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first hereof written.

                                    EMPLOYER:

                                    AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY, a Delaware
                                    Corporation 4100 North Mulberry Drive, Suite
                                    200 Kansas City, MO 64116-0696

                                    By: /s/ Timothy S. Webster
                                        -----------------------------
                                        Timothy S. Webster, President and
                                        Chief Executive Officer

                                    EMPLOYEE:

                                    /s/ Willard Matthew Duffield, Jr.
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Willard Matthew Duffield, Jr.

                                    Address:

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