FOOD LION INC
10-Q, 1997-05-05
GROCERY STORES
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                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

             [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
               THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended March 22,1997
                                        
                                       OR
                                        
            [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                        
              For the transition period from ........to...........
                                        
                          Commission File number 0-6080


                         FOOD LION, INC.
      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   NORTH CAROLINA                             56-0660192
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

P.O. Box 1330, 2110 Executive Drive Salisbury, NC  28145-1330
      (Address of principal executive office)      (Zip Code)

      (704) 633-8250
(Registrant's telephone number)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
                                              Yes  X      No

Outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant as of April 25, 1997.

       Class A Common Stock      236,056,252
       Class B Common Stock      232,727,364
                                        
                                       Page 1 of 67

                    The Exhibit index is located on page 14.
                                 FOOD LION, INC.
                               INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
                                 March 22, 1997
                                        
                                        
                                                                       PAGE
                                                                     NUMBER

Part I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Item 1. Financial Statements

             Consolidated Statements of Income for the
             12 weeks ended March 22, 1997 and March 23, 1996      3

             Consolidated Balance sheets as of March 22, 1997,
             December 28, 1996 and March 23, 1996                  4

             Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
             12 weeks ended March 22, 1997 and March 23, 1996      5

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements            6

     Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
             Financial Condition and Results of Operations       7-11

Part II.   OTHER INFORMATION

     Item 1. Legal Proceedings                                    12

     Item 2. Changes in Securities                                12

     Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities                      12

     Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security          12
             Holders

     Item 5. Other Information                                    12

     Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                     12

     Signatures                                                   13

     Exhibit Index                                                14


                               -2-
<TABLE>

                                        PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
                                               FOOD LION, INC.

                                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                                 (Unaudited)
                          For the 12 Weeks ended March 22, 1997 and March 23, 1996
                                 (Dollars in thousands except per share data)

                                   March 22, 1997    March 23, 1996              12 WEEKS
                                            (A)              (B)                 (A)       (B)
                                                                                  %         %
<S>                                      <C>              <C>                  <C>       <C>
Net sales                                $2,276,746       $2,024,453           100.00    100.00
Cost of goods sold                        1,779,885        1,612,830            78.18     79.67
Gross profit                                496,861          411,623            21.82     20.33

Selling and administrative expenses         346,841          278,988            15.23     13.78
Depreciation and amortization                48,697           37,019             2.14      1.83
Asset impairment reserve                       -               9,640             0.00      0.47
Operating income                            101,323           85,976             4.45      4.25
Interest expense                             26,685           19,004             1.17      0.94
Income before income taxes                   74,638           66,972             3.28      3.31
Provision for income taxes                   29,109           26,119             1.28      1.29

Net income                               $   45,529       $   40,853             2.00      2.02

Earnings per share                       $     0.10       $     0.09
Dividends per share                      $     0.03       $     0.03

Weighted average number
of shares outstanding

Class A                                 236,195,448      237,202,480
Class B                                 233,902,364      235,935,114
Total                                   469,097,812      473,137,594

</TABLE>

                                            -3-

<TABLE>
                                              FOOD LION, INC.
                                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                           Dollars in thousands)
                                                (Unaudited)

                                                          March 22, 1997      December 28, 1996     March 23, 1996
Assets
Current assets:
 <S>                                                     <C>                   <C>               <C> 
 Cash and cash equivalents                               $  101,205            $  102,371        $   135,119
 Receivables                                                142,509               151,163            130,483
 Inventories                                                974,861             1,065,743            875,719
 Prepaid expenses and other                                  30,463                33,660             20,495
 Deferred tax asset                                          75,807                75,807             50,018
   Total current assets                                   1,324,845             1,428,744          1,211,834

Property, at cost, less accumulated
depreciation                                              1,783,552             1,772,503          1,502,978
Deferred tax asset                                            8,619                 8,619               -
Intangible assets                                           276,754               278,726             10,033
 Total assets                                            $3,393,770            $3,488,592         $2,724,845

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
 Notes payable                                           $  300,000            $  250,010         $     -
 Accounts payable, trade                                    426,848               470,994            363,520
 Accrued expenses                                           418,401               397,431            358,977
 Capital lease obligations - current                         21,452                21,970             16,220
 Long term debt - current                                       988                   973             40,000
 Other liabilities - current                                  6,813                 7,279              3,682
 Income taxes payable                                        16,257                 5,578         ____14,200
 Total current liabilities                                1,190,759             1,154,235            796,599

Long-term debt                                              334,085               495,111            315,300
Capital lease obligations                                   470,545               469,035            385,035
Deferred income taxes                                           -                    -                44,120
Other liabilities                                           152,892               154,273             74,511
    Total liabilities                                     2,148,281             2,272,654          1,615,565

Shareholders' Equity:
Class A non-voting common stock, $.50 par value             118,130               118,083            117,966
Class B voting common stock, $.50 par value                 116,451               116,451            117,738
Additional capital                                            1,376                 1,708               -
Retained earnings                                         1,009,532               979,696            873,576
     Total shareholders' equity                           1,245,489             1,215,938          1,109,280
        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity       $3,393,770            $3,488,592         $2,724,845

</TABLE>


                                                      -4-




                              FOOD LION, INC.

                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (Unaudited)
           For the 12 Weeks ended March 22, 1997 and March 23, 1996
                           (Dollars in thousands)

                                                          12 Weeks
                                           March 22, 1997   March 23, 1996

Cash flows from operating activities
 Net income                                         $45,529           $40,853

 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                    48,697            37,019
    Gain on disposals of property                     1,515               401
    Asset impairment reserve                            -               9,640
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
     Receivables                                      8,654            (2,488)
     Inventories                                     90,882             5,302
     Prepaid expenses and other                       3,197             2,849
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses          (23,176)           42,357
     Income taxes payable                            10,679            14,200
     Other liabilities                               (1,847)            2,675
              Total adjustments                     138,601           111,955

      Net cash provided by operating activities     184,130           152,808

Cash flows from investing activities
  Capital expenditures                              (53,464)          (50,992)
  Proceeds from disposal of property                    758             1,251
          Net cash used in investing activities     (52,706)          (49,741)

Cash flows from financing activities
 Net proceeds under short-term borrowings            49,990              -
 Principal payments on long-term debt              (161,011)             -
 Principal payments under capital lease obligations  (5,591)           (3,900)
 Dividends paid                                     (15,693)          (13,141)
 Repurchase of common stock                            (874)          (20,944)
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock                 589                 2
         Net cash used in financing activities     (132,590)          (37,983)

Net (decrease)increase in cash and cash
 equivalents                                         (1,166)           65,084

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of period                                           102,371            70,035

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period         $101,205          $135,119


                                      -5-
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Dollars in thousands)

    1)   Basis of Presentation:

     The accompanying financial statements are presented in accordance with
the requirements of Form 10-Q and, consequently,  do not include all the
disclosures normally required by   generally accepted accounting principles or
those normally made in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Food Lion, Inc.
(the "Company").  Accordingly, the reader of this Form 10-Q should refer
to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 28,  1996 for further
information.

     The financial information has been prepared in accordance with the
Company's customary accounting practices and has not been audited.  In the
opinion of management, the financial information includes all
adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for
a fair presentation of interim results.

2)   Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

     Cash paid during the period for:

                                 March 22, 1997    March 23, 1996

     Interest (net of amounts
     capitalized)*                      $21,326           $16,189
     Income taxes                        18,144            11,522

     *Interest capitalized                  336               373
     Capital lease obligations for stores of $18,092 and $20,488
     were incurred in the 12 week period of 1997 and 1996,
     respectively.  Capital lease retirements of $11,509 and $3,010
     were recorded in the 12 week period of 1997 and 1996,
     respectively.

     The Company considers all highly liquid investment instruments
     purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to
     be cash equivalents.

3)   The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued Statement No.128
"Earnings Per Share," FAS No.128 effective for financial statements
issued for periods ending after December 15, 1997. FAS No. 128 will be
implemented in the Company's 10K for the year ended January 3, 1998.
The Company does not expect that FAS No. 128 will have a material impact
on the earnings per share computation.


                                   -6-

                                        
Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
             Condition and Results of Operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   (12 weeks ended March 22, 1997 compared to 12  weeks
ended March 23, 1996)

The Company's sales for the first quarter of 1997 were $2.3 billion, an increase
of 12.5% over the corresponding period of the  prior year, with earnings
of $45.5 million or $.10 per share, an increase of 11% over the comparable
period last year.  The quarterly sales increase of 12.5% for the 12 weeks
ended March 22, 1997 is primarily the result of additional sales from the
Company's Kash n' Karry Food Stores, Inc.("Kash n'Karry") subsidiary, which
Food Lion acquired in December 1996. Same store sales were flat for the
first quarter. First quarter same store sales comparisons were
impacted by the following:

    Same store sales growth has been negatively impacted by the fact that some
  of the initiatives that increased sales during the first quarter of 1996 have
  now been implemented for one full year's cycle. As a result, the Company faces
  more rigorous same store sales comparisons than it did when these 
  initiatives were introduced.  These initiatives included the conversion to
  24-hour store operations, expansion of the MVP program(Food Lion's customer
  loyalty card program) and acceptance of debit and credit card transactions
  in all stores.

    Last year's first quarter sales were positively impacted by harsh winter
 weather conditions throughout the Southeast that contributed to sales strength.
 This year, weather conditions have been very mild across all of Food Lion's
 market areas.

    The grocery industry is experiencing minimal food price inflation. During
  the first quarter of 1997, Food Lion's inflation rate was 0.5%.

    Competitive initiatives in Food Lion's major markets have increased in the
 first quarter of 1997 with the introduction of customer loyalty cards and 
 heavy advertising and promotional activity.


The Company's Southwest market is generating positive cash flow but  
is not achieving the Company's standards for financial performance.
The Company continues to monitor sales and profits in the 
Southwest market and to evaluate the performance of all corporated assets,
including those in the Southwest.


The Company's 1997 business plan includes the opening of 55 to 60 new stores
offset by the closing or relocation of approximately 33 stores and the
renovation of approximately 100 stores.  During the first quarter, the Company
opened nine new stores, closed 19 stores(of which three were relocations),and
completed renovations of 13 existing stores.




                               -7-


Gross profit was 21.82% of sales for the first quarter this year compared to
20.33% of sales for the same period last year.  The increase in gross profit is
due to continued category management initiatives across all merchandise
categories and an increase in private label sales.

For the first quarter of 1997, selling and administrative expenses were $346.8
million or 15.23% of sales as compared to 13.78% of sales in the
corresponding period of the  prior year.  Kash n'Karry stores incur a higher
level of selling and administrative expenses than do Food Lion stores due to
their larger square footage store format and emphasis on specialty food
departments. Kash n' Karry operations increased the Company's selling and
administrative expenses during the first quarter by 0.8% of sales compared to 
the first quarter of 1996.


Selling and administrative expenses for the Food Lion stores were 14.4% of sales
which is an improvement over that experienced in the last three consecutive
quarters and comparable to that experienced in first quarter of 1995.  First
quarter 1996 selling and administrative expenses were low at 13.8% of sales due
to high sales growth in the quarter.

Because of the consolidation of Kash n' Karry stores, the Company anticipates
that the selling, general and administrative ("SGA")ratio will continue to
exceed historical levels for some time.  As the Company implements cost saving
strategies within the  Kash n' Karry operation and integrates its administrative
functions with those of Food Lion, the Company should experience a downward
trend in the SGA ratio over time.

Depreciation and amortization of $48.7 million was 2.14% of sales compared to
1.83% of sales in the first quarter of 1996.  The 0.31% increase is primarily
due to leasehold improvements and equipment purchases for new stores and
renovations since the first quarter last year. Additional increase resulted from
the amortization of the goodwill from the Kash n' Karry acquisition.

During the first quarter of 1996 Food Lion adopted Financial Accounting
Standards Board Statement no. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived
Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of" (FAS no. 121).  The
implementation of FAS no. 121 created a non-cash charge against first quarter
1996 pre-tax net income of $9.6 million to reflect properly the carrying
value of the Company's assets, using a discounted cash flow valuation method.

Interest expense of $26.7 million or 1.17% of sales, increased 0.23% of sales
due to short-term borrowings used to fund the Kash n' Karry transaction and an
increase in interest expense on store capital leases resulting from new store
openings and renovations.

Net income for the quarter was $45.5 million or 2.00% of sales as compared to
2.02% of sales in the first quarter of the  prior year.  Earnings were $.10
per share as compared to $.09 per share last year.
                                       -8-
                                        
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $184.1 million for the 12 weeks
ended March 22, 1997 compared with $152.8 million for the same period last year.
The increase was primarily due to lower inventory levels, which were partially
offset by a decrease in trade payables.

Capital expenditures totaled $53.5 million for the 12 weeks ended March 22, 1997
compared with $51.0 million for the same period in 1996.  The Company opened
nine new stores, including the relocation of three existing stores, and
completed the renovation of 13 existing stores during the first quarter of 1997.
Food Lion plans to open a total of 55 to 60 new stores and to renovate
approximately 100 stores in 1997.  The Company anticipates that the majority of
the new stores will be opened under conventional leasing arrangements.

Significant cash capital expenditures currently estimated for the remainder of
1997 are as follows:

     Store expansion and new store construction        $ 71   million
     Equip new and renovated stores                    $100   million
     Land costs                                        $  9   million
     Distribution equipment                            $ 33   million
     Information technology                            $ 15   million
     Other capital expenditures                        $ 15   million

In addition, the Company anticipates spending $150 million in capital
expenditures over the next two to three years for renovations in Kash n' Karry
stores.

Capital expenditures for 1997 will be financed through funds generated from
operations, existing bank and credit lines, and other debt, if necessary.

In the first quarter of 1997, cash flow from operations was used to reduce total
outstanding debt by $111 million from December 28, 1996.

On April 21, 1997, the Company issued $150 million in debt securities at 7.55%
due in 2007 and $150 million in debt securities at 8.05% due in 2027. Interest
on the notes is payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of
each year, commencing October 15, 1997.  Proceeds from the issuance were used to
refinance amounts outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility, as
noted below.


The Company maintains the following bank and credit lines:

    $250 million commercial paper program under which no borrowings were
  outstanding during the entire first quarter of 1997 or 1996.

                                 -9-


    A revolving credit facility with a syndicate of commercial banks providing
  $700 million in committed lines of credit, of which $350 million will expire 
  in December, 1997 with the remaining $350 million to expire in December, 2001.
  Outstanding borrowings were $300 million as  of March 22, 1997, as compared
  with no borrowings during the first quarter 1996. During the first quarter
  1997, the Company had average borrowings of $244.9 million at a daily
  weighted average interest rate of 5.73% with a maximum amount outstanding
  of $410 million.  In April 1997, the proceeds from the Company's issuance
  of debt securities noted above was used to reduce amounts outstanding under
  this credit facility.
                                        
    Additional short-term committed lines of credit totaling $35 million which
  are available when needed.  The Company is not required to maintain
  compensating balances related to these lines of credit, and borrowings may
  occur periodically.  There were no borrowings as of March 22, 1997 or
  March 23, 1996. During the first quarter of 1997, the Company had average
  borrowings of $0.9 million at a daily weighted average interest rate of
  5.55% with a maximum amount outstanding of $20 million.


    Periodic short-term borrowings may be placed under informal credit
  arrangements, which are available to the Company at the discretion of the
  lender.  Borrowings for the first quarter were as follow (see table below):


     Informal Credit Arrangements:

     (dollars in millions)                             1997      1996
     Outstanding borrowings at end of first quarter    $ 0       $0
     Average borrowings                                $ 0.2     $0
     Maximum amount outstanding                        $20.0     $0
     Daily weighted average interest rate              5.46%     NA


During the first quarter of 1997, the Company expended $0.9 million for the
purchase of Class A shares, as part of the Company's stock repurchase plan. The
Company purchased 110,000 shares of Class A stock during the quarter at an
average price of $7.94 per share.  Additional purchases of Class A and/or Class
B Common Stock may be made in the open market under the current program which
began in May of 1996, as deemed in the best interest of shareholders. In May
of 1997, the Board of Directors voted to extend the stock repurchase program
for one year and approved the repurchase of up to $100 million worth of the 
Company's common stock between May of 1997 and May of 1998.


The Company established a pre-tax charge against 1993 earnings of $170.5 million
(approximately $104 million after tax) to cover management's estimate of the
costs associated with the closing of 88 unprofitable store locations.  As of the
end of first quarter 1997, the Company has charged $84.8 million against the
reserve, primarily as a
                                -10-

result of the payment of remaining rent obligations on leased stores and the
disposition of property.  The Company believes the remaining reserve is adequate
to cover the costs associated with the disposition of the remaining properties.


Other

From time to time, information provided by the Company, including written or
oral statements made by its representatives, may contain forward-looking
information as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address
activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will
or may occur in the future, including such things as expansion and growth of the
Company's business, future capital expenditures and the Company's business
strategy, are forward-looking statements.  In reviewing such information, it
should be kept in mind that actual results may differ materially from those
projected or suggested in such forward-looking information.  This forward-
looking information is based on various factors and was derived using numerous
assumptions.  Many of these factors have previously been identified in filings
or statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

Important assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking information
include: changes in the general economy or in the Company's primary markets,
changes in consumer spending, competitive factors, changes in the rate of
inflation, changes in state or federal legislation or regulation, adverse
determinations with respect to litigation or other claims, inability to develop
new stores or complete remodels as rapidly as planned, stability of product
costs, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                    -11-


Part II       OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.       Legal Proceedings

              The Company has had no significant developments related
              to legal matters since the Item 1 disclosure included in the
              Company's Form 10K filed March 27,1997 for the year ended
              December 28, 1996.

Item 2.       Change in Securities

              This item is not applicable.


Item 3.       Defaults Upon Senior Securities

              This item is not applicable.

                                        
Item 4.       Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
              This item is not applicable.
                                        

Item 5.       Other Information

              This item is not applicable.


Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a).  Exhibits

      10a.  Food Lion, Inc. and The Bank of New York, Trustee, First
            Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 21, 1997

      10b.  Underwriting Agreement dated as of April 16, 1997 between
            Food Lion, Inc. and Salomon Brothers, Inc., for itself and as 
            representative for NationsBankc Capital Markets Inc

      11    Computation of Earnings per Share

      27    Financial Data Schedule

(b).  The Company filed a report on Form 8-K pursuant to Item 5 on
April 7,1997 in regards to "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                      -12-
                                        
                                        
                            SIGNATURES

     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.


                                   FOOD LION, INC.
                                   Registrant


DATE: May 5, 1997               BY:  Laura Kendall 
                                     Laura Kendall
                                     Vice President of Finance
                                     Chief Financial Officer
                                     Principal Financial Officer




                                      -13-
EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                            SEQ. PAGE
 EXHIBIT #
             DESCRIPTION                                        NO.

  10a.       Food Lion, Inc. and The Bank of New York,
             Trustee, First Supplemental Indenture dated
             as of April 21, 1997                               15-44

  10b.       Underwriting Agreement dated as of April 16, 1997
             between Food Lion, Inc. and Salomon Brothers, Inc.
             for itself and as representative for NationsBankc
             Capital Markets Inc                                16-64

  11         Computation of Earnings per Share                    65

  27         Financial Data Schedule                            66-67





                               -14-






                                                        EXHIBIT 11
                                                        

                         COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE

(Amounts in thousands except                 Periods Ended               
 per share amounts)
                                    March 22,1997   March 23,1996  
             
PRIMARY

NET INCOME                             $ 45,529         $40,853
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON
  SHARES AND OTHER COMMON
  STOCK EQUIVALENTS:
       COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING         469,098         473,138
       STOCK OPTIONS                        591            -    
                                        469,689         473,138  
 
PRIMARY EARNINGS PER SHARE (*)         $  .10	       $   .09 

FULLY DILUTED

NET INCOME                              $45,529         $40,853  
ELIMINATION OF INTEREST EXPENSE,
 NET OF RELATED TAX EFFECT,
 APPLICABLE TO 5% CONVERTIBLE
 SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2003           801             807 
ADJUSTED INCOME APPLICABLE TO
 COMMON STOCK                           $46,330         $41,660 
                                                                          
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON
  SHARES AND OTHER COMMON
  STOCK EQUIVALENTS:
        COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING        469,098        473,138 
        STOCK OPTIONS                       591              -           
        SHARES ISSUABLE UPON
        CONVERSION OF 5% CONVERTIBLE
        SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE
          2003 				                      14,440         14,557   
                                        484,129        487,695       


FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (*)   $  .10	      $   .09        


(*) NOTE:  Dilution is less than 3%.  Therefore, common stock equivalents
           have been excluded from the total weighted average common shares.

  

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statements of Income and the
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-22-1997
<CASH>                                          101205
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   142509
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     974861
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1324845
<PP&E>                                         2738693
<DEPRECIATION>                                  955141
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3393770
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          1190759
<BONDS>                                         334085
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        235957
<OTHER-SE>                                     1009532
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   3393770
<SALES>                                        2276746
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2276746
<CGS>                                          1779885
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1779885
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               26685
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  74638
<INCOME-TAX>                                     29109
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              45529
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     45529
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>

                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 


                         FOOD LION, INC

                              and

                 THE BANK OF NEW YORK, Trustee


                         _____________


                  FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                         _____________


                   Dated as of April 21, 1997

                         _____________




    Providing for the issuance of Debt Securities in series.



     FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of April 21, 1997 (the
"First Supplemental Indenture"), between FOOD LION, INC., a North
Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a
New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee").

                            RECITALS:

      WHEREAS,  the  Company  and the  Trustee  entered  into  an
Indenture,  dated  as  of August 15, 1991  (the  "Indenture")  to
provide  for  the  issuance from time to time  of  its  unsecured
debentures,  notes   or  other evidences of  indebtedness  to  be
issued in one or more series (the "Debt Securities") (capitalized
terms  used  herein without definition shall have the  respective
meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture);

      WHEREAS, Section 10.01 of the Indenture provides  that  the
Company and the Trustee may supplement the Indenture without  the
written consent of the Holders in certain situations;

      WHEREAS,  Sections 2.01 and 2.02 of the Indenture  provides
that  the Company may enter into an indenture supplement  without
the  consent of any Holders to establish the terms of one or more
series of the Debt Securities;

     WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by
law and by the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the
Company  and  of  the  Trustee  necessary  to  make  this   First
Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on  the
Company and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have  been
duly done and performed; and

     WHEREAS, all conditions precedent to amend or supplement the
Indenture have been met.; and

     WHEREAS,  all Debt Securities issued and outstanding  as  of
April 21, 1997 shall continue to be governed by the provisions of
the Indenture;
     
      NOW,  THEREFORE, each party agrees, for the benefit of  the
other  party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders
of  any  series of Debt Securities, issued on or after April  21,
1997,   including,  without  limitation,  the   Debt   Securities
described in Article 2 hereof, to the amendments set forth  below
(the  "Amendments") which will become operative pursuant  to  the
terms hereof.

                            ARTICLE 1
                           Amendments

     Section 1.01.  Amendments and Modifications to Article One.

          a.    Insert the following as a new definition to Section 1.01.

          The term "Attributable Debt" means in connection with a
          Sale  and  Lease-Back  Transaction  the  aggregate   of
          present values (discounted at a rate per annum equal to
          the  average  interest  borne by all  outstanding  Debt
          Securities determined on a weighted average  basis  and
          compounded  semi-annually) of the  obligations  of  the
          Company  or  any  Subsidiary for  net  rental  payments
          during  the  remaining  term of  the  applicable  lease
          (including  any  period for which such lease  has  been
          extended  or  may,  at the option  of  the  lessor,  be
          extended).
     
          b.   Insert  the  following  as  a  new  definition  in
          Section 1.01.

          The  term  "Capital Lease" means any lease of  property
          which, in accordance with generally accepted accounting
          principles,  should  be  capitalized  on  the  lessee's
          balance sheet or for which the amount of the asset  and
          liability  thereunder  as if so capitalized  should  be
          disclosed  in  a  note  to  such  balance  sheet;   and
          "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means the amount of  the
          liability which should be so capitalized or disclosed.

          c.   Insert  the  following  as  a  new  definition  in
          Section 1.01.

          The  term  "Funded Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness
          maturing by its terms more than one year from the  date
          of    the   determination   thereof,   including    any
          Indebtedness renewable or extendible at the  option  of
          the obligor to a date later than one year from the date
          of the determination thereof.
          
          d.   Insert the following as a new definition in Section 1.01.
          
          The   term  "Indebtedness"  of  any  Person  means  all
          obligations  (other  than the Debt Securities  of  such
          series) of or guaranteed or assumed by, such Person  or
          any   of  such  Person's  Restricted  Subsidiaries  for
          borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes
          or other similar instruments.

           e.   Insert  the  following as a  new  definition  in
                Section 1.01.

          The    term   "Restricted   Subsidiaries"   means   all
          Subsidiaries  other  than Non-Restricted  Subsidiaries.
          "Non-Restricted  Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary  that
          the  Company's  Board of Directors has  in  good  faith
          declared pursuant to a written resolution not to be  of
          material importance, either singly or together with all
          other  Non-Restricted Subsidiaries, to the business  of
          the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries taken  as
          a  whole.   Initially the Company  will  have  no  Non-
          Restricted Subsidiaries.

          f.   Delete  the definition of "Sale  and  Lease-back
               Transaction" in Section 1.01.
          
          g.    Insert  the  following as a  new  definition  in
                Section 1.01.

          The  term "Significant Subsidiary" means, with  respect
          to  the  Company, any Subsidiary that is a  significant
          subsidiary   within  the  meaning  of  Rule   1-02   of
          Regulation  S-X  promulgated  by  the  Securities   and
          Exchange Commission.

     Section 1.02.  Amendments and Modifications to Article Four

          a.   Section 4.10(D) of the Indenture is restated in its entirety
               to read as follows:

               D.   Anything in this Section 4.10 to the contrary
                notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided
                in this Section 4.10 is subject to the provisions of
                Sections 12.03, 12.04 and 12.05.
               
          d.   Section 4.11(C) of the Indenture is replaced in its entirety
               by new Section 4.11(C) that reads as follows:
 
               C.   If at any time the Company or any Subsidiary shall issue,
                assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by any mortgage and
                if subsection A of this Section 4.11 requires that the NotDebt
                Securities be secured equally and ratably with such
                Indebtedness, the Company will promptly execute, at its
                expense, any instruments necessary to so equally and ratably
                secure the Debt Securities and deliver the same to the Trustee.

                   1.   an Officers' Certificate stating that the covenant of
                        the Company contained in subsection A of this Section
                        4.11 has been complied with; and
                    
                    2.   an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such
                         covenant has been complied with, and that any
                         instruments executed by the Company in the
                         performance of such covenant comply with the
                         requirements of such covenant.

                In  the  event  that the Company shall  hereafter
          secure the Debt Securities equally and ratably with any
          other  obligation  or  Indebtedness  pursuant  to   the
          provisions of this Section 4.11, the Trustee is  hereby
          authorized  to  enter  into an indenture  or  agreement
          supplemental thereto and to take such action,  if  any,
          as  it  may  deem  advisable to enable  it  to  enforce
          effectively  the  rights of the  holders  of  the  Debt
          Securities  so secured, equally and ratably  with  such
          other obligation or Indebtedness.
          
                Notwithstanding the above, any such indenture  or
          agreement  supplemental thereto shall provide,  by  its
          terms,  that  the  mortgage shall be automatically  and
          unconditionally  released  and  discharged   upon   the
          release or discharge of the mortgage which resulted  in
          the  creation  of such mortgage, except a discharge  or
          release  by,  or  as  a result of, payment  under  such
          iIndebtedness.
          
          c.
            Section 4.12 of the Indenture, entitled "Restrictions
            on  Sale and Lease-back Transactions" is replaced  in
            its  entirety  by  new Section  4.12  that  reads  as
            follows:
          
          Section 4.12  Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back.

               So  long  as  any Debt Securities are Outstanding,
          the  Company  agrees that it will  not,  and  will  not
          permit  any  Restricted Subsidiary to, enter  into  any
          arrangement  with any Person providing for the  leasing
          by  the  Company  or  a Restricted  Subsidiary  of  any
          Operating  Property  (other than any  such  arrangement
          involving a lease for a term, including renewal rights,
          for  not  more than three years and leases between  the
          Company  and  a  Subsidiary or  between  Subsidiaries),
          whereby  such Operating Property has been or is  to  be
          sold  or  transferred by the Company  or  a  Restricted
          Subsidiary  to  such Person (herein referred  to  as  a
          "Sale and Lease-Back Transaction"), unless:
     
                 A.   the  Company or such Restricted  Subsidiary
               would,  at  the time of entering into a  Sale  and
               Lease-Back  Transaction,  be  entitled  to   incur
               Indebtedness  secured by a lien on  the  Operating
               Property to be leased in an amount at least  equal
               to  the Attributable Debt in respect of such  Sale
               and  Lease-Back  Transaction without  equally  and
               ratably  securing the Debt Securities pursuant  to
               Section 4.121,  or
     
                 B.   the  proceeds of the sale of the  Operating
               Property  to be leased are at least equal  to  the
               fair  market value of such Operating Property  (as
               determined by the chief financial officer or chief
               accounting officer of the Company) and  an  amount
               in  cash  equal  to the net proceeds  is  applied,
               within  180  days of the effective  date  of  such
               transaction,  to the purchase or acquisition  (or,
               in   the   case   of   Operating   Property,   the
               construction),  acquisition,  or  construction  of
               Operating  Property  or to the  retirement  (other
               than  at  maturity  or  pursuant  to  a  mandatory
               sinking  fund  or redemption provision  and  other
               than  Indebtedness  owned by the  Company  or  any
               Restricted  Subsidiary) of Debt Securities  or  of
               Funded Indebtedness of the Company tranking  on  a
               parity  with or senior to the Debt Securities,  or
               in  the  case of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
               by a Restricted Subsidiary, or Funded Indebtedness
               of  such  Restricted Subsidiary; provided that  in
               connection  with any such retirement, any  related
               loan commitment or the like shall be reduced in an
               amount equal to the principal amount so retired.
     
                The foregoing restriction shall not apply to,  in
          the   case  of  any  Operating  Property  acquired   or
          constructed subsequent to the date 18 months  prior  to
          the  date  of  this Indenture, any Sale and  Lease-Back
          Transaction  with  respect to such  Operating  Property
          (including  presently owned real  property  upon  which
          such  Operating  Property is to be  constructed)  if  a
          binding commitment is entered into with respect to such
          Sale  and  Lease-Back Transaction  within  1836  months
          after  the  later of the acquisition of  the  Operating
          Property   or   the   completion  of  improvements   or
          construction thereon or commencement of full operations
          at  such  Operating Property (which, in the case  of  a
          retail  store, is the opening of the store for business
          to the public).

     Section 1.03.  Amendments and Modifications to Article Six.

          a.   Section 6.01 of the Indenture, entitled "Definitions of
            Event of Default; Acceleration; Waiver; and Restoration," is
            restated in its entirety to read as follows:

            Section   6.01   Definition  of  Event  of   Default;
     Acceleration; Waiver; and Restoration
          
               "Event of Default" with respect to Debt Securities
          of  any series wherever used herein, means each one  of
          the  following events which shall have occurred and  be
          continuing  (whatever  the reason  for  such  Event  of
          Default   and   whether  it  shall  be   voluntary   or
          involuntary  or  be  effected by operation  of  law  or
          pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any  court
          or  any order, rule or regulation of any administrative
          governmental body):
          
            A.   default in the payment of any installment of interest upon
              any of the Debt Securities of such series as and when the same
              shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for
              a period of 30 days; or
               
            B.   default in the payment of all or any part of the principal
              of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Debt Securities of such
              series as and when the same shall become due and payable either
              at maturity, upon a redemption or required repurchase, if any, by
              declaration or otherwise (including any sinking fund payment); or
               
            C.   failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or
              perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of
              the Company in the Debt Securities of such series (other than a
              covenant or agreement in respect of the Debt Securities of such
              series a default in the performance or breach of which is
              elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with) or contained
              in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement which is
              not applicable to the Debt Securities of such series) for a
              period of 60 days after the date on which written notice
              specifying such failure, stating that such notice is a "Notice of
              Default" hereunder and demanding that the Company remedy the
              same,  shall have been given by registered or certified mail,
              return receipt requested, to the Company by the Trustee, or to
              the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in
              aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
              such series; or
               
            D.   a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a
              decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any
              Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any
              applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
              similar law now or hereafter in effect, or a decree or order
              adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or
              insolvent, approving as properly filed a petition seeking
              reorganization, assignment, adjustment or composition of, or in
              respect of, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any
              applicable federal; or state law or appointing a receiver,
              liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or
              similar official) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or
              for any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding
              up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall
              remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive
              days; or
               
            E.   the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall commence a
              voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
              reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
              or any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankruptcy or
              insolvent, or consent to the entry of an order tofor relief in an
              involuntary case or proceeding under any such law or to the
              commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding against
              it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent
              seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable state or
              federal law, or consent to the filing of such petition or, to the
              appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
              assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar
              official) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary for any
              substantial part of its property, or make any general assignment
              for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company or
              any Significant Subsidiary in writing of its inability to pay its
              debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate
              action in furtherance of any such action; or
               
            F.   failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to make
              any payment at maturity, including any applicable grace period,
              in respect of Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant
              Subsidiary (other than the Debt Securities of such series or non-
              recourse obligations) in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 or
              the equivalent thereof in any other currency or composite
              currency and such failure shall have continued without having
              been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled for a period of 30 days
              after written notice thereof shall have been given by registered
              or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Company by
              the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of
              not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
              Outstanding Securities of such series; or
               
            G.   a default with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or
              any Significant Subsidiary, which default results in the
              acceleration of Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant
              Subsidiary (other than the Debt Securities of such series or non-
              recourse obligations) in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 or
              the equivalent thereof in any other currency or composite
              currency without such Indebtedness having been discharged or such
              acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled for
              a period of 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been
              given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
              to the Company by the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee
              by the Holders of not less than 125% in aggregate principal
              amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series; or
               
               H.   any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental
                 indenture or Board Resolutions under which such series of Debt
                 Securities is issued or in the form of Debt Security for such
                 series.
               
                    If   any  Event  of  Default  occurs  and  is
               continuing with respect to the Debt Securities  of
               any  series, then, and in each and every such case
               (other  than  an  Event  of Default  specified  in
               clause (d) or (eD) or (E) of this Section relating
               to  the  Company), except for any series  of  Debt
               Securities  the  principal  of  which  shall  have
               already become due and payable, either the Trustee
               or  the  Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
               principal; amount of the Debt Securities  of  such
               series  then  Outstanding  hereunder  (each   such
               series  voting as a separate class) by  notice  in
               writing  to  the  Company (and to the  Trustee  if
               given  by Securityholders), may declare the entire
               principal  (or, if the Securities of  such  series
               are   Original  Issue  Discount  Securities,  such
               portion  of  the  principal  amount  as   may   be
               specified in the terms of such series) of all Debt
               Securities  of such series, premium (if  any)  and
               the  interest accrued thereon (if any), to be  due
               and   payable  immediately,  and  upon  any   such
               declaration, the same shall become immediately due
               and payable.  If an  Event of Default specified in
               clause (d) or (eD) or (E) of this Section relating
               to the Company occurs, such principal amount shall
               ipso  facto  become  and be  immediately  due  and
               payable  without any declaration or other  act  on
               the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

                      The  foregoing  provisions,  however,   are
               subject  to  the condition that if,  at  any  time
               after the principal (or, if the Debt Securities of
               such    series   are   Original   Issue   Discount
               Securities, such portion of the principal  as  may
               be  specified in the terms thereof)  of  the  Debt
               Securities  of  any  series  shall  have  been  so
               declared  due and payable, and before any judgment
               or  decree for the payment of the moneys due shall
               have  been  obtained  or  entered  as  hereinafter
               provided,  the Company shall pay or shall  deposit
               with  the  Trustee  a sum sufficient  to  pay  all
               matured installments of interest upon all the Debt
               Securities  of each such series and the  principal
               of  all Debt Securities of such series which shall
               have  become  due  otherwise than by  acceleration
               (with  interests upon such principal and,  to  the
               extent   that   payment  of   such   interest   is
               enforceable  under  applicable  law,  on   overdue
               installments of interest, at the same rate as  the
               rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case
               of  Original Issue Discount Securities)  specified
               in  the Debt Securities of such series to the date
               of  such  payment or deposit) and such  amount  as
               shall    be   sufficient   to   cover   reasonable
               compensation  to the Trustee and each  predecessor
               Trustee,  their respective agents,  attorneys  and
               counsel,  and  all other expenses and  liabilities
               incurred,  and all advances made, by  the  Trustee
               and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of
               negligence or bad faith, and if any and all Events
               of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-
               payment of the principal of Debt Securities  which
               shall have become due by acceleration, shall  have
               been  cured,  waived  or  otherwise  remedied   as
               provided herein - then and in every such case, the
               Holders  of  a  majority  in  aggregate  principal
               amount  of all the Debt Securities of such  series
               then Outstanding (each series voting as a separate
               class),  by written notice to the Company  and  to
               the  Trustee, may waiver all defaults with respect
               to  each  such series and rescind and  annul  such
               declaration  and  its consequences,  but  no  such
               waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to
               or  shall  affect any subsequent default or  shall
               impair any right consequent thereon.

                     For all purposes under this Indenture, if  a
               portion  of  the  principal of any Original  Issue
               Discount  Securities shall have  been  accelerated
               and  declared  due  and payable  pursuant  to  the
               provisions  hereof,  then,  from  and  after  such
               declaration,  unless  such  declaration  has  been
               rescinded  and annulled, the principal  amount  of
               such  Original Issue Discount Securities shall  be
               deemed,  for all purposes hereunder,  to  be  such
               portion of the principal thereof as shall  be  due
               and  payable as a result of such acceleration  and
               payment  of such portion of the principal  thereof
               as  shall be due and payable as a result  of  such
               acceleration, together with accrued  interest,  if
               any,   thereon   and  all  other   amounts   owing
               thereunder, shall constitute payment  in  full  of
               such Original Issue Discount Securities.

                     In  case  the  Trustee or any Securityholder
               shall  have  proceeded to enforce any right  under
               this  Indenture  and such proceedings  shall  have
               been discontinued or abandoned for any reason,  or
               shall  have  been  determined  adversely  to   the
               Trustee or such Securityholder, then and in  every
               such  case, subject to any determination  in  such
               proceeding,  the   Company, the  Trustee  and  the
               Securityholders  shall be restored  severally  and
               respectively to their former positions and  rights
               hereunder, and all rights, remedies and poswers of
               the  Company,  the Trustee and the Securityholders
               shall  continue as though no such proceedings  had
               been taken.
               
          b.   Section  6.07 of the Indenture entitled "Trustee's
            Notice  of Defaults," is restated in its entirety  to
            read as follows:
          
           Section 6.07    Trustee's Notice of Defaults
          
                    The  Trustee shall, within 90 days after  the
               occurrence of a default with respect to  the  Debt
               Securities  of any series, give to all Holders  of
               debt Securities of that series, in the manner  and
               to  the extent provided in subsection C of Section
               5.04, notice of all defaults with respect to  that
               series  known to the Trustee, unless such defaults
               shall  have been cured before the giving  of  such
               notice  (the term "default" or "defaults" for  the
               purposes of this Section 6.07 being hereby defined
               to  be  any event or events, as the case  may  be,
               specified in subsections A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H
               of  Section 6.01, not including periods of  grace,
               if  any, and irrespective of the giving of written
               notice;  provided, however, that,  except  in  the
               case of default in the payment of the principal of
               (or  premium, if any, on ) or interest on  any  of
               the  Debt  Securities of such  series  or  in  the
               payment  or  satisfaction  of  any  sinking   fund
               obligation  with  respect  to  such  series,   the
               Trustee  shall  be  protected in withholding  such
               notice  if  and so long as the board of directors,
               the  executive committee, or a trust committee  of
               directors  and/or  responsible  officers  of   the
               Trustee   in  good  faith  determines   that   the
               withholding of such notice is in the interests  of
               the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series.
          
      Section  1.04.   Amendments and  Modifications  to  Article
                       Twelve

          a.   Section 12.01 of the Indenture, entitled "Satisfaction and
            Discharge of Indenture," is restated in its entirety to read as
            follows:

          Section 12.01  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

                     When  (i) the Company shall deliver  to  the
               Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of  a
               series  theretofore authenticated (other than  any
               Debt  Securities of such series which  shall  have
               been  destroyed,  lost or stolen and  which  shall
               have  been replaced or paid as provided in Section
               2.07)  and not theretofore canceled; or  (ii)  all
               Debt  Securities  of such series  not  theretofore
               canceled   or   delivered  to  the   Trustee   for
               cancellation shall have become due and payable, or
               are  by  their  terms to become  due  and  payable
               within one year or are to be called for redemption
               within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
               the   Trustee   for  the  giving  of   notice   of
               redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the
               Trustee,  in  trust, funds sufficient  to  pay  at
               maturity  or  upon  redemption  all  of  the  Debt
               Securities  of  such series (other than  any  Debt
               Securities  of such series which shall  have  been
               mutilated,  destroyed, lost or  stolen  and  which
               shall  have  been replaced or paid as provided  in
               Section   2.07)   not  theretofore   canceled   or
               delivered   to   the  Trustee  for   cancellation,
               including  principal  and  premiums  if  any,  and
               interest,  if any, due or to become  due  to  such
               date  of maturity or redemption date, as the  case
               may  be, but excluding, however, the amount of any
               money  for  the  payment of the principal  of  and
               premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the  Debt
               Securities   of   such  series   (a)   theretofore
               deposited  with the Trustee with respect  to  Debt
               Securities  of  such  series  and  repaid  by  the
               Trustee  to  the  Company in accordance  with  the
               provisions  of  Section 12.04  or  (b)  paid  with
               respect to Debt Securities of such series  to  any
               State  or to the District of Columbia pursuant  to
               its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if  in
               either case the Company shall also pay or cause to
               be  paid all other sums payable hereunder  by  the
               Company then this Indenture shall cease to  be  of
               further effect with respect to the Debt Securities
               of  such  series except as to (1)  the  rights  of
               Holders  of  Debt  Securities of  such  series  to
               receive solely from funds deposited by the Company
               with  the Trustee, in trust as described above  in
               this  Section 12.01, payment of the principal  of,
               premium, if any, and the interest, if any on  such
               Debt  Securities when such payments are  due;  (2)
               the  Company's rights and obligations with respect
               to such Debt Securities under Sections 2.05, 2.07,
               3.01,  3.02, 3.04, 4.02, 12.03, 12.04  and  12.05;
               and  (3) the rights, powers, duties and immunities
               of  the  Trustee  hereunder, and the  Trustee,  on
               demand  of the Company accompanied by an Officers'
               Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating
               that all conditions precedent herein provided  for
               relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this
               Indenture have been complied with and at the  cost
               and  expense  of the Company, shall  execute  such
               instruments  as  may be requested by  the  Company
               acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this
               Indenture  with  respect to such  series  of  Debt
               Securities.  Notwithstanding the satisfaction  and
               discharge  of this Indenture with respect  to  any
               series  of Debt Securities the obligations of  the
               Company  to  the Trustee under Section 7.06  shall
               survive.

      Section  1.05.  Mutatis Mutandis Effect.  The Indenture  is
hereby  amended  mutatis  mutandis to  reflect  the  addition  or
amendment  of  the  definitional  terms  incorporated  into   the
Indenture pursuant to Section 1.01 hereof.
                            ARTICLE 2
                           New Series

     Section 2.01.  7.55% Notes due 2007.

     a.   In accordance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02 of the Indenture,
       there is created hereby a series of Debt Securities under the
       Indenture with the following terms:
     
          A.   The title of the series of Debt Securities will be 7.55%
            Notes due 2007 (the "Notes due 2007").  Such series will be
            limited to an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 (except
            for Debt Securities  authenticated and delivered upon
            registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of,
            other such series pursuant to Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 3.04 or
            10.04 of the Indenture) and will mature on April 15, 2007.
          
          B.   The Notes due 2007 will bear interest at the rate of 7.55%
            per annum from  April 21, 1997, payable semiannually in arrears
            on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15,
            1997, to the persons in whose names the Notes due 2007 are
            registered at the close of business on the preceding April 1 or
            October 1, each a record date, as the case may be.  Interest will
            be computed based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
            months.  Any interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for
            shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on
            such record date and may be paid to the person in whose name this
            Note is registered at the close of business on a special record
            date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by
            the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to the holders of the
            Notes in accordance with Section 14.05.
          
          C.   The Notes due 2007 will not be subject to any sinking fund.
          
          D.   The Notes due 2007 will be redeemable as a whole or in part,
            at the option of the Company at any time, at a Redemption Price
            equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of each
            such Note to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values
            of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as hereinafter defined)
            thereon discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis
            (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at
            the Treasury Rate plus five basis points, plus, in either case,
            accrued interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the
            date of the redemption.
          
          E.   The Notes due 2007 initially will be represented by one or
            more Global Securities deposited with the Depository Trust
            Company in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1.  If
            certificated Notes due 2007 are issued, definitive certificates
            substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 2 shall be used.
          
          F.    Payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes due
            2007 will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee
            maintained for that purpose in New York, New York, in such coin
            or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
            payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
            provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
            option of the Company by check mailed to the address of, or by
            wire transfer to an account designated by, the person entitled
            thereto as such address shall appear on the security register;
            provided, further, that only holders of $1,000,000 or more in
            aggregate principal amount of the Notes who have provided
            appropriate written wire transfer instructions for the relevant
            record date may receive wire transfer payments.
          
          G.   The Notes due 2007 shall be governed by the provisions of
            the Indenture, as supplemented hereby.

     Section 2.02.  8.05% Notes due 2027

     a.   In accordance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02 of the Indenture,
       there is also created a series of Debt Securities under the
       Indenture with the following terms:

         A.    The title of the series of Debt Securities will be 8.05%
            Notes due 2027 (the "Notes due 2027").  Such series will be
            limited to an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 (except
            for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration
            of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other such
            series pursuant to Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 3.04 or 10.04 of
            the Indenture) and will mature on April 15, 2027.
          
         B.    The Notes due 2027 will bear interest at the rate of  8.05%
            per annum from April 21, 1997, payable semiannually in arrears on
            April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15,
            1997, to the persons in whose names the Notes due 2027 are
            registered at the close of business on the preceding April 1 or
            October 1, each a record date, as the case may be.  Interest will
            be computed based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
            months.  Any interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for
            shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on
            such record date and may be paid to the person in whose name this
            Note is registered at the close of business on a special record
            date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by
            the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to the holders of the
            Notes in accordance with Section 14.05.
          
         C.    The Notes due 2027 will not be subject to any sinking fund.
          
         D.    The Notes due 2027 will be redeemable as a whole or in part,
            at the option of the Company at any time, at a Redemption Price
            equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of each
            such Note to be redeemed, and (ii) the sum of the present values
            of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as hereinafter defined)
            thereon discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis
            (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at
            the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus, in either case,
            accrued interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the
            date of the redemption.
          
          E.   The Notes due 2027 initially will be represented by one or
            more Global Securities deposited with the Depository Trust
            Company in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1.  If
            certificated Notes due 2027 are issued, definitive certificates
            substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 2 shall be used.
          
          F.   Payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes due
            2027 will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee
            maintained for that purpose in New York, New York, in such coin
            or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
            payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
            provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
            option of the Company by check mailed to the address of, or by
            wire transfer to an account designated by, the person entitled
            thereto as such address shall appear on the security register;
            provided, further, that only holders of $1,000,000 or more in
            aggregate principal amount of the Notes who have provided
            appropriate written wire transfer instructions for the relevant
            record date may receive wire transfer payments.
          
          G.   The Notes due 2027 shall be governed by the provisions of
            the Indenture, as supplemented hereby.

       Section  2.03.   Definitions.    For  purposes   of   this
Section 2, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them
as follows:

       a. "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date,
       the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to
       maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for
       the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its
       principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
       redemption date.
          
       b. "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
       security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
       maturity comparable to the remaining term of such Notes to be
       redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in
       accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
       issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
       remaining term of such Notes.  "Independent Investment Banker"
       means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the
       Trustee after consultation with the Company.
     
       c.  "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any
       redemption date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for
       the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a
       percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day
       preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the  daily
       statistical release (or any successor release) published by the
       Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30
       p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if such
       release (or any successor release) is not published or does not
       contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of the
       Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date,
       (B) if the Trustee is able to obtain only one Reference Treasury
       Dealer Quotation from the Reference Treasury Dealers, such
       Quotation, or (C) if the Trustee is not able to obtain any
       Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations from the Reference Treasury
       Dealers, the average of Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations
       obtained from two other Primary Treasury Dealers designated by
       the Company as Reference Treasury Dealers for the purpose of
       determining such Comparable Treasury Price.  "Reference Treasury
       Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
       Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the
       Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
       Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal
       amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference
       Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding
       such redemption date.
     
       d. "Reference Treasury Dealer"  means each of Salomon Brothers
       Inc and NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc. and their respective
       successors; provided, however, that if either of the foregoing
       shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in
       New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall
       substitute therefor any other Primary Treasury Dealer.
     
       e. "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect to any
       such Note, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal
       thereof to be redeemed and interest thereon that would be due
       after the related redemption date but for such redemption;
       provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an
       interest payment date with respect to such Note, the amount of
       the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be
       reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to  such
       redemption date.

                            ARTICLE 3
                          Miscellaneous

      Section 3.01.  Effect of This First Supplemental Indenture.
This   First  Supplemental  Indenture  is  supplemental  to   the
Indenture  and does and shall be deemed to form a  part  of,  and
shall  be  construed  in connection with  and  as  part  of,  the
Indenture  for any and all purposes, including, but  not  limited
to, discharge of the Indenture as provided in Article EightTwelve
of  the  Indenture.  Except as specifically modified herein,  the
Indenture  and  the Debt Securities are in all respects  ratified
and  confirmed  and  shall remain in full  force  and  effect  in
accordance  with  their terms.  Notwithstanding anything  to  the
contrary above, Debt Securities outstanding as of April 21,  1997
continue to be governed by the provisions of the Indenture  dated
as of August 15, 1991.

      Section  3.02.   Trustee.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly
provided  herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities  are
assumed,  or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee  by
reason   of  this  First  Supplemental  Indenture.   This   First
Supplemental  Indenture is executed and accepted by  the  Trustee
subject  to  all  the  terms  and conditions  set  forth  in  the
Indenture  with the same force and effect as if those  terms  and
conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable  to
the  Trustee  with  respect  hereto.   The  Trustee  assumes   no
responsibility for the recitals contained herein, which shall  be
taken  as  statements of the Company, and makes no representation
as  to  the  validity  or sufficiency of this First  Supplemental
Indenture.

      Section 3.03.  Governing Law.  The laws of the State of New
York  shall  govern  this  First Supplemental  Indenture  without
regard  to principles of conflicts of law.  The Trustee  and  the
Company agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of  the
State  of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of  or
relating to this First Supplemental Indenture.

      Section  3.04.   Counterparts.  The parties  may  sign  any
number  of  copies  of this First Supplemental  Indenture.   Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies
together shall represent the same agreement.

      Section  3.05.  Severability.  In case one or more  of  the
provisions  in  this First Supplemental Indenture shall  be  held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason,
the validity, illegality and enforceability of any such provision
in  every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not
in  any  way  be affected or impaired thereby, it being  intended
that  all  of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable  to  the
full extent permitted by law.

      Section  3.06.   Effective Date of this First  Supplemental
Indenture.   This First Supplemental Indenture and the Amendments
to  Sections 1.01, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 6.01, 6.037 and 12.01  shall
be   effective  pursuant  to  Section  10.01  of  the   Indenture
immediately  upon execution by the Company and  delivery  to  and
execution by the Trustee of this First Supplemental Indenture.


      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF, the parties hereto have  caused  this
First  Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of  the
day and year first written above.

                                   FOOD LION, INC.


Attest:
                                   Laura Kendall
                                   Name: Laura Kendall
                                   Title:Vice President of Finance
By:Lester Nail
     Assistant Secretary

Dated:
[SEAL]                             [CORPORATE SEAL]


                                   THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                   as Trustee


Attest:
                               By: Vivian Deorges
                                   Name: Vivian Deorges
                                   Title: Assistant Vice President


By:_______________________________

Dated:
                                   [CORPORATE SEAL]

                            EXHIBIT 1
                                
                       FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE
                                

                        FOOD LION, INC.
                    _____% NOTES DUE ______


NO. *1*                                                      $150,000,000
                                                       CUSIP  NO.
__________

UNLESS   THIS   CERTIFICATE  IS  PRESENTED   BY   AN   AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE  OF  THE  DEPOSITORY TRUST  COMPANY,  A  NEW  YORK
CORPORATION  ("DTC"),  TO  FOOD  LION,  INC.  OR  ITS  AGENT  FOR
REGISTRATION   OF   TRANSFER,  EXCHANGE  OR  PAYMENT,   AND   ANY
CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR  IN
SUCH  OTHER  NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF  DTC  (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH  OTHER
ENTITY  AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF  DTC),
ANY  TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR  OTHERWISE
BY  OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

      This  Note  is  a  Global Note within the  meaning  of  the
Indenture hereinafter referred to.

     Transfer of the Note shall be limited to transfers in whole,
and not in part, to nominees of the DTC or to a successor thereof
or such successor's nominee and transfers of interests in this
Note shall be limited to transfers made in accordance with
restrictions set forth in the Indenture, dated as of August 15,
1991, as supplemented as of April 21, 1997 and thereafter,
between Food Lion, Inc. and the Trustee named therein, pursuant
to which this Note was issued.


       FOOD  LION,  Inc.,  a  North  Carolina  corporation   (the
"Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE  &
CO.,  or its registered assigns, the principal sum of One Hundred
Fifty  Million  Dollars ($150,000,000) on April 15,  _____.   The
Notes  will  bear interest at the rate of _____% per  annum  from
April  21, 1997, payable semiannually in arrears on April 15  and
October  15  of each year, commencing October 15,  1997,  to  the
persons  in whose name the Notes are registered at the  close  of
business  on  the preceding April 1 or October 1, each  a  record
date, as the case may be. Any interest not so punctually paid  or
duly  provided  for shall forthwith cease to be  payable  to  the
registered  holder on such record date and may  be  paid  to  the
person  in  whose name this Note is registered at  the  close  of
business  on  a  special  record date for  the  payment  of  such
defaulted  interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice  of  which
shall be given to the holders of the Notes in accordance with the
Indenture.   Interest will be computed based on  a  360-day  year
consisting of twelve 30-day months.  Payment of the principal  of
and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of
the Trustee maintained for that purpose in New York, New York, in
such  coin or currency of the United States of America as at  the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private
debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at
the  option of the Company by check mailed to the address of,  or
by wire transfer to an account designated by, the person entitled
thereto  as  such address shall appear on the security  register;
provided,  further, that only holders of $1,000,000  or  more  in
aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  Notes  who  have  provided
appropriate  written wire transfer instructions for the  relevant
record date may receive wire transfer payments.

      Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of  this
Note  set  forth on the reverse hereof, which further  provisions
shall  for all purposes have the same effect as if set  forth  at
this place.

      Unless  the certificate of authentication hereon  has  been
executed  by manual signature by the Trustee referred to  on  the
reverse  hereof, this Note shall not be entitled to  any  benefit
under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory of any purpose.

      IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument
to  be  duly executed under its corporate seal by the  manual  or
facsimile signatures of its officers thereunto duly authorized.

Dated:                                       FOOD LION, INC.


Attest:                                  By ___________________________

                                            _____________________________
______________________________
     Assistant Secretary




            TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This  is  one  of  the Debt Securities of the  series  designated
herein provided for in the within-mentioned Indenture.



Dated:                                THE  BANK OF NEW  YORK,  as Trustee.




                           By............................................
                                        Authorized Officer


                                  FOOD LION, INC.
ATTACHMENT
                   ______% NOTES DUE _______

      This  Note  is one of a duly authorized issue of  unsecured
debt   securities  of  the  Company  (herein  called  the   "Debt
Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, all issued  and
to  be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 15, 1991 and
supplemented  as of April 21, 1997 and thereafter (herein  called
the "Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as
Trustee  (herein  called  the  "Trustee"),  to  which  Indenture,
reference  is  hereby  made  for a statement  of  the  respective
rights, limitations of rights, duties, obligations and immunities
thereunder  of  the Company, the Trustee and the Holders  of  the
Debt  Securities, and of the terms upon which the Debt Securities
are,  and  are  to  be,  authenticated and  delivered.  The  Debt
Securities  may be issued in one or more series, which  different
series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts,  may
mature  at  different  times,  may  bear  interest  (if  any)  at
different   rates,   may  be  subject  to  different   redemption
provisions  (if any), and may otherwise vary as in the  Indenture
provided.  This Note is one of a series designated as the  _____%
Notes  due  _____ of the Company, limited in aggregate  principal
amount to $150,000,000 (herein called the "Notes").

      As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations
set  forth  therein,  a  new Note or  Notes  of  this  series  of
authorized denominations, for a like aggregate principal  amount,
will be issued in exchange herefor.

     The Company, the Trustee and any agent thereof may treat the
person  in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof
for  all  purposes,  whether or not this  Note  is  overdue,  and
neither  the  Company  or the Trustee nor  such  agent  shall  be
affected by notice to the contrary.

      No  reference herein to the Indenture and no  provision  of
this  Note  shall alter or impair the obligation of the  Company,
which  is  absolute and unconditional, to pay the  principal  and
interest on this Note at the time and places and at the rate  and
in the coin and currency herein prescribed.

      The  Notes  will not be subject to any sinking  fund.   The
Notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option  of
the  Company  at  any time, at a Redemption Price  equal  to  the
greater  of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes  to  be
redeemed  and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining
Scheduled Payments thereon discounted to the redemption date on a
semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-
day months) at the Treasury Rate plus ____ basis points plus,  in
either  case,  accrued  interest on the  principal  amount  being
redeemed  to  the date of redemption.  Notice of  any  redemption
will  be  mailed  at least 30 days, but not more  than  60  days,
before  the  redemption date to each holder of any  Notes  to  be
redeemed,  all as provided in the Indenture.  Unless the  Company
defaults  in  payment of the Redemption Price on  and  after  the
redemption  date,  interest  will  cease  to  accrue  after   the
redemption  date  for such Notes or portions thereof  called  for
redemption.

      "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date,
the  rate  per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield  to
maturity  of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price  for
the  Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of  its
principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
redemption date.

     "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
maturity  comparable to the remaining term of such  Notes  to  be
redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and  in
accordance  with  customary financial practice,  in  pricing  new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining  term  of such Notes.  "Independent Investment  Banker"
means  one  of  the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed  by  the
Trustee after consultation with the Company.

      "Comparable  Treasury Price" means,  with  respect  to  any
redemption date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices  for
the  Comparable  Treasury Issue (expressed  in  each  case  as  a
percentage  of  its principal amount) on the third  business  day
preceding  such  redemption  date, as  set  forth  in  the  daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published  by  the
Federal  Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite  3:30
p.m.  Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if  such
release  (or any successor release) is not published or does  not
contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of  the
Reference  Treasury Dealer Quotations for such  redemption  date,
(B)  if the Trustee is able to obtain only one Reference Treasury
Dealer  Quotation  from  the  Reference  Treasury  Dealers,  such
Quotation,  or  (C)  if the Trustee is not  able  to  obtain  any
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations from the Reference  Treasury
Dealers,  the  average  of Reference Treasury  Dealer  Quotations
obtained  from  two other Primary Treasury Dealers designated  by
the  Company  as  Reference Treasury Dealers for the  purpose  of
determining such Comparable Treasury Price.  "Reference  Treasury
Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the
Trustee,  of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
Issue  (expressed in each case as a percentage of  its  principal
amount)  quoted  in  writing  to the Trustee  by  such  Reference
Treasury  Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding
such redemption date.

      "Reference Treasury Dealer"  means each of Salomon Brothers
Inc  and  NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc. and their  respective
successors;  provided, however, that if either of  the  foregoing
shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer  in
New  York  City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company  shall
substitute therefor any other Primary Treasury Dealer.

      "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect  to  any
such  Note,  the  remaining scheduled payments of  the  principal
thereof  to  be redeemed and interest thereon that would  be  due
after  the  related  redemption date  but  for  such  redemption;
provided,  however,  that,  if such redemption  date  is  not  an
interest  payment date with respect to such Note, the  amount  of
the  next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon  will  be
reduced  by  the  amount  of interest  accrued  thereon  to  such
redemption date.

      The  Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as  therein
provided,  the  amendment  thereof and the  modification  of  the
rights  and  obligations of the Company and  the  rights  of  the
Holders of the Debt Securities under the Indenture at any time by
the  Company with the consent of the Holders of more than 50%  in
aggregate  principal amount of the Debt Securities of all  series
at  the  time Outstanding which are affected by the amendment  or
modification (voting as a class) and also permits the Company and
the  Trustee,  in certain circumstances, to amend  the  Indenture
without notice to, or the consent of, the Holders of any  of  the
Debt  Securities.  Any such consent by the Holder  of  this  Note
shall  be  conclusive and binding upon such holder and  upon  all
future  Holders  of this Note and of any Notes  issued  upon  the
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof  whether
or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

      The  Indenture  and  the Notes shall be  governed  by,  and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

      All  terms  used  in  the Notes which are  defined  in  the
Indenture, shall have the meanings assigned to them therein.
                           ASSIGNMENT

        (To be executed by the registered holder if such
             holder desires to transfer This Note)


       FOR   VALUE  RECEIVED  ___________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto




PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF TRANSFEREE


_________________________________________________________________
(Please   print  name  and  address,  including  zip   code,   of
transferee)


this Note, together with all right, title and interest herein and
does  hereby  irrevocably constitute and appoint_________________
Attorney  to transfer this on the Note Register, with full  power
of substitution.

Dated: _______________________          _________________________
                                        Signature


                                        Signature Guaranteed:
                                        Commercial Bank or Trust
                                        Company of Member Firm of
                                        the New York Stock
                                        Exchange, Inc.


NOTICE:    The   signature  to  the  foregoing  Assignment   must
correspond to the Name as written upon the face of this  Note  in
every particular, without alterations or any change whatsoever.


                            EXHIBIT 2
                                
                     FORM OF DEFINITIVE NOTE
                                
                        FOOD LION, INC.
                    ______% NOTES DUE ______


NO.*1*                                                      $150,000,000
                                                       CUSIP  NO.
__________

     This Note is issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of
August 15, 1991, as supplemented as of April 21, 1997 and
thereafter, between Food Lion, Inc. and the Trustee named
therein.

       FOOD  LION,  Inc.,  a  North  Carolina  corporation   (the
"Company"),  for  value  received,  hereby  promises  to  pay  to
__________________, or its registered assigns, the principal  sum
__________________________    Dollars    ($_______________)    on
April  15, ______.  The Notes will bear interest at the  rate  of
______%  per  annum from April 21, 1997, payable semiannually  in
arrears  on  April  15  and October 15 of each  year,  commencing
October  15,  1997, to the persons in whose name  the  Notes  are
registered at the close of business on the preceding April  1  or
October  1, each a record date, as the case may be. Any  interest
not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease
to  be  payable to the registered holder on such record date  and
may  be  paid to the person on whose name this Note is registered
at the close of business on a special record date for the payment
of  such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of
which  shall  be given to the holders of the Notes in  accordance
with the Indenture.  Interest will be computed based on a 360-day
year  consisting  of  twelve  30-day  months.   Payment  of   the
principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office
or agency of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in New York,
New  York,  in  such  coin or currency of the  United  States  of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment  of
public  and  private debts; provided, however,  that  payment  of
interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed
to  the  address of, or by wire transfer to an account designated
by,  the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear  on
the  security register; provided, further, that only  holders  of
$1,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes who
have provided appropriate written wire transfer instructions  for
the relevant record date may receive wire transfer payments.

      Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of  this
Note  set  forth on the reverse hereof, which further  provisions
shall  for all purposes have the same effect as if set  forth  at
this place.

      Unless  the certificate of authentication hereon  has  been
executed  by manual signature by the Trustee referred to  on  the
reverse  hereof, this Note shall not be entitled to  any  benefit
under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory of any purpose.
      IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument
to  be duly executed by the manual or facsimile signatures of its
officers thereunto duly authorized.

Dated:                                       FOOD LION, INC.


Attest:                                By  ___________________________

                                           _____________________________
______________________________
     Assistant Secretary




            TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This  is  one  of  the Debt Securities of the  series  designated
herein provided for in the within-mentioned Indenture.



Dated:                                THE  BANK OF NEW  YORK,  as Trustee.




                              By............................................
                                        Authorized Officer


                                  FOOD LION,INC.
ATTACHMENT
                   _____% NOTES DUE ________

      This  Note  is one of a duly authorized issue of  unsecured
debt   securities  of  the  Company  (herein  called  the   "Debt
Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, all issued  and
to  be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 15, 1991 and
supplemented  as of April 21, 1997 and thereafter (herein  called
the "Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as
Trustee  (herein  called  the  "Trustee"),  to  which  Indenture,
reference  is  hereby  made  for a statement  of  the  respective
rights, limitations of rights, duties, obligations and immunities
thereunder  of  the Company, the Trustee and the Holders  of  the
Debt  Securities, and of the terms upon which the Debt Securities
are,  and  are  to  be,  authenticated and  delivered.  The  Debt
Securities  may be issued in one or more series, which  different
series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts,  may
mature  at  different  times,  may  bear  interest  (if  any)  at
different   rates,   may  be  subject  to  different   redemption
provisions  (if any), and may otherwise vary as in the  Indenture
provided.  This Note is one of a series designated as the ______%
Notes  due  ______ of the Company, limited in aggregate principal
amount to $150,000,000 (herein called the "Notes").

      As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations
set  forth  therein,  a  new Note or  Notes  of  this  series  of
authorized denominations, for a like aggregate principal  amount,
will be issued in exchange herefor.

     The Company, the Trustee and any agent thereof may treat the
person  in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof
for  all  purposes,  whether or not this  Note  is  overdue,  and
neither  the  Company  or the Trustee nor  such  agent  shall  be
affected by notice to the contrary.

      No  reference herein to the Indenture and no  provision  of
this  Note  shall alter or impair the obligation of the  Company,
which  is  absolute and unconditional, to pay the  principal  and
interest on this Note at the time and places and at the rate  and
in the coin and currency herein prescribed.

      The  Notes  will not be subject to any sinking  fund.   The
Notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option  of
the  Company  at  any time, at a Redemption Price  equal  to  the
greater  of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes  to  be
redeemed  and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining
Scheduled Payments thereon discounted to the redemption date on a
semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-
day months) at the Treasury Rate plus ____ basis points plus,  in
either  case,  accrued  interest on the  principal  amount  being
redeemed  to  the date of redemption.  Notice of  any  redemption
will  be  mailed  at least 30 days, but not more  than  60  days,
before  the  redemption date to each holder of any  Notes  to  be
redeemed,  all as provided in the Indenture.  Unless the  Company
defaults  in  payment of the Redemption Price on  and  after  the
redemption  date,  interest  will  cease  to  accrue  after   the
redemption  date  for such Notes or portions thereof  called  for
redemption.

      "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date,
the  rate  per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield  to
maturity  of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price  for
the  Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of  its
principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
redemption date.

     "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
maturity  comparable to the remaining term of such  Notes  to  be
redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and  in
accordance  with  customary financial practice,  in  pricing  new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining  term  of such Notes.  "Independent Investment  Banker"
means  one  of  the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed  by  the
Trustee after consultation with the Company.

      "Comparable  Treasury Price" means,  with  respect  to  any
redemption date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices  for
the  Comparable  Treasury Issue (expressed  in  each  case  as  a
percentage  of  its principal amount) on the third  business  day
preceding  such  redemption  date, as  set  forth  in  the  daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published  by  the
Federal  Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite  3:30
p.m.  Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if  such
release  (or any successor release) is not published or does  not
contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of  the
Reference  Treasury Dealer Quotations for such  redemption  date,
(B)  if the Trustee is able to obtain only one Reference Treasury
Dealer  Quotation  from  the  Reference  Treasury  Dealers,  such
Quotation,  or  (C)  if the Trustee is not  able  to  obtain  any
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations from the Reference  Treasury
Dealers,  the  average  of Reference Treasury  Dealer  Quotations
obtained  from  two other Primary Treasury Dealers designated  by
the  Company  as  Reference Treasury Dealers for the  purpose  of
determining such Comparable Treasury Price.  "Reference  Treasury
Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the
Trustee,  of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
Issue  (expressed in each case as a percentage of  its  principal
amount)  quoted  in  writing  to the Trustee  by  such  Reference
Treasury  Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding
such redemption date.

      "Reference Treasury Dealer"  means each of Salomon Brothers
Inc  and  NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc. and their  respective
successors;  provided, however, that if either of  the  foregoing
shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer  in
New  York  City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company  shall
substitute therefor any other Primary Treasury Dealer.

      "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect  to  any
such  Note,  the  remaining scheduled payments of  the  principal
thereof  to  be redeemed and interest thereon that would  be  due
after  the  related  redemption date  but  for  such  redemption;
provided,  however,  that,  if such redemption  date  is  not  an
interest  payment date with respect to such Note, the  amount  of
the  next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon  will  be
reduced  by  the  amount  of interest  accrued  thereon  to  such
redemption date.

      The  Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as  therein
provided,  the  amendment  thereof and the  modification  of  the
rights  and  obligations of the Company and  the  rights  of  the
Holders of the Debt Securities under the Indenture at any time by
the  Company with the consent of the Holders of more than 50%  in
aggregate  principal amount of the Debt Securities of all  series
at  the  time Outstanding which are affected by the amendment  or
modification (voting as a class) and also permits the Company and
the  Trustee,  in certain circumstances, to amend  the  Indenture
without notice to, or the consent of, the Holders of any  of  the
Debt  Securities.  Any such consent by the Holder  of  this  Note
shall  be  conclusive and binding upon such holder and  upon  all
future  Holders  of this Note and of any Notes  issued  upon  the
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof  whether
or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

      The  Indenture  and  the Notes shall be  governed  by,  and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

      All  terms  used  in  the Notes which are  defined  in  the
Indenture, shall have the meanings assigned to them therein.


                           ASSIGNMENT

        (To be executed by the registered holder if such
             holder desires to transfer This Note)


       FOR   VALUE  RECEIVED  ___________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto




PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF TRANSFEREE


_________________________________________________________________
(Please   print  name  and  address,  including  zip   code,   of
transferee)


this Note, together with all right, title and interest herein and
does  hereby  irrevocably constitute and appoint_________________
Attorney  to transfer this on the Note Register, with full  power
of substitution.

Dated: _______________________          _________________________
                                        Signature


                                        Signature Guaranteed:
                                        Commercial Bank or Trust
                                        Company of Member Firm of
                                        the New York Stock
                                        Exchange, Inc.


NOTICE:    The   signature  to  the  foregoing  Assignment   must
correspond to the Name as written upon the face of this  Note  in
every particular, without alterations or any change whatsoever.






                         Food Lion, Inc.

                     Underwriting Agreement


                                               New York, New York
                                                  April 16,  1997


To the Representative
     named in Schedule I
     hereto of the Underwriters
     named in Schedule II
     hereto


Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Food Lion, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to sell to the underwriters named in
Schedule II hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you (the
"Representative") are acting as representative, the principal
amount of its securities identified in Schedule I hereto (the
"Securities"), to be issued under an indenture dated as of August
15, 1991 and as supplemented from time to time (the "Indenture"),
between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Trustee").

          1.  Representations and Warranties.  The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as
set forth below in this Section 1.  Certain terms used in this
Section 1 are defined in paragraph (c) hereof.

          (a)  The Company has met the requirements for the use
     of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") and
     has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
     "Commission") a registration statement (the file number of
     which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on such Form,
     including a basic prospectus, for registration under the Act
     of the offering and sale of the Securities.  The Company may
     have filed one or more amendments thereto, and may have used
     a Preliminary Final Prospectus, each of which has previously
     been furnished to you.  Such registration statement, as so
     amended, has become effective.  The offering of the
     Securities is a Delayed Offering and, although the Basic
     Prospectus may not include all the information with respect
     to the Securities and the offering thereof required by the
     Act and the rules thereunder to be included in the Final
     Prospectus, the Basic Prospectus includes all such
     information required by the Act and the rules thereunder to
     be included therein as of the Execution Time.  The Company
     will next file with the Commission pursuant to Rules 415 and
     424(b)(2) or (5) a final supplement to the form of
     prospectus included in such registration statement relating
     to the Securities and the offering thereof.  As filed, such
     final prospectus supplement shall include all required
     information, with respect to the Securities and the offering
     thereof and, except to the extent the Representative shall
     agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all
     substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to
     the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the
     Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional
     information and other changes (beyond that contained in the
     Basic Prospectus and any Preliminary Final Prospectus) as
     the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time,
     will be included or made therein.
     
          (b)  At the Execution Time, the Registration Statement
     did or will, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in
     accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the
     Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply
     in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
     the Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
     Act") and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust
     Indenture Act") and the respective rules thereunder; at the
     Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not or will
     not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
     to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary in order to make the statements therein not
     misleading; at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date
     the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects
     with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the
     rules thereunder; and on the date of any filing pursuant to
     Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus
     (together with any supplement thereto) will not, include any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
     Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i)
     that part of the Registration Statement which shall
     constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification
     (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or
     (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the
     Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any
     supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
     information furnished in writing to the Company by or on
     behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative
     specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or
     the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

          (c)  The terms which follow, when used in this
     Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.  The term "the
     Effective Date" shall mean each date that the Registration
     Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments
     thereto became or become effective.  "Execution Time" shall
     mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
     delivered by the parties hereto.  "Basic Prospectus" shall
     mean the basic prospectus referred to in the first sentence
     of paragraph (a) above contained in the Registration
     Statement at the Effective Date or, if such basic prospectus
     has been amended after the Effective Date, the basic
     prospectus as most recently amended and filed pursuant to
     Rule 424(b).  "Preliminary Final Prospectus" shall mean any
     preliminary prospectus supplement to the Basic Prospectus
     which describes the Securities and the offering thereof and
     is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus.  "Final
     Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to
     the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
     after the Execution Time, together with the Basic
     Prospectus.  "Registration Statement" shall mean the
     registration statement referred to in the first sentence of
     paragraph (a) above, including incorporated documents,
     exhibits and financial statements, as amended at the
     Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective
     amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing
     Date (as hereinafter defined), shall also mean such
     registration statement as so amended.  Such term shall
     include any Rule 430A Information deemed to be included
     therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A.
     "Rule 415", "Rule 424", "Rule 430A" and "Regulation S-K"
     refer to such rules or regulation under the Act.  "Rule 430A
     Information" means information with respect to the
     Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted
     from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective
     pursuant to Rule 430A.  Any reference herein to the
     Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus any Preliminary
     Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to
     refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference
     therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed
     under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of
     the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic
     Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
     Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to
     the terms "amend", "amendment" or "supplement", with respect
     to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any
     Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, shall
     be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document
     under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the
     Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic
     Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
     Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated
     therein by reference. A "Delayed Offering" shall mean an
     offering of securities pursuant to Rule 415 which does not
     commence promptly after the effective date of a registration
     statement, with the result that only information required
     pursuant to Rule 415 need be included in such registration
     statement at the effective date thereof with respect to the
     securities so offered.

          2.  Purchase and Sale.  Subject to the terms and
conditions and in reliance upon the representations and
warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each
Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set
forth in Schedule I hereto, the principal amount of the
Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule
II.

          3.  Delivery and Payment.  Delivery of and payment for
the Securities shall be made on the date and at the time
specified in Schedule I hereto (or such later date not later than
three business days after such specified date as the
Representative shall designate), which date and time may be
postponed by agreement between the Representative and the Company
or as provided in Section 8 hereof (such date and time of
delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the
"Closing Date").  Delivery of the Securities shall be made
through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company to the
respective accounts of the Underwriters against payment by each
of the Underwriters through the Representative of the purchase
price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire
transfer of same day funds to an account specified in writing by
the Company not less than two business days prior to the Closing
Date.  Delivery of the Securities shall be made at such location
as the Representative shall reasonably designate at least one
business day in advance of the Closing Date and payment for the
Securities shall be made at the office specified in Schedule I
hereto.  Certificates for the Securities shall be registered in
such names and in such denominations as the Representative may
request not less than three full business days in advance of the
Closing Date.

          The Company agrees to have the Securities available for
inspection, checking and packaging by the Representative in New
York, New York, not later than 1:00 PM on the business day prior
to the Closing Date.

          4.  Agreements.  The Company agrees with each of the
Underwriters that:

          (a)  Prior to the termination of the offering of the
     Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the
     Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final
     Prospectus or any Preliminary Final Prospectus) to the Basic
     Prospectus unless the Company has furnished you a copy for
     your review prior to filing and will not file any such
     proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably
     object.  Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Company will
     cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any
     supplement thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant
     to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time
     period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to
     the Representative of such timely filing.  The Company will
     promptly advise the Representative (i) when the Final
     Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been
     filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii)
     when, prior to termination of the offering of the
     Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement
     shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any
     request by the Commission for any amendment of the
     Registration Statement or supplement to the Final Prospectus
     or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by
     the Commission of any stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
     institution or threatening of any proceeding for that
     purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
     notification with respect to the suspension of the
     qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
     or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
     purpose.  The Company will use its best efforts to prevent
     the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to
     obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
     
          (b)  If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
     Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any
     event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as
     then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
     to make the statements therein in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or
     if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement
     or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or
     the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the
     Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission,
     subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this
     Section 4, an amendment or supplement which will correct
     such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
     
          (c)  As soon as practicable, the Company will make
     generally available to its security holders and to the
     Representative an earnings statement or statements of the
     Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the
     provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under
     the Act.
     
          (d)  The Company will furnish to the Representative and
     counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the
     Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so
     long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer
     may be required by the Act, as many copies of any
     Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and
     any supplement thereto as the Representative may reasonably
     request.  The Company will pay the expenses of printing or
     other production of all documents relating to the offering.
     
          (e)  Until the business date set forth on Schedule I
     hereto, the Company will not, without the consent of the
     Representative, offer, sell or contract to sell, or announce
     the offering of, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by
     the Company (other than the Securities).
     
          5.  Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters.
The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities
shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the
Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the
statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to
the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

          (a)  The Final Prospectus, and any such supplement,
     shall have been filed in the manner and within the time
     period required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending
     the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
     been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have
     been instituted or threatened.
     
          (b)  The Company shall have furnished to the
     Representative the opinion of Glenn Dixon, Assistant General
     Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the
     effect that:
     
               (i)  each of the Company and Kash n' Karry Food
          Stores, Inc. (the "Subsidiary") has been duly
          incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation
          in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
          which it is chartered or organized, with full corporate
          power and authority to own its properties and conduct
          its business as described in the Final Prospectus, and
          is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
          corporation and is in good standing under the laws of
          each jurisdiction which requires such qualification
          wherein it owns or leases material properties or
          conducts material business;
          
               (ii)  all the outstanding shares of capital stock
          of the Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized
          and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and,
          except as otherwise set forth in the Final Prospectus,
          all outstanding shares of capital stock of the
          Subsidiary are owned by the Company either directly or
          through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any
          perfected security interest and, to the knowledge of
          such counsel, after due inquiry, any other security
          interests, claims, liens or encumbrances;
          
               (iii)  the Company's authorized equity
          capitalization is as set forth in the Final Prospectus;
          and the Securities conform to the description thereof
          contained in the Final Prospectus;
          
               (iv)  the Indenture has been duly authorized,
          executed and delivered and constitutes a legal, valid
          and binding instrument enforceable against the Company
          in accordance with its terms (subject, as to
          enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,
          reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws
          affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time
          in effect); and the Securities have been duly
          authorized and, when executed and authenticated in
          accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and
          delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant
          to this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and
          binding obligations of the Company entitled to the
          benefits of the Indenture;
          
               (v)  to the best knowledge of such counsel, there
          is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding
          before any court or governmental agency, authority or
          body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of
          its subsidiaries, of a character required to be
          disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not
          adequately disclosed in the Final Prospectus, and there
          is no franchise, contract or other document of a
          character required to be described in the Registration
          Statement or Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an
          exhibit, which is not described or filed as required;
          and the statements included or incorporated in the
          Final Prospectus describing any legal proceedings or
          material contracts or agreements relating to the
          Company fairly summarize such matters;
          
               (vi)  such counsel has no reason to believe that
          at the Execution Time the Registration Statement
          contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
          omitted to state any material fact required to be
          stated therein or necessary to make the statements
          therein not misleading or that on the date of any
          filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date
          the Final Prospectus included or includes any untrue
          statement of a material fact or omits to state a
          material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
          in the light of the circumstances under which they were
          made, not misleading;
          
               (vii)  this Agreement has been duly authorized,
          executed and delivered by the Company;
          
               (viii)  no consent, approval, authorization or
          order of any court or governmental agency or body is
          required for the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained
          under the Act and such as may be required under the
          blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with
          the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the
          Underwriters and such other approvals (specified in
          such opinion) as have been obtained; and
          
               (ix)  neither the issue and sale of the
          Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the
          transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of
          the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach
          of, or constitute a default under the charter or
          by-laws of the Company or the terms of any indenture or
          other agreement or instrument known to such counsel and
          to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
          party or bound, or any order or decree known to such
          counsel to be applicable to the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
          administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator
          having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries.
          
          In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as
     to matters involving the application of laws of any
     jurisdiction other than the State of North Carolina or the
     United States, to the extent deemed proper and specified in
     such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good
     standing believed to be reliable and who are satisfactory to
     counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters of fact,
     to the extent deemed proper, on certificates of responsible
     officers of the Company and public officials.  References to
     the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (b) include any
     supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
     
          (c)  The Company shall have furnished to the
     Representative the opinion of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &
     Feld, L.L.P., counsel to the Company, dated the Closing
     Date, to the effect that:
     
               (i) each of the Company and the Subsidiary has
          been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
          corporation in good standing under the laws of the
          jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized,
          with full corporate power and authority to own its
          properties and conduct its business as described in the
          Final Prospectus.
          
               (ii)  the Indenture has been duly authorized,
          executed and delivered, has been duly qualified under
          the Trust Indenture Act, and constitutes a legal, valid
          and binding instrument enforceable against the Company
          in accordance with its terms (subject, as to
          enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,
          reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws
          affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time
          in effect); and the Securities have been duly
          authorized and, when executed and authenticated in
          accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and
          delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant
          to this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and
          binding obligations of the Company entitled to the
          benefits of the Indenture;
          
               (iii)  to the knowledge of such counsel, there is
          no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding
          before any court or governmental agency, authority or
          body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of
          its subsidiaries, of a character required to be
          disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not
          adequately disclosed in the Final Prospectus; and the
          statements included or incorporated in the Final
          Prospectus describing any legal proceedings known to
          such counsel or material contracts or agreements
          relating to the Company and known to such counsel
          fairly summarize such matters;
          
               (iv)  the Registration Statement has become
          effective under the Act; any required filing of the
          Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus and
          the Final Prospectus, and any supplements thereto,
          pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and
          within the time period required by Rule 424(b); to the
          best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
          suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
          Statement has been issued, no proceedings for that
          purpose have been instituted or threatened, and the
          Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (other
          than the financial statements and other financial and
          statistical information contained therein as to which
          such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form
          in all material respects with the applicable
          requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust
          Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; and
          such counsel has no reason to believe that at the
          Execution Time the Registration Statement contained any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
          any material fact required to be stated therein or
          necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
          or that on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule
          424(b) and on the Closing Date the Final Prospectus
          included or includes any untrue statement of a material
          fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to
          make the statements therein, in the light of the
          circumstances under which they were made, not
          misleading;
          
               (v)  this Agreement has been duly authorized,
          executed and delivered by the Company;
          
               (vi)  neither the issue and sale of the
          Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the
          transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of
          the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach
          of, or constitute a default under the charter or
          by-laws of the Company or the terms of any indenture or
          other agreement or instrument known to such counsel and
          to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
          party or bound or any order or decree known to such
          counsel to be applicable to the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
          administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator
          having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries; and
          
               (vii)  no consent, approval, authorization or
          order of any court or governmental agency or body is
          required for the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained
          under the Act and such as may be required under the
          blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with
          the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the
          Underwriters and such other approvals (specified in
          such opinion) as have been obtained.
          
          In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as
     to matters involving the application of laws of any
     jurisdiction other than the State of New York or the United
     States, to the extent deemed proper and specified in such
     opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing
     believed to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel
     for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters of fact, to the
     extent deemed proper, on certificates of responsible
     officers of the Company and public officials.  References to
     the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (c) include any
     supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
     
          (d) The Representative shall have received from Cleary,
     Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, counsel for the Underwriters,
     such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with
     respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the
     Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus
     (together with any supplement thereto) and other related
     matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and
     the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such
     documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them
     to pass upon such matters.
     
          (e)  The Company shall have furnished to the
     Representative a certificate of the Company, signed by the
     Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and the Director of
     Accounting, Treasurer, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
     that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined
     the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus, any
     supplement to the Final Prospectus and this Agreement and
     that:
     
               (i)  the representations and warranties of the
          Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all
          material respects on and as of the Closing Date with
          the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the
          Company has complied with all the agreements and
          satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
          performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
          
               (ii)  no stop order suspending the effectiveness
          of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
          proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or,
          to the Company's knowledge, threatened; and
          
               (iii)  since the date of the most recent financial
          statements included in the Final Prospectus (exclusive
          of any supplement thereto), there has been no material
          adverse change in the condition (financial or other),
          earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
          subsidiaries, whether or not arising from transactions
          in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth
          in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive
          of any supplement thereto).
          
          (f)  At the Execution Time, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
     shall have furnished to the Representative a letter or
     letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to
     the Representative), dated as of the date of the Execution
     Time, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Representative, confirming that they are independent
     accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange
     Act and the respective applicable published rules and
     regulations thereunder and stating in effect that:
     
               (i)  in their opinion the audited financial
          statements and financial statement schedules included
          or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
          Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply in form
          in all material respects with the applicable accounting
          requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the
          related published rules and regulations;
          
               (ii)  on the basis of a reading, and limited
          review in accordance with standards established by the
          American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, of
          the latest unaudited financial statements made
          available by the Company and its subsidiaries; carrying
          out certain specified procedures (but not an
          examination in accordance with generally accepted
          auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal
          matters of significance with respect to the comments
          set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of
          the meetings of the stockholders, directors and the
          audit, profit sharing, stock option, senior management
          compensation and management succession plan committees
          of the Company and the Subsidiary; and inquiries of
          certain officials of the Company who have
          responsibility for financial and accounting matters of
          the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and
          events subsequent to the date of the most recent
          audited financial statements in or incorporated in the
          Final Prospectus, nothing came to their attention which
          caused them to believe that:
          
                    (1)  any unaudited financial statements
               included or incorporated in the Registration
               Statement and the Final Prospectus do not comply
               in form in all material respects with applicable
               accounting requirements and with the published
               rules and regulations of the Commission with
               respect to financial statements included or
               incorporated in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
               under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited
               financial statements are not in conformity with
               generally accepted accounting principles applied
               on a basis substantially consistent with that of
               the audited financial statements included or
               incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
               Final Prospectus;
               
                    (2) with respect to the period subsequent to
               the date of the most recent financial statements
               (other than any capsule information), audited or
               unaudited, in or incorporated in the Registration
               Statement and the Final Prospectus, there were any
               changes, at a specified date not more than five
               business days prior to the date of the letter, in
               the long-term debt, working capital or
               shareholders equity of the Company and its
               subsidiaries as compared with the amounts shown on
               the most recent consolidated balance sheet
               included or incorporated in the Registration
               Statement and the Final Prospectus, or for the
               period from the date of the most recent financial
               statements included or incorporated in the
               Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus to
               such specified date there were any decreases, as
               compared with the corresponding period in the
               preceding year, in net sales, income before income
               taxes, or net income, except in all instances for
               changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in
               which case the letter shall be accompanied by an
               explanation by the Company as to the significance
               thereof unless said explanation is not deemed
               necessary by the Representative; or
               
                    (3)  the amounts included in any unaudited
               "capsule" information included or incorporated in
               the Registration Statement and the Final
               Prospectus do not agree with the amounts set forth
               in the unaudited financial statements for the same
               periods or were not determined on a basis
               substantially consistent with that of the
               corresponding amounts in the audited financial
               statements included or incorporated in the
               Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus
               and in conformity with generally accepted
               accounting principles; and
               
               (iii)  they have performed certain other specified
          procedures as a result of which they determined that
          certain information of an accounting, financial or
          statistical nature (which is limited to accounting,
          financial or statistical information derived from the
          general accounting records of the Company and its
          subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement
          and the Final Prospectus and in Exhibit 12 to the
          Registration Statement, including the information
          included or incorporated in Items 1, 5,  6, 7, 8, 9,
          and 11 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report on
          Form 10-K, incorporated in the Registration Statement
          and the Final Prospectus, and the information included
          in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
          Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included
          or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
          Final Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of
          the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any
          questions of legal interpretation.
          
          References to the Final Prospectus in this
paragraph (f) include any supplement thereto at the date of the
letter.

          In addition at the Closing Date, Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P. shall have furnished to the Representative a letter or
letters, dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect set forth
above.

          (g)  Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier,
     the dates as of which information is given in the
     Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof)
     and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
     thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or
     decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in
     paragraph (f) of this Section 5 or (ii) any change, or any
     development involving a prospective change, in or affecting
     the business or properties of the Company and its
     subsidiaries, the effect of which, in any case referred to
     in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the judgment of the
     Representative, so material and adverse as to make it
     impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or
     the delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the
     Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof)
     and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
     thereto).
     
          (h)  Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not
     have been any decrease in the ratings of any of the
     Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized
     statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of
     Rule 436(g) under the Act) or any notice given of any
     intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a
     possible change in any such rating that does not indicate
     the direction of the possible change.
     
          (i)  Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
     furnished to the Representative such further information,
     certificates and documents as the Representative may
     reasonably request.
     
          If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5
shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and
as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and
certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall
not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to the Representative and counsel for the
Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior
to, the Closing Date by the Representative.  Notice of such
cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by
telephone or telecopy confirmed in writing.

          6.  Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses.  If the
sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated
because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set
forth in Section 5 hereof is not satisfied, because of any
termination pursuant to Section 9 hereof or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to
perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof
other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the
Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally upon demand for
all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them
in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the
Securities.

          7.  Indemnification and Contribution.

          (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
     each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and
     agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any
     Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the
     Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
     liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them
     may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other
     Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law
     or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
     liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
     are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
     statement of a material fact contained in the registration
     statement for the registration of the Securities as
     originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the
     Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the
     Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement
     thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
     alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such
     indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other
     expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
     investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
     liability or action; provided, however, that (i) this
     indemnity with respect to any Preliminary Final Prospectus
     or Basic Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
     Underwriter (or any director, officer, employee or agent of
     such Underwriter or any person controlling such Underwriter)
     from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage
     or liability purchased the Securities which are the subject
     thereof if there was not sent or given to such person a copy
     of the Final Prospectus (or the Final Prospectus as then
     amended or supplemented) (exclusive of material incorporated
     therein by reference) at or prior to the confirmation of the
     sale of such Securities to such person in any case where
     such delivery is required by the Act, and the untrue
     statement or omission of a material fact contained in the
     Preliminary Final Prospectus or Basic Prospectus was
     corrected in such Final Prospectus (or Final Prospectus as
     so amended or supplemented) and the Company previously
     furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter and (ii) the
     Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent
     that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
     or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue
     statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in
     reliance upon and in conformity with written information
     furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter
     through the Representative specifically for inclusion
     therein.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
     any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
     
          (b)  Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and
     hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of
     its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each
     person who controls the Company within the meaning of either
     the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the
     foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter,
     but only with reference to written information relating to
     such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
     such Underwriter through the Representative specifically for
     inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing
     indemnity.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
     any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.  The
     Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the
     last paragraph of the cover page and under the heading
     "Underwriting", respectively, in the Preliminary Final
     Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only
     information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any of
     the Underwriters for inclusion in the documents referred to
     in the foregoing indemnity, and you, as the Representative,
     confirm that such statements are correct.
     
          (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
     under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any
     action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
     thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
     this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of
     the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the
     indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability
     under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it
     did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure
     results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of
     substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
     event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations
     to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
     obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above.  The
     indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of
     the indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's
     expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for
     which indemnification is sought (in which case the
     indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for
     the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by
     the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below);
     provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory
     to the indemnified party.  Notwithstanding the indemnifying
     party's election to appoint counsel to represent the
     indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall
     have the right to employ separate counsel (including local
     counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the
     reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel
     if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party
     to represent the indemnified party would present such
     counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or
     potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action
     include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
     party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably
     concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it
     and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or
     additional to those available to the indemnifying party,
     (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
     satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
     indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of
     the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying
     party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ
     separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.
     An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written
     consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
     consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
     pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in
     respect of which indemnification or contribution may be
     sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are
     actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless
     such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
     unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
     liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
     proceeding.
     
          (d)  In the event that the indemnity provided in
     paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or
     insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any
     reason, the Company and the Underwriters agree to contribute
     to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities
     (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
     connection with investigating or defending same)
     (collectively "Losses") to which the Company and one or more
     of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is
     appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
     Company and by the Underwriters from the offering of the
     Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall any
     Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement
     among underwriters relating to the offering of the
     Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the
     underwriting discount or commission applicable to the
     Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder.  If the
     allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is
     unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters
     shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to
     reflect not only such relative benefits but also the
     relative fault of the Company and of the Underwriters in
     connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
     in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
     considerations.  Benefits received by the Company shall be
     deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the
     offering (before deducting expenses), and benefits received
     by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total
     underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set
     forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus.   Relative
     fault shall be determined by reference to whether any
     alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information
     provided by the Company or the Underwriters.  The Company
     and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
     equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
     allocation or any other method of allocation which does not
     take account of the equitable considerations referred to
     above.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph
     (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
     (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
     entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty
     of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this
     Section 7, each person who controls an Underwriter within
     the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each
     director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter
     shall have the same rights to contribution as such
     Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within
     the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each
     officer of the Company who shall have signed the
     Registration Statement and each director of the Company
     shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company,
     subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions
     of this paragraph (d).
     
          8.  Default by an Underwriter.  If any Underwriter
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed
to be purchased by such Underwriter hereunder and such failure to
purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, the other Underwriter shall be
obligated to take up and pay for the Securities which the
defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase; provided,
however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to
purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities
set forth in Schedule II hereto, the other Underwriter shall have
the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation
to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting
Underwriter does not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement
will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter
or the Company.  In the event of a default by any Underwriter as
set forth in this Section 8, the Closing Date shall be postponed
for such period, not exceeding seven days, as the Representative
shall determine in order that the required changes in the
Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements may be effected.  Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its
liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting
Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

          9.  Termination.  This Agreement shall be subject to
termination in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by
notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for
the Securities, if prior to such time (i) trading in the
Company's Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock shall have
been suspended by the Commission or the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation National Market System or
trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or
the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation National Market System shall have been suspended or
limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such
Exchange or Market System, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have
been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or
(iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national
emergency or war or other calamity or crisis the effect of which
on financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment of
the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the
Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

          10.  Representations and Indemnities to Survive.  The
respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities
and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the
Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in
Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for
the Securities.  The provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall
survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

          11.  Notices.  All communications hereunder will be in
writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the
Representative, will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and
confirmed to them, at the address specified in Schedule I hereto;
or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or
telecopied and confirmed to it at 2110 Executive Drive, P.O. Box
1330, Salisbury, North Carolina, telecopy (704) 639-1353
attention of the legal department.

          12.  Successors.  This Agreement will inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and the officers and directors and
controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

          13.  Applicable Law.  This Agreement will be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.

          14.  Counterparts.  This agreement may be signed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

          If the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the
enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your
acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company
and each of the Underwriters.


                                        Very truly yours,
                                        
                                        Food Lion, Inc.
                                        
                                        By: Laura Kendall
                                        Name:Laura Kendall
                                        Title: Vice President of Finance

The foregoing Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date specified in
Schedule I hereto.

Salomon Brothers Inc

By:  Salomon Brothers Inc

By: Kimberly M. Bernstein
  Name:Kimberly M. Bernstein
  Title:Vice President of Salomon Brothers Inc

For itself and the other
Underwriter named
in Schedule II to the
foregoing Agreement.

                           SCHEDULE I
                                
                                
Underwriting Agreement dated as of April 16, 1997

Registration Statement No. (33-49620)

Representative:       Salomon Brothers Inc
                      Seven World Trade Center
                      New York, NY
                      Telecopy:  (212) 783-6972
                      Attn:  Legal Department
             
             
             
             
Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

    Title:  7.55% Notes due 2007
            8.05% Notes due 2027
 
    Principal amount:   $150,000,000 7.55% Notes due 2007
                        $150,000,000 8.05% Notes due 2027
 
    Purchase price for 7.55% Notes due 2007:   99.677% of the
                                 principal amount being
                                 purchased, plus accrued
                                 interest, if any, from April
                                 21, 1997 to the Closing Date,
                                 less an underwriting discount
                                 of .650% of the principal
                                 amount being purchased
                                 
    Purchase price for 8.05% Notes due 2027:   99.632% of the
                                 principal amount being
                                 purchased, plus accrued
                                 interest, if any, from
                                 April 21, 1997 to the Closing
                                 Date, less an underwriting
                                 discount of .875% of the
                                 principal amount being
                                 purchased.
                                 
Sinking fund provisions:  None

    Redemption provisions:

    The 7.55% Notes due 2007 will be redeemable as a whole or in
    part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a
    redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the
    principal amount of each such Note to be redeemed and (ii)
    the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled
    Payments (as defined in the Final Prospectus) thereon
    discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis
    (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
    at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Final Prospectus)
    plus 5 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued interest
    on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of
    redemption.
    
    The 8.05% Notes due 2027 will be redeemable as a whole or in
    part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a
    redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the
    principal amount of each such Note to be redeemed and (ii)
    the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled
    Payments (as defined in the Final Prospectus) thereon
    discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis
    (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
    at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Final Prospectus)
    plus 20 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued interest
    on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of
    redemption.
    
    Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but
    not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
    holder of any such Notes to be redeemed.
    
    Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption
    price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease
    to accrue on such Notes or portions thereof called for
    redemption.
    
    
Closing Date, Time and Location:  April 21, 1997, 10:00 AM, New
York City time, at the offices of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen &
Hamilton, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006

Type of Offering:  Delayed Offering

Date referred to in Section 4(e) after which the Company may
offer or sell debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company
without the consent of the Representative:  the first business
day occurring on or after the tenth day after the Closing Date.

                           SCHEDULE II
                                
                                       Principal Amount of
                                       7.55% Notes due 2007
Underwriters                             to be Purchased
                                 
Salomon Brothers Inc                      $75,000,000
NationsBanc Capital Markets,              $75,000,000
Inc.
                                 
Total                                     $150,000,000
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                
                                       Principal Amount of
                                       8.05% Notes due 2027
Underwriters                             to be Purchased
                                 
Salomon Brothers Inc                      $75,000,000
NationsBanc Capital Markets,              $75,000,000
Inc.
                                 
Total                                     $150,000,000
                                



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