NASH FINCH CO
10-K, 2000-03-31
GROCERIES & RELATED PRODUCTS
Previous: MYLAN LABORATORIES INC, 8-A12B/A, 2000-03-31
Next: NATHANS FAMOUS INC, SC 13D, 2000-03-31



<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                   FORM 10-K

                ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>
  FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED:         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER:
        JANUARY 1, 2000                       0-785
</TABLE>

                            ------------------------

                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
               DELAWARE                                     41-0431960
       (State of Incorporation)                (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
       7600 FRANCE AVENUE SOUTH
             P.O. BOX 355
        MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA                              55440-0355
    (Address of principal executive                         (Zip Code)
               offices)
</TABLE>

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (952) 832-0534

                            ------------------------

        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                  COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $1.66 2/3 PER SHARE

                          COMMON STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS

                            ------------------------

    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, and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes /X/  No / /

    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. / /

    As of March 20, 2000, 11,410,892 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant
were outstanding. The aggregate market value of the Common Stock of the
Registrant as of that date (based upon the last reported sale price of the
Common Stock at that date by the Nasdaq National Market), excluding outstanding
shares deemed beneficially owned by directors and officers, was approximately
$96,907,000.00.

                            ------------------------

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

    Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporates by reference
information (to the extent specific sections are referred to herein) from the
Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting to be held on May 9, 2000
(the "2000 Proxy Statement").

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
THIS REPORT AND THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE INCLUDE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MADE UNDER THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN BE
IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF WORDS LIKE "BELIEVES," "EXPECTS," "MAY," "WILL,"
"SHOULD," "ANTICIPATES," OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS OF
STRATEGY. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT HISTORICAL IN NATURE BUT,
RATHER, ARE BASED UPON CURRENT EXPECTATIONS AND VARIOUS ASSUMPTIONS.

ALTHOUGH SUCH STATEMENTS REPRESENT MANAGEMENT'S CURRENT EXPECTATIONS BASED UPON
AVAILABLE DATA, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER
FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED. THESE RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE
NOT LIMITED TO, THE ABILITY TO: (A) MEET DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS AND MAINTAIN
FUTURE FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY; (B) RESPOND TO CONTINUING COMPETITIVE PRICING
PRESSURES; (C) RETAIN EXISTING INDEPENDENT WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND ATTRACT NEW
ACCOUNTS; AND (D) FULLY INTEGRATE ACQUISITIONS AND REALIZE EXPECTED SYNERGIES. A
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE RISK FACTORS IS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT
99.1.

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

A.  GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS.

    Nash Finch Company, a Delaware corporation, was organized in 1921 as the
successor to a business established in 1885. Its principal executive offices are
located at 7600 France Avenue South, Edina, Minnesota 55435 (Telephone:
952-832-0534). Unless the context indicates otherwise, the term "Company," as
used in this Report, means Nash Finch Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

    The Company is one of the largest food distribution companies in the United
States. Its business consists of three primary operating segments: (i) the
wholesale distribution segment, which supplies food and non-food items to
independently owned retail grocery stores, corporately owned retail grocery
stores and institutional customers; (ii) the retail segment, which is made up of
corporately owned retail grocery stores with a variety of store formats; and
(iii) the military distribution segment, which supplies food and related
products to military commissaries. Currently, the Company conducts its wholesale
and retail operations primarily in the Midwestern and Southeastern regions of
the United States and its military distribution operations primarily in the
Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

    Early in 1999, the Company announced a five-year strategic revitalization
plan to streamline its wholesale operations and build its retail business. The
new strategic plan resulted from an intensive diagnostic assessment, conducted
in 1998, of the entire Company's operations. During this assessment, the
performance of the Company was benchmarked against its competitors in order to
evaluate opportunities to improve profitability and enhance shareholder value.
The following strategic objectives were set:

    - Focus energies on wholesale and retail distribution of supermarket
      products, primarily in Midwest and Southeast markets;

    - Make wholesale operations sales driven and focused on premier customer
      service and low cost;

    - Enable corporate retail to dominate its primary trade areas through
      convenience, consistently excellent execution and superior customer
      service;

                                       2
<PAGE>
    - Utilize business process changes aggressively to reduce costs through
      productivity gains and to create a responsive management structure; and

    - Equip employees with the required training and tools, measuring success
      through contribution and performance.

The five-year strategic plan is to be implemented in three phases: (i) Phase
I--the stabilization of the Company's existing business; (ii) Phase
II--rebuilding the Company's foundation; and (iii) Phase III--growing the
Company's business.

    During 1999, the Company was successful in furthering its strategic plan.
The Company completed Phase I of its strategic plan and substantially completed
Phase II. Among the initiatives in which the Company made substantial progress
are (i) improving the efficiencies of wholesale operations, (ii) enhancing and
expanding retail operations, (iii) focusing resources on core businesses, and
(iv) achieving Y2K compliance.

    1.  IMPROVING EFFICIENCIES OF WHOLESALE OPERATIONS.

    As part of the strategy to improve the efficiency of its wholesale
operations, during 1999 the Company closed five distribution centers located in
Appleton, Wisconsin; Liberal, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; Grand Island, Nebraska;
and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The Appleton operations were consolidated into
the operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Liberal and
Denver operations were consolidated into the operations in Rapid City, South
Dakota and Omaha, Nebraska. The Grand Island operations were consolidated into
the operations of Omaha, Nebraska. The Rocky Mount operations were consolidated
into the operations in Lumberton, North Carolina. These consolidations
contributed to an overall increase in warehouse productivity, an increase in
trailer capacity utilization, an increase in on-time deliveries, a reduction in
cost-per-case, and a reduction in inventory levels.

    2.  ENHANCING AND EXPANDING RETAIL OPERATIONS.

    An important initiative within the Company's retail strategy is to increase
capital spending for the remodeling of existing stores and the construction of
new stores. It is also an important initiative to acquire retail stores where it
can increase market share within a defined market area. In June 1999, the
Company enhanced its retail operations by acquiring all of the outstanding
shares of common stock of Erickson's Diversified Corporation ("Erickson's"), a
retail store chain operator. Erickson's operates eighteen (18) retail grocery
stores located in Minnesota and Wisconsin. After the end of the fiscal year, the
Company further enhanced its retail operations by acquiring all of the
outstanding shares of common stock of Hinky Dinky Supermarkets, Inc. ("HDSI"), a
retail store chain operator. HDSI is the majority owner of twelve (12) retail
grocery stores located in Nebraska.

    3.  FOCUSING RESOURCES ON CORE BUSINESSES.

    The Company made a strategic decision to focus its resources, financial and
otherwise, on its core businesses: wholesale distribution and retail operations.
As a result, it became necessary to divest itself of the non-core businesses
that it had been operating. During 1999, the Company completed the divestiture
of such non-core businesses. In June 1999, the Company sold its majority
ownership interests in Gillette Dairy of the Black Hills, Inc., a processor and
manufacturer of milk and milk products, and Nebraska Dairies, Inc., a wholesale
distributor of such products. In July 1999, the Company sold all of the
outstanding common stock of Nash-De Camp Company, a produce growing and
marketing subsidiary. The proceeds from the sale of these businesses helped the
Company to finance the Erickson's acquisition and other transactions.

                                       3
<PAGE>
    4.  YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE.

    As with other companies, ensuring the Company's readiness for the Year 2000
was of primary importance. Year 2000 remediation was successfully completed on
time and within budget. As a result, the Company did not experience any
significant or material operational problems due to Year 2000.

B.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS.

    Financial information about the Company's business segments for the most
recent three fiscal years is contained in Part II, Item 6 and Item 8 of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. For segment financial reporting purposes, a portion
of the operational profits of wholesale distribution centers are allocated to
retail operations to the extent that merchandise is purchased by these
distribution centers and transferred to retail stores directly operated by the
Company. For fiscal 1999, 24% of such warehouse operational profits were
allocated to retail operations.

C.  NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS.

    1.  WHOLESALE OPERATIONS.

       a.  PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

    The Company's wholesale operations are essentially divided into two
segments. The first segment sells and distributes a wide variety of food and
non-food products to independently owned and corporately owned retail grocery
stores (the "wholesale segment"). The second sells and distributes food and
non-food products to military commissaries (the "military segment"). In 1999,
the wholesale segment accounted for 55.3% of the Company's total revenues; the
military segment 23.4%.

    The Company provides to its customers a full line of food products,
including dry groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen foods, fresh and
processed meat products and dairy products, and a variety of non-food products,
including health and beauty care, tobacco, paper products, cleaning supplies and
small household items. The Company primarily distributes and sells nationally
advertised branded products and a number of unbranded products (principally
meats and produce) purchased directly from various manufacturers, processors and
suppliers or through manufacturers' representatives and brokers. The Company
also distributes and sells private label products that are branded primarily
under the OUR FAMILY-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- trademark, a long-standing private
label of the Company, and the FAME-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- trademark, which the
Company obtained in the acquisition of Super Food Services, Inc. ("Super Food").
Under its private label line of products, the Company offers a wide variety of
grocery, dairy, packaged meat, frozen foods, health and beauty care products,
paper and household products, beverages, and other packaged products that have
been manufactured or processed by other companies on behalf of the Company.

    The Company also offers to independent retailers a broad range of services,
including the following: (i) promotional, advertising and merchandising
programs; (ii) the installation of computerized ordering, receiving and scanning
systems; (iii) the establishment and supervision of computerized retail
accounting, budgeting and payroll systems; (iv) personnel management assistance
and employee training; (v) consumer and market research; and (vi) remodeling and
store development services. The Company believes that its support services help
the independent retailers compete more effectively in their markets and build
customer loyalty.

    The Company's retail counselors and other Company personnel advise and
counsel independent retailers, and directly provide many of the above services.
Separate charges may be made for some of these services. The Company also
provides retailers with marketing and store upgrade services, many of which have
been developed in connection with Company owned stores. For example, the Company
assists retailers in installing and operating delicatessens and other specialty
food sections. Rather than offering a single program for the services it
provides, the Company has developed multiple, flexible programs to serve the
needs of most independent retailers, whether rural or urban, large or small.

                                       4
<PAGE>
    The Company's assistance to independent retailers in store development
provides a means of continued growth for the Company through the development of
new retail store locations and the enlargement or remodeling of existing retail
stores. Services provided include site selection, marketing studies, building
design, store layout and equipment planning and procurement. The Company assists
wholesale customers in securing existing supermarkets that are for sale from
time to time in market areas served by the Company and, occasionally, acquires
existing stores for resale to wholesale customers.

    The Company also provides financial assistance to its independent retailers
generally in connection with new store development and the upgrading or
expansion of existing stores. For example, the Company makes secured loans to
some of its independent retailers, generally repayable over a period of five or
seven years, for inventories, store fixtures and equipment, working capital and
store improvements. Loans are secured by liens on inventory or equipment or
both, by personal guarantees and by other types of security. As of January 1,
2000, the Company had approximately $33.4 million outstanding of such secured
loans to 112 independent retailers. In addition, the Company may provide such
assistance to independent retailers by guarantying loans from financial
institutions and leases entered into directly with lessors. The Company also
uses its credit strength to lease supermarket locations for sublease to
independent retailers, at rates that are at least as high as the rent paid by
the Company.

       b.  CUSTOMERS.

    The Company offers its products and services to approximately 2,000
independent retail grocery stores, U.S. military commissaries and other
customers in 30 states. As of the end of the fiscal year, no customer accounted
for a significant portion of the Company's sales.

    The Company's wholesale segment customers are primarily self-service retail
grocery stores that carry a wide variety of grocery products, health and beauty
care products and general merchandise. Many of these stores also have one or
more specialty departments such as a delicatessen, an in-store bakery, a
restaurant, a pharmacy and a flower shop. The size of the customers' stores
ranges from 5,000 to 75,000 square feet.

    The Company's military segment currently delivers products to approximately
80 U.S. military commissaries in the United States. Due to the amount of revenue
generated through distribution to the U.S. military commissaries and the number
of U.S. military commissaries that the Company delivers products to, the Company
believes that it is the largest distributor of groceries and related products to
such facilities in the United States.

       c.  DISTRIBUTION.

    The Company currently distributes products from 15 distribution centers
located in Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North
Carolina, North Dakota (2), Ohio (2), South Dakota (2), and Virginia (2). The
Company's distribution centers are located at strategic points to efficiently
serve Company owned stores, independent customers and military commissaries. The
distribution centers are equipped with modern materials handling equipment for
receiving, storing and shipping goods and merchandise and are designed for
high-volume operations at low unit costs.

    Distribution centers serve as central sources of supply for Company owned
and independent stores, military commissaries and other institutional customers
within their operating areas. Generally, the distribution centers maintain
complete inventories containing most national brand grocery products sold in
supermarkets and a wide variety of high-volume private label items. In addition,
distribution centers provide full lines of perishables, including fresh meats
and poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables (except Super Food distribution
centers), dairy and delicatessen products and frozen foods. Health and beauty
care products, general merchandise and specialty grocery products are
distributed from a dedicated

                                       5
<PAGE>
area of the distribution center located in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and from the
distribution center located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Retailers order their
inventory requirements at regular intervals through direct linkage with the
Company's computers. Deliveries of product are made primarily by the Company's
transportation fleet. The frequency of deliveries varies, depending upon
customer needs. The Company currently has a modern fleet of nearly 400 tractors
and 850 semi-trailers, most of which are owned by the Company. In addition, many
types of meats, dairy products, bakery and other products are sold by the
Company but are delivered by the suppliers directly to retail food stores.

    Virtually all of the Company's wholesale sales to independent retailers are
made on a market price-plus-fee and freight basis, with the fee based on the
type of commodity and quantity purchased. Selling prices are changed promptly,
based on the latest market information.

    The Company distributes groceries and related products directly to military
commissaries in the U.S., and distribution centers also provide products for
distribution to U.S. military commissaries in Europe and to ships afloat. These
distribution services are provided primarily under contractual arrangements with
the manufacturers of those products. The Company provides storage, handling and
transportation services for the manufacturers and, as products ordered from the
Company by the commissaries are delivered to the commissaries, the Company
invoices the manufacturers for the cost of the merchandise delivered plus
negotiated fees.

    2.  RETAIL OPERATIONS.

    As of January 1, 2000, the Company operated 114 retail stores primarily in
the Midwestern and Southeastern states. These stores, 28 of which the Company
owns (the remainder are leased), range in size up to approximately 106,000
square feet. These stores offer a wide variety of high quality groceries, fresh
fruits and vegetables, dairy products, frozen foods, fresh fish, fresh and
processed meat, and health and beauty care products. Many have specialty
departments such as delicatessens, bakeries, pharmacies, banks, and floral and
video departments. In 1999, the retail segment accounted for 20.8% of the
Company's total revenues.

    During 1999, the Company accomplished its objective of reducing the number
of store names under which it operates. At the beginning of 1999, the Company
was operating its retail stores under seventeen (17) store names. As of the end
of 1999, the Company operated its retail stores principally under three
(3) store names: ECONOFOODS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, SUN
MART-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, and FAMILY THRIFT CENTER-TM-. This reduction enabled
the Company to further leverage its brand identity, create marketing
efficiencies and steadily grow the number of profitable, market-leading retail
stores.

    3.  COMPETITION.

    All segments of the Company's business are highly competitive. The Company
competes directly at the wholesale level with a number of cooperative
wholesalers and voluntary wholesalers that supply food and non-food products to
independent retailers. "Cooperative" wholesalers are wholesalers that are owned
by their retail customers. On the other hand, "voluntary" wholesalers are
wholesalers who, like the Company, are not owned by their retail customers but
sponsor a program under which single-unit or multi-unit independent retailers
may affiliate under a common name. Certain of these competing wholesalers may
also engage in distribution to military commissaries.

    The Company also competes indirectly with the warehouse and distribution
operations of the large integrated grocery store chains. Such retail grocery
store chains own their wholesale operations and self-distribute their food and
non-food products.

    At the wholesale level, the principal methods of competition are price,
quality, variety and availability of products offered, strength of private label
brands offered, schedules and reliability of deliveries and the range and
quality of services offered, such as store financing and use of store names,

                                       6
<PAGE>
and the services offered to manufacturers of products sold to military
commissaries. The success of the Company's wholesale business also depends upon
the ability of its retail store customers to compete successfully with other
retail food stores.

    The Company also competes on the retail level in a fragmented market with
many organizations of various sizes, ranging from national and regional retail
chains to local chains and privately owned unaffiliated stores. Depending on the
product and location involved, the principal methods of competition at the
retail level are price, quality and assortment, store location and format, sales
promotions, advertising, availability of parking, hours of operation and store
appeal.

    4.  EMPLOYEES.

    As of January 1, 2000, the Company employed 13,142 persons (6,109 of which
were employed on a part-time basis). All employees are non-union, except 601
employees who are unionized under various bargaining agreements. The Company
considers its employee relations to be good.

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

    The principal executive offices of the Company are located in Edina,
Minnesota, and consist of approximately 71,000 square feet of office space in a
building owned by the Company. The executive office for the Super Food
subsidiary is located in Dayton, Ohio and consists of 14,580 square feet of
leased office space. In addition to these executive offices, the Company leases
an additional 26,250 square feet of office space in Edina, Minnesota and St.
Louis Park, Minnesota, 10,740 square feet of additional storage space in Edina,
Minnesota and Eagan, Minnesota, and 8,580 square feet of additional office space
in Cincinnati, Ohio.

                                       7
<PAGE>
A.  WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION.

    The locations and sizes of the Company's distribution centers used primarily
in its wholesale distribution operations are listed below (all of which are
owned, except as indicated). The distribution center facilities that are leased
have varying terms, all with remaining terms of less than 20 years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              APPROX. SIZE
LOCATION                                                      (SQUARE FEET)
- --------                                                      -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Midwest:
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa(b)...................................       399,900
    St. Cloud, Minnesota....................................       329,000
    Omaha, Nebraska(a)......................................       626,900
    Fargo, North Dakota.....................................       288,800
    Minot, North Dakota.....................................       185,200
    Rapid City, South Dakota(c).............................       188,600
    Sioux Falls, South Dakota(d)............................       271,100

Southeast:
    Statesboro, Georgia(a)(e)...............................       398,600
    Lumberton, North Carolina(a)............................       336,500
    Bluefield, Virginia.....................................       187,500

Super Food Services, Inc.
    Bellefontaine, Ohio(f)..................................       722,900
    Cincinnati, Ohio........................................       445,600
    Bridgeport, Michigan(a).................................       604,500

Total Square Footage........................................     4,985,100
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(a) Leased facility.

(b) Includes 48,000 square feet that are leased by the Company.

(c) Includes 1,500 square feet that are leased by the Company.

(d) Includes 79,300 square feet that are leased by the Company.

(e) Includes 46,400 square feet that are owned by the Company.

(f) Includes 91,100 square feet that are leased by the Company. This facility is
    considered by the Company to include two separate wholesale distribution
    operations: (1) Super Food--distribution of dry groceries, frozen foods,
    fresh and processed meat products, and a variety of non-food products; and
    (2) General Merchandise Services--distribution of health and beauty care
    products, general merchandise and specialty grocery products. General
    Merchandise Services, an operating unit of Super Food, utilizes
    approximately 254,000 square feet of the total space (owned and leased).

Various of these distribution centers also distribute products to military
commissaries located in their geographic areas.

                                       8
<PAGE>
B.  MILITARY DISTRIBUTION.

    The locations and sizes of the Company's distribution centers used primarily
in its military distribution operations are listed below (each of which is
leased, except as indicated). The leases have varying terms, each with a
remaining term of less than 20 years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              APPROX. SIZE
LOCATION                                                      (SQUARE FEET)
- --------                                                      -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
    Baltimore, Maryland(a)..................................      350,500
    Norfolk, Virginia(a)(b).................................      568,600

Total Square Footage........................................      919,100
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

    (a) Leased facility.

    (b) Includes 59,250 square feet that are owned by the Company.

C.  RETAIL OPERATIONS.

    As of January 1, 2000, the aggregate square footage of the Company's 114
retail grocery stores totaled 3,446,100 square feet.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    The Company is subject to ordinary routine legal proceedings incidental to
its business. There are no pending matters, however, which are expected to have
a material impact on the business or financial condition of the Company.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

    No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of the fiscal year covered by this Report.

ITEM 4A.  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

    The executive officers of the Company, their ages, the year first elected or
appointed as an executive officer and the offices held as of March 24, 2000 are
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    YEAR FIRST ELECTED OR
                                       APPOINTED AS AN
NAME                       AGE        EXECUTIVE OFFICER                         TITLE
- ----                     --------   ---------------------   ---------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>        <C>                     <C>
Ron Marshall...........     46               1998           President and Chief Executive Officer
John A. Haedicke.......     47               1999           Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and
                                                            Administrative Officer, and Treasurer
Christopher A. Brown...     37               1999           Executive Vice President--Merchandising
Bruce A. Cross.........     48               1998           Sr. Vice President and Chief Information
                                                            Officer
John M. McCurry........     51               1996           Sr. Vice President--Wholesale Operations
William A. Merrigan....     55               1998           Sr. Vice President--Distribution and
                                                            Logistics
Norman R. Soland.......     59               1986           Sr. Vice President, Secretary and General
                                                            Counsel
Deborah A. Carlson.....     46               1999           Vice President--Store Development
James R. Dorcy.........     40               2000           Vice President--Marketing and Advertising
Arthur L. Keeney.......     47               1998           Vice President--Corporate Retail Stores
Ronald A. Knez.........     47               1999           Vice President--Human Resources
LeAnne M. Stewart......     35               1999           Vice President--Financial Planning and
                                                            Analysis
Lawrence A. Wojtasiak..     54               1990           Controller
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>
    There are no family relationships between or among any of the executive
officers or directors of the Company. Executive officers of the Company are
elected by the Board of Directors for one-year terms, commencing with their
election at the first meeting of the Board of Directors immediately following
the annual meeting of stockholders and continuing until the next such meeting of
the Board of Directors.

    Mr. Marshall was elected as President and Chief Executive Officer as of
June 1, 1998. Mr. Marshall previously served as Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Pathmark Stores, Inc. (a retail grocery store chain)
from September 1994 to May 1998 and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Dart Group Corporation (a retailer of groceries, auto parts and
books) from November 1991 to September 1994.

    Mr. Haedicke was elected as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer as of March 1, 1999, and Treasurer in July 1999.
Mr. Haedicke previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of OneSource, a third-party warehousing and consolidation service
division of C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (a food wholesaler) from March 1997 to
February 1999, Vice President of Finance (ECR Division) of Kraft Foods, Inc.
from September 1994 to March 1997, and as Director, Activity Based Costing, of
Coca-Cola Company from December 1990 to September 1994.

    Mr. Brown was elected as Executive Vice President--Merchandising as of
October 11, 1999. Mr. Brown previously was employed by Richfood Holdings, Inc.
for over five years and served in various executive positions including
Executive Vice President--Procuring and Merchandising of the Farm Fresh Division
from October 1998 to October 1999, Executive Vice President--Procurement for
Richfood Holdings, Inc. from April 1997 to October 1998, Senior Executive Vice
President of Super Rite Foods division from March 1996 to April 1997, and
President/Chief Operating Officer of Rotelle, Inc. (a subsidiary) from
August 1994 to March 1996.

    Mr. Cross was elected as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer as
of September 29, 1998. Mr. Cross previously served as Senior Project Executive
for IBM Global Services from January 1995 to September 1998 and as Director of
Information Services for Safeway, Inc. (a retail grocery store chain) from
May 1988 to May 1994.

    Mr. McCurry was elected as Senior Vice President--Wholesale Operations as of
January 3, 1999. He previously served as Vice President, Independent Store
Operations from May 1996 to January 1999 and as Director of Independent Store
Operations from August 1993 to May 1996.

    Mr. Merrigan was elected as Senior Vice President--Distribution and
Logistics as of November 30, 1998. He previously served as Vice
President--Logistics for Wakefern Food Corp. (a cooperative wholesale food
distributor) from August 1986 to November 1998.

    Mr. Soland was elected as Senior Vice President on July 14, 1998, and has
served as Secretary and General Counsel since January 1986. He served as Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel from May 1988 to July 1998.

    Ms. Carlson was elected as Vice President--Store Development on July 13,
1999. She was previously employed by Supervalu, Inc. for over five years and
served in various executive positions including Regional Vice President of Real
Estate--Northern Region from August 1995 to June 1999 and Director of Retail
Development--Denver, Colorado division from February 1992 to August 1995.

    Mr. Dorcy was elected as Vice President--Marketing and Advertising on
February 22, 2000. He previously served as Vice President--Advertising and
Marketing for Farm Fresh Inc. from December 1998 to November 1999, and Vice
President--Advertising and Marketing for Bozzuto's Inc. from November 1994 to
December 1998.

                                       10
<PAGE>
    Mr. Keeney was elected as Vice President--Corporate Retail Stores on
July 14, 1998. He previously served as Director of Sales and Advertising for the
Super K Division of Kmart Corporation, from July 1995 to June 1998, as well as
its Director of Grocery Operations from December 1993 to July 1995.

    Mr. Knez was elected as Vice President--Human Resources on July 13, 1999. He
previously served as a consultant for Human Resources Management Services from
June 1997 to June 1999 and as Corporate Vice President of Human Resources for
National Car Rental System, Inc. from August 1988 to June 1997.

    Ms. Stewart was elected as Vice President--Financial Planning and Analysis
on July 13, 1999. She previously served as Manager, Corporate Finance for Enron
Europe Limited from August 1997 to March 1999 and as Senior Manager of Ernst &
Young, LLP from December 1987 to July 1995. Ms. Stewart attended the Wharton
School of Business, University of Pennsylvania from August 1995 to May 1997
where she received her Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Finance.

    Mr. Wojtasiak has served as Controller since May 1990.

                                    PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR COMPANY'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

    The Company's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market and
trades under the symbol NAFC. The following table sets forth, for each of the
calendar periods indicated, the range of high and low closing sales prices for
the common stock as reported by the Nasdaq National Market, and the quarterly
cash dividends paid per share of common stock. Prices do not include adjustments
for retail mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions. At January 1, 2000 there were
2,348 stockholders of record.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             DIVIDENDS
                                                                   1999                  1998                PER SHARE
                                                            -------------------   -------------------   -------------------
                                                              HIGH       LOW        HIGH       LOW        1999       1998
                                                            --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
First Quarter.............................................     14 1/2     6 1/4      20         18 3/4    .09        .18
Second Quarter............................................     10 5/8     7 1/2      19 7/8     14 1/2    .09        .18
Third Quarter.............................................     10 1/4     6 5/8      15 5/8     13 7/8    .09        .18
Fourth Quarter............................................      8 1/8     5 7/8      15 5/16    13 1/8    .09        .18
</TABLE>

                                       11
<PAGE>
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

                               NASH FINCH COMPANY
                       CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
                 (TEN YEARS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2000) (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        1999         1998         1997         1996         1995
                                     (52 WEEKS)   (52 WEEKS)   (53 WEEKS)   (52 WEEKS)   (52 WEEKS)
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                         (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Total sales and revenues...........  $4,123,213   4,160,011    4,341,095    3,323,970    2,839,528
Cost of sales including warehousing
  and transportation expenses......  3,698,752    3,783,661    3,936,813    2,996,596    2,528,241
Selling, general and
  administrative, and other
  operating expenses...............    328,154      287,622      291,357      244,137      243,358
Special charges....................     (7,045)      68,471       30,034           --           --
Interest expense...................     31,213       29,034       32,773       13,408        9,007
Depreciation and amortization......     42,619       46,064       46,353       33,314       27,864
Profit sharing contribution........      3,067        3,577        2,519        4,004        3,673
Provision for income taxes.........     11,216      (18,837)       2,320       13,174       10,748
                                     ----------   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net earnings (loss) from continuing
  operations.......................  $  15,237      (39,581)      (1,074)      19,337       16,637
Earnings (loss) from discontinued
  operations, net of income tax
  (benefit)........................         --          426         (154)         695          777
Earnings (loss) on disposal of
  discontinued operations, net of
  income tax.......................      4,566      (16,913)          --           --           --
Extaordinary charge from early
  extinguishment of debt, net of
  income tax.......................         --        5,569           --           --           --
                                     ----------   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net earnings (loss)................  $  19,803      (61,637)      (1,228)      20,032       17,414
                                     ==========   =========    =========    =========    =========
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
  Earnings (loss) from continuing
    operations.....................  $    1.35        (3.50)       (0.10)        1.77         1.53
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued
    operations.....................       0.40        (1.46)       (0.01)        0.06         0.07
  Extraordinary charge from early
    extinguishment of debt.........         --        (0.49)          --           --           --
                                     ----------   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Basic earnings (loss) per share....  $    1.75        (5.45)       (0.11)        1.83         1.60
                                     ==========   =========    =========    =========    =========
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
  Earnings (loss) from continuing
    operations.....................  $    1.34        (3.50)       (0.10)        1.75         1.53
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued
    operations.....................       0.40        (1.46)       (0.01)        0.06         0.07
  Extraordinary charge from early
    extinguishment of debt.........         --        (0.49)          --           --           --
                                     ----------   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Diluted earnings (loss) per
  share............................  $    1.74        (5.45)       (0.11)        1.81         1.60
                                     ==========   =========    =========    =========    =========
Cash dividends declared per common
  share(1).........................  $     .36          .72          .72          .75          .74
                                     ==========   =========    =========    =========    =========
Pretax earnings as a percent of
  sales and revenues...............  %     .64           --           --         1.00          .99
Net earnings (loss) as a percent of
  sales and revenues...............  %     .48        (1.48)       (0.03)         .59          .60
Effective income tax rate..........  %    42.4        (32.2)       425.4         40.5         39.1
Current assets.....................  $ 465,563      467,108      494,350      525,596      311,690
Current liabilities................  $ 327,327      331,473      294,419      297,088      207,688
Net working capital................  $ 138,236      135,635      199,931      228,508      104,002
Ratio of current assets to current
  liabilities......................       1.42         1.41         1.68         1.77         1.50
Total assets.......................  $ 862,443      833,095      904,883      945,477      514,260
Capital expenditures...............  $  52,282       52,730       67,725       51,333       33,264
Long-term obligations (long-term
  debt and capitalized lease
  obligations).....................  $ 347,809      327,947      364,006      403,651       81,188
Stockholders' equity...............  $ 172,674      156,473      225,618      232,861      215,313
Stockholders' equity per
  share(1).........................  $   15.22        13.80        19.96        21.06        19.80
Return on average stockholders'
  equity...........................  %   12.03       (32.26)       (0.53)        8.94         8.26
Number of common stockholders of
  record at year-end...............      2,348        2,214        2,226        2,230        1,940
Common stock high price(2).........  $  14 1/2           20       24 7/8       21 3/4       20 1/2
Common stock low price(2)..........  $   5 7/8       13 1/8       17 1/2       15 1/2       15 3/4
                                     ==========   =========    =========    =========    =========

<CAPTION>
                                        1994         1993         1992         1991         1990
                                     (52 WEEKS)   (52 WEEKS)   (53 WEEKS)   (52 WEEKS)   (52 WEEKS)
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                         (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Total sales and revenues...........  2,788,658    2,684,509    2,480,708    2,308,000    2,340,410
Cost of sales including warehousing
  and transportation expenses......  2,468,856    2,382,283    2,200,058    2,040,612    2,078,424
Selling, general and
  administrative, and other
  operating expenses...............    250,639      237,373      210,947      201,662      198,418
Special charges....................         --           --           --           --           --
Interest expense...................      9,950        9,021        8,329        7,996        7,962
Depreciation and amortization......     30,369       27,815       25,867       25,067       24,774
Profit sharing contribution........      3,417        3,553        3,874        3,699        3,519
Provision for income taxes.........     10,148       10,047       12,137       11,109       10,694
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net earnings (loss) from continuing
  operations.......................     15,279       14,417       19,496       17,855       16,619
Earnings (loss) from discontinued
  operations, net of income tax
  (benefit)........................        201        1,457          572        1,200        1,211
Earnings (loss) on disposal of
  discontinued operations, net of
  income tax.......................         --           --           --           --           --
Extaordinary charge from early
  extinguishment of debt, net of
  income tax.......................         --           --           --           --           --
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net earnings (loss)................     15,480       15,874       20,068       19,055       17,830
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
  Earnings (loss) from continuing
    operations.....................       1.40         1.33         1.80         1.64         1.53
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued
    operations.....................       0.02         0.13         0.05         0.11         0.11
  Extraordinary charge from early
    extinguishment of debt.........         --           --           --           --           --
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Basic earnings (loss) per share....       1.42         1.46         1.85         1.75         1.64
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
  Earnings (loss) from continuing
    operations.....................       1.40         1.33         1.80         1.64         1.53
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued
    operations.....................       0.02         0.13         0.05         0.11         0.11
  Extraordinary charge from early
    extinguishment of debt.........         --           --           --           --           --
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Diluted earnings (loss) per
  share............................       1.42         1.46         1.85         1.75         1.64
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
Cash dividends declared per common
  share(1).........................        .73          .72          .71          .70          .69
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
Pretax earnings as a percent of
  sales and revenues...............        .91          .98         1.30         1.31         1.22
Net earnings (loss) as a percent of
  sales and revenues...............        .55          .58          .80          .81          .75
Effective income tax rate..........       40.0         40.5         38.4         38.1         38.4
Current assets.....................    309,522      294,925      310,170      239,850      234,121
Current liabilities................    220,065      215,021      213,691      154,993      159,439
Net working capital................     89,457       79,904       96,479       84,857       74,682
Ratio of current assets to current
  liabilities......................       1.41         1.37         1.45         1.55         1.47
Total assets.......................    531,604      521,654      513,615      429,648      416,233
Capital expenditures...............     34,965       36,382       42,991       36,836       36,129
Long-term obligations (long-term
  debt and capitalized lease
  obligations).....................     95,960       97,887       94,145       82,532       74,333
Stockholders' equity...............    206,269      199,264      191,204      178,846      167,388
Stockholders' equity per
  share(1).........................      18.97        18.33        17.59        16.45        15.40
Return on average stockholders'
  equity...........................       7.63         8.13        10.85        11.01        10.99
Number of common stockholders of
  record at year-end...............      2,074        2,074        2,087        2,122        2,138
Common stock high price(2).........     18 1/4       23 1/4       19 3/4       20 1/4       25 1/4
Common stock low price(2)..........     15 3/8        17.00       16 1/4       16 1/2       16 1/4
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>

- ----------------------------------
(1) Based on outstanding shares at year-end.
(2) High and low closing sales price.

                                       12
<PAGE>
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS

A.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    1.  REVENUES

    Total revenues for the 52 weeks ended January 1, 2000 were $4.123 billion, a
decrease of .9%, as compared to $4.160 billion for the 52 weeks ended
January 2, 1999. The revenue decline is principally related to the wholesale
segment which has experienced competitive pressures and the consolidation of a
number of distribution facilities during the year. Partially offsetting the
decline are improvements at retail due primarily to the acquisition of
Erickson's Diversified Corporation ("Erickson's") in June 1999 and gains in same
store sales.

    Wholesale revenues for the year were $2.281 billion compared to
$2.492 billion in 1998, a decrease of 8.5%. Revenues were negatively impacted by
the shift of approximately $59.9 million in sales from wholesale to the retail
segment following the acquisition of Erickson's. In addition, the closure of
five distribution centers since last year resulted in the unavoidable loss of
independent accounts that could no longer be serviced economically by the
Company. During the third quarter, the Company reached an agreement to purchase
certain assets of Midwest Wholesale Food, Inc., a wholesale supplier to grocery
stores in the Detroit, Michigan metro area. As a result, the Company began
servicing, from its Bridgeport, Michigan distribution center, 55 independent
retailers who were previously supplied by Midwest. This additional volume has
improved productivity and eased the competitive pressures experienced by the
Company in its Michigan market area. Comparing 1998, a 52-week year, wholesale
revenues decreased .9% from an adjusted 52-week basis for 1997. The decline was
largely attributed to the soft Michigan market that existed at the time.

    Retail segment revenues were $856.5 million for the year, compared to
$738.0 million for same period last year, an increase of 16.1%. The increase is
largely due to the acquisition of 18 Erickson's stores in Wisconsin and
Minnesota, two stores in Cheyenne, Wyoming, two stores in Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina and the opening of a new store in Fargo, North Dakota. In spite of
intense competition in the Company's Iowa market, which partially offset sales
gains in other market regions, same store sales for the year increased .9% over
1998. This marked the second consecutive year of increases. Comparing 1998 to
1997, retail revenues declined in 1998 from adjusted 1997, due to a net
reduction in the number of corporate owned stores operated in 1998.

    Revenues of the Military Division, the third reported segment of the
Company, increased 5.1% compared to 1998. Revenue improvements resulted from the
distribution of new product lines, stronger overseas business and a general
upturn in volume of product sold through the domestic military base
commissaries. In 1998, military revenues declined .6% from adjusted 1997 levels.
Minimal growth in the size and number of military commissaries serviced by the
Company was the contributing factor to the relatively flat rate of increase.

    2.  GROSS MARGINS

    Gross margins were 10.3% in 1999, compared to 9.1% in 1998 and 9.3% in 1997.
The increase in 1999 over the prior years reflects the growth in the proportion
of retail revenues, which achieve higher margins. Retail revenues, as a percent
of total reported revenues, were 20.9% in 1999, compared to 17.8% and 19.0% in
1998 and 1997, respectively. In addition, a number of operational factors have
contributed to improvements in margins: better overall margins for the retail
segment as a result of a greater proportion of revenues derived from higher
margin specialty departments; operational efficiencies in warehousing and
transportation, due in part from warehouse consolidations, which lower the cost
of goods; as well as a LIFO credit resulting from deflation in food prices and
planned reductions in inventories since last year.

                                       13
<PAGE>
    In 1999, the Company recorded a LIFO credit of $.9 million compared to
charges of $4.0 million and $1.5 million in 1998 and 1997, respectively.
Sustained price increases throughout the year for tobacco and tobacco related
products were the primary factors causing the significantly higher LIFO charge
in 1998.

    3.  SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

    Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of total revenues
were 8.0% in 1999 compared to 7.0% in 1998 and 6.8% in 1997. The increases in
1999 over 1998 and 1997, are again due to the increasing proportion of
corporate-owned retail business, which typically operates at higher expense
levels than wholesale. Also contributing to the increase are $11.5 million of
costs related to the Company's successful Year 2000 remediation efforts and
$7.3 million in costs associated with the closing of distribution centers that
were not accruable in either the 1998 or 1997 special charges. These included
expenses related to the movement of inventories, utilities and real estate taxes
in closed owned locations and employee relocation costs. In addition, during the
third quarter, the Company incurred $1.0 million in employee severance costs
related to administrative staff reductions affecting 150 employees throughout
the Company. Some benefit of these reductions was realized in the fourth
quarter, with the full impact expected in 2000. Bad debt expense for 1999 was
$4.4 million compared to $10.6 million and $5.1 million in 1998 and 1997,
respectively. In 1998, the Company recorded a bad debt provision of
$7.5 million principally related to credit deterioration in its Michigan and
Ohio market areas. Although the Company feels its reserve for uncollectible
accounts is adequate, it continuously monitors credit activities.

    4.  SPECIAL CHARGES--1998 CHARGES

    During the fourth quarter of 1998, the Company announced a five-year
revitalization plan to streamline wholesale operations and build retail
operations resulting in the Company recording special charges totaling
$71.4 million (offset by $2.9 million of 1997 charge adjustments). The new
strategic plan's objectives are to: leverage Nash Finch's scale by centralizing
operations; improve operational efficiency; and develop a strong retail
competency. The Company also redirected technology efforts and set out to close,
sell or reassess underperforming businesses and investments.

    In connection with the implementation of the Company's 1998 revitalization
plan, the 1998 special charges included $17.0 million to streamline the
Company's wholesale operations by closing three warehouses by the end of the
third quarter of 1999. The charges, as further detailed below, provided for
post-employment and pension benefit costs, write-down to fair value of tangible
assets to be disposed of, and other costs to exit the facilities. The Company
believed the strategy of closing underutilized warehouses and concentrating
sales volume into existing warehouses would improve operational efficiency and
lower distribution costs.

    In accordance with the 1998 revitalization plan, the Company completed the
closure of its Appleton, Wisconsin distribution center during 1999. During the
fourth quarter of 1999, after considering both internal and external factors,
the Company decided to indefinitely defer the closure of the remaining two
distribution centers scheduled for closing in the 1998 plan. Accordingly, during
the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company reversed $12.6 million of the charges
recorded in 1998, comprised of $5.1 million of pension and post employment
benefit costs and exit costs and $7.5 million of asset write-downs on assets
previously held for disposal. Additional charges of $.3 million, representing
costs associated with continued ownership and on-going efforts to sell the
distribution center in Appleton were recorded in the fourth quarter.

    Under the 1998 revitalization plan, 12 under-performing corporately operated
retail stores and one store jointly developed with a wholesale customer were
designated for closure and a $9.5 million charge was recorded. The stores were
primarily located in geographic areas where the Company could not

                                       14
<PAGE>
attain a strong market presence. The Company's focus is to develop corporate
stores that can dominate their primary trade areas. Eight of the stores,
including the jointly developed location, were closed in the first half of 1999.
The Company continues to market three units and a fourth will be closed in
April 2000. As a result of significantly improved economic conditions in the
market area, the Company decided in the fourth quarter of 1999 not to close the
one remaining location. Accordingly, the Company recorded a reversal of
$.4 million related to the closure of this store. In addition, accruals in the
amount of $.5 million were reversed for properties originally scheduled for
closure that were sold. In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company also recorded
an additional charge of $.4 million representing costs associated with continued
ownership and on-going efforts to sell two stores.

    In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company also recorded an additional
accrual of $4.7 million related to four corporately operated stores which have
been identified for closure by the end of the third quarter of 2000. Three
stores are located in the highly competitive Iowa market and the fourth is in
North Carolina. The accrual consists of $3.3 million of non-cancelable lease
obligations and related costs required under lease agreements, $1.0 million to
write-down to fair value assets held for disposal, and $.4 million of
post-closing facility exit costs. For 1999, these stores had aggregate sales and
pretax losses of $29.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, compared to
$33.3 million and $1.4 million in 1998.

    The aggregate 1998 special charges included $34.4 million for the
abandonment of assets primarily related to the Company's HORIZONS information
system project. The abandoned assets related to purchased software and internal
and external in-process software development. The Company terminated the project
when it became apparent that without significant investment in continuing
development, the software would lack the inherent functionality to meet the
Company's business as well as its Year 2000 needs. The Company then shifted
resources to a Year 2000 remediation plan that was successfully executed in
1999. Also included in abandoned assets is $1.3 million in unamortized,
purchased packaging design costs, related to a private label product line that
was redesigned. The variety of products marketed under this label was
substantially reduced, resulting in approximately 200 fast moving items with a
redesigned merchandising strategy and packaging.

    The remainder of the 1998 special charges consisted of a $10.3 million
provision for asset impairment of which $8.2 million relates to ten
corporate-owned retail stores. Increased competition resulting in declining
market share, deterioration of operating performance and inadequate projected
cash flows were the factors indicating impairment. The impaired assets, which
include leasehold improvements and store equipment, were measured based on a
comparison of the assets' net book value to the present value of the stores'
estimated cash flows. The impairment provision included $2.1 million to write
off the Company's equity investment in a joint venture with an independent
retailer it continues to service. Current and projected operating losses and
projected negative cash flow were the primary factors in determining a permanent
decline in the value of the investment had occurred.

    The tables included in Note (3) of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements contain a roll forward of 1998 special charges activity relative to
wholesale and retail operations through January 1, 2000.

    5.  SPECIAL CHARGES--1997 CHARGES

    In 1997, the Company accelerated its plan to strengthen its competitive
position. Coincident with the implementation of the plan, the Company recorded
special charges totaling $31.3 million impacting the Company's wholesale and
retail segments, as well as the produce growing and marketing segment
discontinued during 1998.

    The aggregate special charges included $14.5 million for the consolidation
or downsizing of seven underutilized warehouses. The charges provided for
non-cancelable lease obligations, write-down to fair

                                       15
<PAGE>
value of tangible assets to be disposed of, and other costs to exit the
facilities. Also included are post-employment benefit costs consistent with
existing practice and the unamortized portion of goodwill for one of the
locations.

    As a result of management changes during 1998, all actions to be taken under
the 1997 plan were reevaluated by the Company's new management team.
Substantially all actions contemplated by the 1997 plan were reaffirmed in 1998
and implemented. However, some actions included in the 1997 plan were modified.
The $3.4 million of accruals reversed in 1998 relate to management's
determination that one distribution center identified for closure in the 1997
plan would remain open. The $2.0 million of additional accruals were principally
for one distribution center identified for downsizing in 1997, which was closed
in 1999, and management's decision to abandoned assets that could not be used in
other operations.

    In 1999, the Company completed closure of the remaining distribution centers
included in the original 1997 special charges, as modified in 1998. These
included Grand Island, Nebraska; Liberal, Kansas; Denver, Colorado and Rocky
Mount, North Carolina. In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company recorded
additional charges of $2.2 million associated with the continuing ownership
costs of those distribution centers that have not been sold or subleased.

    In retail operations, the special charge of $5.2 million related to the
closing of 14, principally leased, stores. The charge covers provisions for
continuing non-cancelable lease obligations, anticipated losses on disposals of
tangible assets, including abandonment of leasehold improvements, and the
write-off of intangible assets.

    In 1998, $.4 million was reversed, principally relating to the planned
closure of a leased retail store which was subleased during the third quarter of
1998 as well as a management decision to keep a previously identified store
open. Ten of the identified retail stores were closed during 1998 and 1999, with
the remaining two stores scheduled to be closed in early 2000. During 1999, the
Company recorded additional accruals of $.6 million substantially related to
continuing lease costs of one closed location.

    The aggregate 1997 special charges contained a provision of $5.4 million for
impaired assets of seven retail stores. Declining market share due to increasing
competition, deterioration of operating performance in the third quarter of
1997, and forecasted future results that were less than previously planned were
the factors leading the impairment determination. The impaired assets covered by
the charge primarily include real estate, leasehold improvements and, to a
lesser extent, goodwill related to two of the stores. Store fixed asset
write-downs were measured based on a comparison of the assets' net book value to
the net present value of the stores' estimated future net cash flows.

    The 1997 special charges included $2.5 million of integration costs,
incurred in the third quarter of 1997, associated with the acquisition of the
business and certain assets of United-A.G. Cooperative, Inc.

    An asset impairment charge of $1.0 million relating to agricultural assets
was also recorded against several farming operations of Nash-De Camp Company
("Nash-De Camp"), the Company's produce growing and marketing subsidiary. The
impairment determination was based on downturns in the market for certain
varieties of fruit. The impairment resulted from anticipated future operating
losses and insufficient projected cash flows from agricultural production of
these products.

    Other special charges aggregating $2.8 million consist primarily of
$.9 million related to the abandonment of system software which was replaced,
and a loss of $.6 million realized on the sale of the Company's equity
investment in a Hungarian wholesale operation. The remaining special charges
relate principally to the write-down of idle real estate to current market
values.

    The consolidation of wholesale and retail operations, as well as the
impairment adjustment to the assets identified, have had a favorable impact on
1999 earnings, due to reduced depreciation and

                                       16
<PAGE>
amortization expenses and the elimination of losses from certain affected
operations. However, such cost reductions were substantially offset in 1999 by
Year 2000 remediation costs.

    The tables included in Note (3) of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements contain a roll forward of 1997 special charges activity relative to
wholesale and retail operations through January 1, 2000.

    6.  DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE

    Depreciation and amortization expense for the year was $42.6 million
compared to $46.1 million in 1998, a decline of 7.5%. The decrease primarily
reflects a reduction in depreciable assets resulting from the sale or closing of
distribution centers, corporate-owned retail stores and Nash-De Camp, and lower
depreciation resulting from the write-down of impaired assets recorded as part
of the 1998 and 1997 special charges. Partially offsetting this decline was
depreciation expense associated with new assets, in particular, the acquisition
of Erickson's in June 1999. Comparing 1998 to 1997, depreciation and
amortization expense decreased .6% primarily due to a reduction in the number of
corporate retail stores.

    7.  INTEREST EXPENSE

    Interest expense increased from $29.0 million in 1998 to $31.2 in 1999, an
increase of 7.5%. The higher interest costs are attributed to increased net debt
levels resulting primarily from the Erickson's acquisition, offset in part by
cash used to pay down debt realized from the sales of Nash-De Camp and the
investment in two dairy operations. Average borrowing rates were 7.7% in 1999
compared to 7.4% in 1998, also contributing to the higher interest costs.
Interest expense in 1998 decreased from 1997 due to lower borrowings under the
revolving credit facility, brought about by the application of approximately
$37.0 million in proceeds from a securitization of accounts receivables at the
end of 1997 and improved asset management in the second half of 1998.

    8.  EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
       EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE

    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and
extraordinary charge were earnings of $26.5 million in 1999, a loss of
$58.4 million in 1998 and earnings of $1.2 million in 1997. Excluding the
special charges, earnings from continuing operations before taxes and
extraordinary charge would have been $19.4 million, $10.0 million and
$31.3 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The earnings increase in
1999 compared to 1998, is principally attributed to strong improvement in the
operating performance of the retail segment. The acquisition of Erickson's at
mid-year contributed significantly to the improved retail results. In addition,
a gain of $3.1 million resulting from the sale of the Company's investment in
two dairies is included in the 1999 results. 1999 earnings were negatively
impacted by $11.5 million in Year 2000 remediation costs, while 1998 included a
$7.5 million fourth quarter provision for bad debts.

    9.  INCOME TAXES

    The effective income tax rate for 1999 is 42.4% compared to (32.2)% for
1998, which was driven by timing and deductibility of elements of the special
charges. The effective rate of 186.2% for 1997 was influenced by the low level
of earnings and the non-deductibility of goodwill relating primarily to
acquisitions partially offset by other items. Refer to the tax rate tables in
Note (7) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

    10. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE

    During 1998, in conjunction with the planned senior subordinated debt
offering, the Company prepaid $106.3 million of senior notes, and paid
prepayment premiums and wrote off related deferred financing costs totaling
$9.5 million, all with borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility.

                                       17
<PAGE>
This transaction resulted in an extraordinary charge of $5.6 million, or $.49
per share, after income tax benefits of $4.0 million.

    11. YEAR 2000

    The Company successfully completed its Year 2000 readiness work. Since
entering the Year 2000, the Company has not experienced any major disruptions to
its business nor is it aware of any significant Year 2000-related disruptions
impacting its customers and suppliers. The Company will continue to monitor its
critical systems over the next several months but does not anticipate any
significant impact due to Year 2000 exposures from its internal systems or from
the activities of its suppliers and customers. Expenditures incurred to achieve
Year 2000 readiness were $17.2 million, of which $11.5 million was expensed in
1999 and $3.0 million in 1998. The remaining amount, $2.7 million, represents
equipment which was capitalized.

B.  LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

    Historically, the Company has financed capital needs through a combination
of internal and external sources. These sources include cash flow from
operations, short-term bank borrowings, various types of long-term debt, lease
and equity financing.

    Operating activities generated positive net cash flows of $53.2 million
during 1999 compared to $102.5 million in 1998 and $84.0 million in 1997. The
reduction is primarily due to cash commitments under the special charges offset
by improved asset management, particularly inventory. Working capital was
$138.2 million at the end of 1999, an increase of $2.6 million, from the end of
1998. The current ratio increased to 1.42 at the end of 1999 from 1.41 at the
end of 1998.

    During the year, the Company utilized cash proceeds in the aggregate amount
of $33.0 million from the sales of Nash-De Camp and the Company's equity
interests in two dairy operations to pay down its revolving credit facility.
Cash totaling $67.1 million from the credit facility was primarily used to fund
the acquisitions of Erickson's, and two stores in each of Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Company intends to continue to utilize its
revolving credit facility to fund acquisitions and capital requirements.

    Although the Company had no outstanding short-term debt at January 1, 2000,
compared to $5.5 million at the end of 1998, it has an available line under its
revolving credit facility of $25.0 million. The Company has historically used
this line to fund seasonal fluctuations in working capital.

    The following table provides information about the Company's derivative
financial instruments and other financial instruments that are sensitive to
changes in interest rates. For debt obligations, the table presents principal
cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity
dates. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual cash flows to be
exchanged under the contract.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   FIXED RATE             VARIABLE
                                               -------------------   -------------------
                                                AMOUNT      RATE      AMOUNT      RATE
                                               --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
2000.........................................  $  1,398     8.4%     $    110     6.5%
2001.........................................     2,693     8.4%      130,110     7.8%
2002.........................................     1,203     8.4%        1,210     7.3%
2003.........................................     3,802     8.4%          110     3.6%
2004.........................................       625     8.4%          110     3.6%
thereafter...................................   173,888     8.4%          340     3.6%
                                               --------              --------
                                               $183,609              $131,990
                                               ========              ========
</TABLE>

                                       18
<PAGE>
A swap agreement with a notional amount of $30.0 million expires in May 2000.
Agreements outstanding at year-end (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1999       1998
                                                            --------   --------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>
Receive variable/pay fixed................................  $30,000    $90,000
Average receive rate......................................      5.3%       5.5%
Average pay rate..........................................      6.5%       6.5%
</TABLE>

    Other transactions affecting liquidity in 1999 were capital expenditures for
the year of $52.3 million and payments of cash dividends totaling $4.1 million,
or $.36 per share. At the beginning of 1999, the Company announced that it would
reduce cash dividends by 50% (dividends paid in 1998 totaled $.72 per share),
thereby allowing the Company to reinvest approximately $4.0 million back into
the business.

    The Company believes that borrowing under the revolving credit facility,
sale of subordinated notes, other credit agreements, cash flows from operating
activities and lease financing will be adequate to meet the Company's working
capital needs, planned capital expenditures and debt service obligations for the
foreseeable future.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

    See disclosure set forth under Item 7 under the caption "Liquidity and
Capital Resources."

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Nash Finch Company:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nash Finch
Company and subsidiaries as of January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 1, 2000. Our
audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at
Item 14(b). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Nash Finch Company
and subsidiaries at January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999, and the consolidated
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended January 1, 2000, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States. Also, in our opinion, the related
financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth therein.

Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 22, 2000

                                       19
<PAGE>
                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                      FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2000,
                      JANUARY 2, 1999 AND JANUARY 3, 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1999            1998            1997
                                                                  (52 WEEKS)      (52 WEEKS)      (53 WEEKS)
                                                                  ----------      ----------      ----------
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>             <C>
Total sales and revenues....................................      $4,123,213      4,160,011       4,341,095

Cost and expenses:
  Cost of sales.............................................       3,698,752      3,783,661       3,936,813
  Selling, general and administrative.......................         331,221        291,199         293,876
  Special charges...........................................          (7,045)        68,471          30,034
  Depreciation and amortization.............................          42,619         46,064          46,353
  Interest expense..........................................          31,213         29,034          32,773
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
    Total costs and expenses................................       4,096,760      4,218,429       4,339,849

    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income
      taxes and extraordinary charge........................          26,453        (58,418)          1,246

Income taxes (benefit)......................................          11,216        (18,837)          2,320
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before
      extraordinary charge..................................          15,237        (39,581)         (1,074)
Discontinued operations:
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of
    income taxes (benefit)..................................              --            426            (154)
  Earnings (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations,
    including profit (loss) of $1,017 and ($1,800),
    respectively, during the phase out period, net of income
    tax (benefit) of 3,587 and ($10,587), respectively......           4,566        (16,913)             --
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
  Earnings (loss) before extraordinary charge...............          19,803        (56,068)         (1,228)
  Extraordinary charge from early extinguishment of debt,
    net of income tax benefit of $3,951.....................              --          5,569              --
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
  Net earnings (loss).......................................      $   19,803        (61,637)         (1,228)
                                                                  ==========      =========       =========
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
  Earnings (loss) from continuing operations................      $     1.35          (3.50)          (0.10)
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations..............            0.40          (1.46)          (0.01)
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
    Earnings (loss) before extraordinary charge.............            1.75          (4.96)          (0.11)
  Extraordinary charge from early extinguishment of debt,
    net of income tax benefit...............................              --          (0.49)             --
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
  Net earnings (loss) per share.............................      $     1.75          (5.45)          (0.11)
                                                                  ==========      =========       =========
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
  Earnings (loss) from continuing operations................      $     1.34          (3.50)          (0.10)
  Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations..............            0.40          (1.46)          (0.01)
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
  Earnings (loss) before extraordinary charge...............            1.74          (4.96)          (0.11)
  Extraordinary charge from early extinguishment of debt,
    net of income tax benefit...............................              --          (0.49)             --
                                                                  ----------      ---------       ---------
  Net earnings (loss) per share.............................      $     1.74          (5.45)          (0.11)
                                                                  ==========      =========       =========
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       20
<PAGE>
                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              JANUARY 1,   JANUARY 2,
                                                                 2000         1999
                                                              ----------   ----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash......................................................  $  16,389          848
  Accounts and notes receivable, net........................    154,066      169,748
  Inventories...............................................    264,232      267,040
  Prepaid expenses..........................................     11,137       13,154
  Deferred tax assets.......................................     19,739       16,318
                                                              ---------     --------
    Total current assets....................................    465,563      467,108

Investments in affiliates...................................        508        4,805
Notes receivable, net.......................................     20,712       12,936

Property, plant and equipment:
  Land......................................................     23,898       25,386
  Buildings and improvements................................    136,119      130,988
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment.........................    288,156      302,450
  Leasehold improvements....................................     70,071       61,983
  Construction in progress..................................     11,073       10,107
  Assets under capitalized leases...........................     25,233       24,878
                                                              ---------     --------
                                                                554,550      555,792
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization............   (318,924)    (333,414)
                                                              ---------     --------
    Net property, plant and equipment.......................    235,626      222,378
Goodwill, net...............................................    101,751       62,914
Other intangible assets, net................................     13,652       14,891
Investment in direct financing leases.......................     15,444       16,155
Deferred tax asset, net.....................................      9,187       31,908
                                                              ---------     --------
    Total assets............................................  $ 862,443      833,095
                                                              =========     ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Outstanding checks........................................  $  54,974       33,329
  Short-term debt payable to banks..........................         --        5,525
  Current maturities of long-term debt and capitalized lease
    obligations.............................................      3,117        2,563
  Accounts payable..........................................    191,749      189,382
  Accrued expenses..........................................     72,681       97,683
  Income taxes..............................................      4,806        2,991
                                                              ---------     --------
    Total current liabilities...............................    327,327      331,473
Long-term debt..............................................    314,091      293,280
Capitalized lease obligations...............................     33,718       34,667
Deferred compensation.......................................      4,545        6,450
Other.......................................................     10,088       10,752
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock--no par value
    Authorized 500 shares; none issued......................         --           --
  Common stock of $1.66 2/3 par value
    Authorized 25,000 shares, issued 11,641 and 11,575
    shares in 1999 and 1998, respectively...................     19,402       19,292
  Additional paid-in capital................................     18,247       17,944
  Restricted stock..........................................        (57)        (113)
  Retained earnings.........................................    136,905      121,185
                                                              ---------     --------
                                                                174,497      158,308
  Less cost of 231 and 234 shares of common stock in
    treasury, respectively..................................     (1,823)      (1,835)
                                                              ---------     --------
    Total stockholders' equity..............................    172,674      156,473
                                                              ---------     --------
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..............  $ 862,443      833,095
                                                              =========     ========
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1999       1998       1997
                                                              --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Operating activities:
  Net earnings..............................................  $ 19,803    (61,637)   (1,228)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
    by operating activities:
    Special charges--non cash portion.......................    (7,045)    65,181    28,749
    Discontinued operations.................................    (8,153)    27,500        --
    Depreciation and amortization...........................    42,619     47,196    47,697
    Provision for bad debts.................................     4,388     10,637     5,055
    Provision for losses (recovery from) closed lease
      locations.............................................      (749)     1,099     1,722
    Extraordinary charges--extinguishment of debt...........        --      9,520        --
    Deferred income tax expense (benefit)...................    17,460    (36,532)   (2,955)
    Deferred compensation...................................    (2,723)      (318)     (708)
    (Earnings) loss of equity investments...................      (751)      (262)      469
    Other...................................................      (616)    (2,017)    2,003
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Accounts and notes receivable...........................     5,964     (3,604)   (3,744)
    Inventories.............................................    18,014     23,400    19,821
    Prepaid expenses........................................     5,285      6,722    (1,201)
    Accounts payable........................................    (5,625)    11,072    (6,953)
    Accrued expenses........................................   (36,143)     2,276    (2,512)
    Income taxes............................................     1,422      2,254    (2,262)
                                                              --------   --------   -------
      Net cash provided by operating activities.............    53,150    102,487    83,953
                                                              --------   --------   -------
Investing activities:
  Dividends received........................................        --        799     1,600
  Disposal of property, plant and equipment.................    29,606     21,274    16,721
  Additions to property, plant and equipment excluding
    capital leases..........................................   (52,282)   (52,730)  (67,725)
  Business acquired, net of cash acquired...................   (67,082)    (2,908)  (17,863)
  Loans to customers........................................   (24,273)   (15,290)  (18,816)
  Payments from customers on loans..........................    26,154     15,554    14,080
  Sale (repurchase) of receivables..........................     5,070       (250)   37,000
  Proceeds from sale of dairy operations, net of gain.......    12,769         --        --
  Proceeds from sale of Nash-De Camp........................    17,083         --        --
  Other.....................................................    (1,070)    (4,174)     (739)
                                                              --------   --------   -------
      Net cash used for investing activities................   (54,025)   (37,725)  (35,742)
                                                              --------   --------   -------
Financing activities:
  Proceeds from long-term debt..............................     1,149    165,000        --
  Proceeds (payments) from revolving debt...................    10,000    (94,000)  (30,000)
  Dividends paid............................................    (4,083)    (8,162)   (8,110)
  Payments of short-term debt...............................    (5,891)    (5,775)   (4,871)
  Payments of long-term debt................................    (5,924)  (108,608)   (6,009)
  Payments of capitalized lease obligations.................    (1,598)    (1,504)   (3,467)
  Extinguishment of debt....................................        --     (9,378)       --
  Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks.................    21,645     (2,942)    3,779
  Other.....................................................     1,118        522       479
                                                              --------   --------   -------
    Net cash provided (used) by financing activities........    16,416    (64,847)  (48,199)
                                                              --------   --------   -------
      Net increase (decrease) in cash.......................  $ 15,541        (85)       12
                                                              ========   ========   =======
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       22
<PAGE>
                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                      FISCAL PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1, 2000,
                      JANUARY 2, 1999 AND JANUARY 3, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           COMMON                                    FOREIGN
                                           SHARES          ADDITIONAL               CURRENCY
                                     -------------------    PAID-IN     RETAINED   TRANSLATION
                                      SHARES     AMOUNT     CAPITAL     EARNINGS   ADJUSTMENT
                                     --------   --------   ----------   --------   -----------
                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
Balance at December 28, 1996.......   11,574    $19,290      16,816     200,322       (950)
Net earnings (loss)................       --         --          --      (1,228)        --
Dividend declared of $.72 per
  share............................       --         --          --      (8,110)        --
Treasury stock issued upon exercise
  of options.......................       --         --         354          --         --
Amortized compensation under
  restricted stock plan............       --         --          --          --         --
Repayment of notes receivable from
  holders of restricted stock......       --         --          --          --         --
Distribution of stock pursuant to
  performance awards...............       --         --         460          --         --
Treasury stock purchased...........       --         --          --          --         --
Foreign currency translation
  adjustment.......................       --         --          --          --        950
Other..............................        1          2          18          --         --
                                      ------    -------      ------     -------       ----
Balance at January 3, 1998.........   11,575    $19,292      17,648     190,984         --
Net earnings (loss)................       --         --          --     (61,637)        --
Dividend declared of $.72 per
  share............................       --         --          --      (8,162)        --
Treasury stock issued upon exercise
  of options.......................       --         --          47          --         --
Amortized compensation under
  restricted stock plan............       --         --          --          --         --
Repayment of notes receivable from
  holders of restricted stock......       --         --          --          --         --
Distribution of stock pursuant to
  performance awards...............       --         --         246          --         --
Treasury stock purchased...........       --         --          --          --         --
Other..............................                               3          --         --
                                      ------    -------      ------     -------       ----
Balance at January 2, 1999.........   11,575    $19,292      17,944     121,185         --
Net earnings (loss)................       --         --          --      19,803         --
Dividend declared of $.36 per
  share............................       --         --          --      (4,083)        --
Common stock issued for employee
  stock purchase plan..............       66        110         294          --         --
Amortized compensation under
  restricted stock plan............       --         --          --          --         --
Repayment of notes receivable from
  holders of restricted stock......       --         --          --          --         --
Distribution of stock pursuant to
  performance awards...............       --         --           9          --         --
                                      ------    -------      ------     -------       ----
Balance at January 1, 2000.........   11,641    $19,402      18,247     136,905         --
                                      ======    =======      ======     =======       ====

<CAPTION>

                                                    TREASURY STOCK          TOTAL
                                     RESTRICTED   -------------------   STOCKHOLDERS'
                                       STOCK       SHARES     AMOUNT       EQUITY
                                     ----------   --------   --------   -------------
                                         (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                  <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance at December 28, 1996.......     (500)       (307)    $(2,117)      232,861
Net earnings (loss)................       --          --          --        (1,228)
Dividend declared of $.72 per
  share............................       --          --          --        (8,110)
Treasury stock issued upon exercise
  of options.......................       --          29         143           497
Amortized compensation under
  restricted stock plan............       29          --          --            29
Repayment of notes receivable from
  holders of restricted stock......       80          --          --            80
Distribution of stock pursuant to
  performance awards...............       --          30         148           608
Treasury stock purchased...........       --          (4)        (89)          (89)
Foreign currency translation
  adjustment.......................       --          --          --           950
Other..............................       --          --          --            20
                                        ----        ----     -------       -------
Balance at January 3, 1998.........     (391)       (252)    $(1,915)      225,618
Net earnings (loss)................       --          --          --       (61,637)
Dividend declared of $.72 per
  share............................       --          --          --        (8,162)
Treasury stock issued upon exercise
  of options.......................       --           4          21            68
Amortized compensation under
  restricted stock plan............       72          --          --            72
Repayment of notes receivable from
  holders of restricted stock......      206          --          --           206
Distribution of stock pursuant to
  performance awards...............       --          15          75           321
Treasury stock purchased...........       --          (1)        (16)          (16)
Other..............................       --          --          --             3
                                        ----        ----     -------       -------
Balance at January 2, 1999.........     (113)       (234)    $(1,835)      156,473
Net earnings (loss)................       --          --          --        19,803
Dividend declared of $.36 per
  share............................       --          --          --        (4,083)
Common stock issued for employee
  stock purchase plan..............       --          --          --           404
Amortized compensation under
  restricted stock plan............       13          --          --            13
Repayment of notes receivable from
  holders of restricted stock......       43          --          --            43
Distribution of stock pursuant to
  performance awards...............       --           3          12            21
                                        ----        ----     -------       -------
Balance at January 1, 2000.........      (57)       (231)    $(1,823)      172,674
                                        ====        ====     =======       =======
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       23
<PAGE>
                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Fiscal Year

    Nash Finch Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to
December 31. Fiscal year 1999 consisted of 52 weeks, while 1998 and 1997
consisted of 52 weeks and 53 weeks, respectively.

Principles of Consolidation

    The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Nash Finch
Company (the "Company"), its majority-owned subsidiaries and the Company's share
of net earnings or losses of 50% or less owned companies. All material
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated
financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

    In the accompanying financial statements and for purposes of the statements
of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and short-term
investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Inventories

    Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. At January 1, 2000
and January 2, 1999, approximately 90% and 87%, respectively, of the Company's
inventories are valued on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. During fiscal
1999 the Company recorded a LIFO credit of $.9 million compared to a charge of
$4.0 million in 1998. The remaining inventories are valued on the first-in,
first-out (FIFO) method. If the FIFO method of accounting for inventories had
been used, inventories would have been $46.2 million and $47.1 million higher at
January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

    Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Assets under capitalized
leases are recorded at the present value of future lease payments or fair market
value, whichever is lower. Expenditures which improve or extend the life of the
respective assets are capitalized while maintenance and repairs are expensed as
incurred. Interest costs associated with plant expansion and remodels in the
amount of $.6 million and $.4 million have been capitalized during 1999 and
1998, respectively.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

    An impairment loss is recognized whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable. In applying
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, ACCOUNTING FOR THE
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND FOR LONG-LIVED ASSETS TO BE DISPOSED OF,
assets are grouped and evaluated at the lowest level for which there are
identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other
groups of assets. The Company has generally identified this lowest level to be
individual stores; however, there are limited circumstances where, for
evaluation purposes, stores could be considered with the distribution center
they support. The Company considers historical performance and future estimated
results in its evaluation of potential impairment. If the carrying amount of the
asset exceeds estimated expected undiscounted future cash flows, the Company
measures the amount of the impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the
asset to its fair value, generally measured by discounting expected future cash
flows at the rate the Company utilizes to evaluate potential investments.

                                       24
<PAGE>
Intangible Assets

    Intangible assets consist primarily of goodwill and covenants not to compete
and are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Costs are amortized over
the estimated useful lives of the related assets ranging from 2-40 years.
Amortization expense charged to operations for fiscal years ended January 1,
2000, January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1998 was $7.3 million, $5.8 million and
$5.9 million, respectively. The accumulated amortization of intangible assets
was $25.0 million and $18.5 million at January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999,
respectively. The carrying value of intangible assets is reviewed for impairment
annually and/or when factors indicating impairment are present using an
undiscounted cash flow assumption.

Depreciation and Amortization

    Property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over
the estimated useful lives of the assets which generally range from 10-40 years
for buildings and improvements and 3-10 years for furniture, fixtures and
equipment. Leasehold improvements and capitalized leases are amortized on a
straight-line basis over the shorter of the term of the lease or the life of the
asset.

Income Taxes

    Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of
existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to
taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to
be recovered or settled.

Stock Option Plans

    As permitted by the provisions of SFAS No. 123, ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION, the Company has chosen to continue to apply Accounting Principles
Board Opinion No. 25 (APB 25), ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES and
related interpretations in accounting for its stock option plans. As a result,
the Company does not recognize compensation costs if the option price equals or
exceeds market price at date of grant. Note (8) of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements contains a summary of the pro forma effects to reported net
income and earnings per share had the Company elected to recognize compensation
costs as encouraged by SFAS No. 123.

Use of Estimates

    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Standards

    The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 133,
ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES, which standardizes
the accounting for derivative instruments and requires the Company to recognize
all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. This Statement is effective
for the Company's fiscal year 2000. Management does not expect the impact on
earnings or financial position to be material.

(2) ACQUISITIONS

    On June 10, 1999 the Company acquired Erickson's Diversified Corporation
("Erickson's") through a cash purchase of all of Erickson's outstanding capital
stock. Erickson's operates 18 supermarkets in Minnesota and Wisconsin with
annual sales of approximately $200 million. In addition to the stores, the
acquisition includes a number of real estate holdings in the two state market
area. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase, which included a cash
purchase price of $59.5 million,

                                       25
<PAGE>
transaction costs of $2.1 million, and the assumption of liabilities totaling
$35.9 million. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been recorded at
their fair values at date of acquisition. This allocation has resulted in
goodwill of approximately $43.6 million, which is being amortized on a straight
line basis over 40 years.

    The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of
consolidated earnings from continuing operations before extraordinary charge as
if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1999        1998
                                                        ----------   ---------
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>
Revenues..............................................  $4,169,621   4,267,921
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before
  extraordinary charge................................      14,914     (40,346)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share...........  $     1.32       (3.56)
</TABLE>

    These unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for comparative
purposes only and include certain adjustments such as additional amortization
expense on acquired goodwill and increased interest expense on acquisition debt.
They do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually
would have resulted had the acquisition occurred on the date indicated, or may
result in the future.

(3) SPECIAL CHARGES

1998 CHARGES

    During the fourth quarter of 1998, the Company recorded special charges
totaling $71.4 million (offset by $2.9 million of 1997 charge adjustments) as a
result of the Company's revitalization plan designed to redirect its technology
efforts, optimize warehouse capacity through consolidation, and to close, sell
or reassess underperforming businesses and investments.

    In connection with the implementation of the Company's 1998 revitalization
plan, the 1998 special charges included $17.0 million to streamline the
Company's wholesale operations by closing three warehouses by the end of the
third quarter of 1999. The charges, as further detailed below, provided for
post-employment and pension benefit costs, write-down to fair value of tangible
assets to be disposed of, and other costs to exit the facilities. The Company
believed the strategy of closing underutilized warehouses and concentrating
sales volume into existing warehouses would improve operational efficiency and
lower distribution costs.

    In accordance with the 1998 revitalization plan, the Company completed the
closure of its Appleton, Wisconsin distribution center during 1999. During the
fourth quarter of 1999, after considering both internal and external factors,
the Company decided to indefinitely defer the closure of the remaining two
distribution centers scheduled for closing in the 1998 plan. Accordingly, during
the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company reversed $12.6 million of the charge
recorded in 1998, comprised of accrued exit costs of $5.1 million and asset
write-downs of $7.5 million. Additional charges of $.3 million, representing
costs associated with continued ownership and on-going efforts to sell the
distribution center in Appleton, were recorded in the fourth quarter.

                                       26
<PAGE>
    The following table details the activity associated with the 1998 special
charges relative to the wholesale component of the charge:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          PENSION &     WRITE-
                                             POST       DOWN OF
                                          EMPLOYMENT   TANGIBLE      EXIT
                                           BENEFITS    ASSETS(1)    COSTS      TOTAL
                                          ----------   ---------   --------   --------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Initial accrual.........................   $ 5,339       7,995       3,677     17,011
Used in 1998............................        --      (7,995)       (108)    (8,103)
                                           -------      ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/2/99........................     5,339          --       3,569      8,908
                                           -------      ------      ------     ------
Used in 1999............................      (381)       (340)       (968)    (1,689)
Additional accruals in 1999.............        --         340          --        340
Reversals in 1999.......................    (3,215)         --      (1,931)    (5,146)
                                           -------      ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/1/00........................   $ 1,743          --         670      2,413
                                           =======      ======      ======     ======
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) The Company reversed $7.5 million of the write-down of tangible assets
    recorded in 1998, as discussed above.

    Under the 1998 special charge, twelve under-performing corporately operated
retail stores and one store jointly developed with a wholesale customer were
designated for closure and a $9.5 million charge was recorded. Eight of the
stores, including the jointly developed location, were closed in the first half
of 1999. The Company continues to market three units and a fourth will be closed
in April 2000. As a result of significantly improved economic conditions in the
market area, the Company decided in the fourth quarter of 1999 not to close the
one remaining location. Accordingly, the Company recorded a reversal of
$.4 million related to the closure of this store. In addition, accruals in the
amount of $.5 million were reversed, primarily for properties originally
scheduled for closure that were sold. In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company
also recorded an additional accrual of $.4 million representing costs associated
with continued ownership and on-going efforts to sell two stores.

    The following table details 1998 special charge activity relative to the
retail component of the charge:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                WRITE-      WRITE-
                                               DOWN OF      DOWN OF
                                   LEASE      INTANGIBLE   TANGIBLE      EXIT
                                COMMITMENTS     ASSETS     ASSETS(1)    COSTS      TOTAL
                                -----------   ----------   ---------   --------   --------
<S>                             <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Initial accrual...............    $3,454          144        3,027       2,883      9,508
Used in 1998..................        --         (144)      (3,027)     (1,462)    (4,633)
                                  ------         ----       ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/2/99..............     3,454           --           --       1,421      4,875

Used in 1999..................      (397)          --         (322)       (118)      (837)
Additional accruals in 1999...        --           --          322          38        360
Reversals in 1999.............      (532)          --           --        (461)      (993)
                                  ------         ----       ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/1/00..............    $2,525           --           --         880      3,405
                                  ======         ====       ======      ======     ======
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) The Company reversed $.9 million of the write-down of tangible assets
    recorded in 1998, as discussed above.

    In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company also recorded charges of
$4.7 million related to four corporately operated stores which have been
announced for closure. The charges consist of $3.3 million of non-cancelable
lease obligations and related costs required under lease agreements,
$1.0 million to write-down to fair value assets held for disposal, and
$.4 million of post-closing facility exit costs. For

                                       27
<PAGE>
1999, these stores had aggregate sales and pretax losses of $29.9 million and
$1.8 million, respectively, compared to $33.3 million and $1.4 million in 1998.

    The aggregate 1998 special charges included $34.4 million for the
abandonment of assets primarily related to the Company's HORIZONS information
system project. The abandoned assets related to purchased software and internal
and external in-process software development. The Company terminated the project
when it became apparent that without significant investment in continuing
development, the software would lack the inherent functionality to meet the
Company's business as well as its then Year 2000 needs. The Company then shifted
resources to a Year 2000 remediation plan which was successfully executed in
1999. Also included in abandoned assets is $1.3 million in unamortized,
purchased packaging design costs, related to a private label product line that
was redesigned. The variety of products marketed under this label was
substantially reduced, resulting in approximately 200 fast moving items with a
redesigned merchandising strategy and packaging.

    The remainder of the special charges consisted of a $10.3 million provision
for asset impairment of which $8.2 million relates to ten owned retail stores.
Increased competition resulting in declining market share, deterioration of
operating performance and inadequate projected cash flows were the factors
indicating impairment. The impaired assets, which include leasehold improvements
and store equipment, were measured based on a comparison of the assets' net book
value to the present value of the stores' estimated cash flows. The impairment
provision included $2.1 million to write off the Company's equity investment in
a joint venture with an independent retailer it continues to service. Current
and projected operating losses and projected negative cash flow were the primary
factors in determining a permanent decline in the value of the investment had
occurred.

    The impact of suspending depreciation on assets to be disposed of is not
material. At January 1, 2000, special charge costs have been included in accrued
expenses on the balance sheet.

1997 CHARGES

    In 1997, the Company accelerated its plan to strengthen its competitive
position. Coincident with the implementation of the plan, the Company recorded
special charges totaling $31.3 million impacting the Company's wholesale and
retail segments, as well as the produce growing and marketing segment
discontinued during 1998.

                                       28
<PAGE>
    The aggregate special charges included $14.5 million for the consolidation
or downsizing of seven underutilized warehouses. The following table details
1997 special charge activity relative to the wholesale component of the charge:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        WRITE-      WRITE-
                                                            POST       DOWN OF      DOWN OF
                                              LEASE      EMPLOYMENT   INTANGIBLE   TANGIBLE      EXIT
                                            COMMITMENT    BENEFITS      ASSETS     ASSETS(1)    COSTS      TOTAL
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ---------   --------   --------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Initial accrual...........................   $ 5,198        1,815        3,225       2,442       1,835     14,515
Used in 1997..............................        --           --       (3,225)     (2,442)         --     (5,667)
                                             -------       ------       ------      ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/3/98..........................     5,198        1,815           --          --       1,835      8,848

Used in 1998..............................    (1,328)        (625)          --        (669)       (269)    (2,891)
Additional accruals in 1998...............       271          194           --         669         845      1,979
Reversals in 1998.........................    (1,591)        (352)          --          --        (358)    (2,301)
                                             -------       ------       ------      ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/2/99..........................     2,550        1,032           --          --       2,053      5,635

Used in 1999..............................    (1,188)        (758)          --      (1,200)     (1,195)    (4,341)
Additional accruals in 1999...............       388           --           --       1,200         591      2,179
Reversals in 1999.........................      (160)          --           --          --        (343)      (503)
                                             -------       ------       ------      ------      ------     ------
  Balance 1/1/00..........................   $ 1,590          274           --          --       1,106      2,970
                                             =======       ======       ======      ======      ======     ======
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) In 1998 the Company reversed $1.1 million of the write-down of tangible
    assets recorded in 1997, as discussed below.

    As a result of management changes during 1998, all actions to be taken under
the 1997 plan were reevaluated by the Company's new management team.
Substantially all actions contemplated by the 1997 plan were reaffirmed in 1998
and implemented. However, some actions included in the 1997 plan were modified.
The accruals reversed in 1998 relate to new management's determination that one
distribution center identified for closure in the 1997 plan would remain open.
The additional accruals were principally for one distribution center identified
for downsizing in 1997, which was closed in 1999, and management's decision to
abandon assets that could not be used in other operations.

    In 1999 the Company completed closure of the remaining distribution centers
included in the original 1997 special charges, as modified in 1998. These
included Grand Island, Nebraska; Liberal, Kansas; Denver, Colorado and Rocky
Mount, North Carolina. In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company recorded
additional charges of $2.2 million for selling and other costs associated with
the continuing ownership costs of those distribution centers that have not been
sold or subleased.

                                       29
<PAGE>
    In retail operations, the special charge of $5.2 million related to the
closing of 14, principally leased, stores. The following table details special
charge activity relative to the retail component of the charge:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 WRITE-      WRITE-
                                                                DOWN OF      DOWN OF
                                                    LEASE      INTANGIBLE   TANGIBLE      EXIT
                                                 COMMITMENTS     ASSETS     ASSETS(1)    COSTS      TOTAL
                                                 -----------   ----------   ---------   --------   --------
<S>                                              <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Initial accrual................................    $ 2,780         396        1,603        393       5,172
Used in 1997...................................        (10)       (396)      (1,603)       (63)     (2,072)
                                                   -------        ----       ------       ----      ------
  Balance 1/3/98...............................      2,770          --           --        330       3,100
                                                   -------        ----       ------       ----      ------

Used in 1998...................................       (416)         --           --        (28)       (444)
Additional accruals in 1998....................        486          --           --        198         684
Reversals in 1998..............................     (1,448)         --           --       (131)     (1,579)
                                                   -------        ----       ------       ----      ------
  Balance 1/2/99...............................      1,392          --           --        369       1,761

Used in 1999...................................       (835)         --           --        (77)       (912)
Additional accruals in 1999....................        467          --           --        157         624
Reversals in 1999..............................       (224)         --           --       (182)       (406)
                                                   -------        ----       ------       ----      ------
  Balance 1/1/00...............................    $   800          --           --        267       1,067
                                                   =======        ====       ======       ====      ======
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) In 1998 the Company reversed $.6 million of the write-down of tangible
    assets recorded in 1997, as discussed below.

    The amount reversed in 1998 principally relates to the planned closure of a
leased retail store which was subleased during the third quarter of 1998 as well
as another management decision to keep a previously identified store open. Ten
of the identified retail stores were closed during 1998 and 1999, with the
remaining two stores scheduled to be closed in early 2000. During 1999, the
Company recorded additional accruals of $.6 million substantially related to
continuing lease costs of one closed location.

    The aggregate 1997 special charges contained a provision of $5.4 million for
impaired assets of seven retail stores. Declining market share due to increasing
competition, deterioration of operating performance in the third quarter of
1997, and forecasted future results that were less than previously planned were
the factors leading to the impairment determination. The impaired assets covered
by the charge primarily include real estate, leasehold improvements and, to a
lesser extent, goodwill related to two of the stores. Store fixed asset
write-downs were measured based on a comparison of the assets net book value to
the net present value of the stores' estimated future net cash flows.

    The 1997 special charges included $2.5 million of integration costs,
incurred in the third quarter of 1997, associated with the acquisition of the
business and certain assets of United-A.G. Cooperative, Inc.

    An asset impairment charge for $1.0 million relating to agricultural assets
was also recorded against several farming operations of Nash-De Camp Company
("Nash-De Camp"), the Company's produce growing and marketing subsidiary. The
impairment determination was based on downturns in the market for certain
varieties of fruit. The impairment resulted from anticipated future operating
losses and insufficient projected cash flows from agricultural production of
these products.

    Other special charges aggregating $2.8 million consist primarily of
$.9 million related to the abandonment of system software which was replaced,
and a loss of $.6 million realized on the sale of the Company's equity
investment in a Hungarian wholesale operation. The remaining special charges
relate principally to the write-down of idle real estate to current market
values.

                                       30
<PAGE>
    The impact of suspending depreciation on assets to be disposed of is not
material. At January 1, 2000, special charge costs have been included in accrued
expenses on the balance sheet.

(4) SALE OF SUBSIDIARIES

    On July 31, 1999 the Company sold the outstanding stock of its wholly-owned
produce growing and marketing subsidiary, Nash-De Camp to Agriholding, Inc., of
Pebble Beach, California. Nash-De Camp has previously been reported as a
discontinued operation following a fourth quarter 1998 decision to sell the
subsidiary.

    As a result of the sale, the Company realized cash proceeds of
$17.1 million and recognized an $8.2 million reversal of a $27.5 million
provision recorded for the expected sale at the end of 1998.

    On June 30, 1999 the Company sold its majority interests in Gillette Dairy
of the Black Hills, Inc. and Nebraska Dairies, Inc. to Marigold Foods, Inc.
Marigold purchased all of the outstanding shares of each company for
$15.9 million cash and the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $3.1 million on
the sale recorded as part of continuing operations.

(5) ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE

    Accounts and notes receivable at the end of fiscal years 1999 and 1998 are
comprised of the following components (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1999       1998
                                                           --------   --------
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>
Customer notes receivable, current.......................  $ 10,543    10,950
Customer accounts receivable.............................   141,955   158,610
Other receivables........................................    23,782    25,199
Allowance for doubtful accounts..........................   (22,214)  (25,011)
                                                           --------   -------
Net current accounts and notes receivable................  $154,066   169,748
                                                           ========   =======
Long-term customer notes receivable......................    28,928    22,342
Allowance for doubtful accounts..........................    (8,216)   (9,406)
                                                           --------   -------
Net long-term notes receivable...........................  $ 20,712    12,936
                                                           ========   =======
</TABLE>

    Operating results include bad debt expense totaling $4.4 million,
$10.6 million and $5.1 million during fiscal years 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.

    On December 29, 1997, a Receivables Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") was
executed by the Company, Nash Finch Funding Corporation (NFFC), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, and a certain third party purchaser (the "Purchaser")
pursuant to a securitization transaction. In applying the provisions of SFAS
No. 125 ACCOUNTING FOR TRANSFERS AND SERVICING OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND
EXTINGUISHMENTS OF LIABILITIES, no gain or loss resulted on the transaction. The
Agreement is a five-year, $50 million revolving receivable purchase facility
allowing the Company to sell additional receivables to NFFC, and NFFC to sell,
from time to time, a variable undivided interest in these receivables to the
Purchaser. NFFC maintains a variable undivided interest in these receivables and
is subject to losses on its share of the receivables and, accordingly, maintains
an allowance for doubtful accounts. As of January 1, 2000, and January 2, 1999
the Company had sold $50.5 million and $45.7 million, respectively, of accounts
receivable on a non-recourse basis to NFFC. NFFC sold $41.8 million and
$36.8 million of its undivided interest in such receivables to the Purchaser in
1999 and 1998, respectively, subject to specified collateral requirements.

    In 1995, the Company had entered into an agreement with a financial
institution which allowed the Company to sell on a revolving basis customer
notes receivable with recourse. The remaining balances of such sold notes
receivable totaled $1.7 million and $5.2 million at January 1, 2000 and
January 2, 1999, respectively. The Company is contingently liable should these
notes become uncollectible.

    Substantially all notes receivable are based on floating interest rates
which adjust to changes in market rates. As a result, the carrying value of
notes receivable approximates market value.

                                       31
<PAGE>
(6) LONG-TERM DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES

    Long-term debt at the end of the fiscal years 1999 and 1998 is summarized as
follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1999       1998
                                                              --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Variable rate--revolving credit agreement...................  $130,000   120,000
Senior subordinated debt, 8.5% due in 2008..................   163,913   163,781
Industrial development bonds, 3.9% to 7.8% due in various
  installments through 2009.................................    10,135     3,840
Term loan, 9.55% due in 2001................................     1,250     1,250
Notes payable and mortgage notes, 3% to 11.5% due in various
  installments through 2003.................................    10,301     5,394
                                                              --------   -------
                                                               315,599   294,265
Less current maturities.....................................     1,508       985
                                                              --------   -------
                                                              $314,091   293,280
                                                              ========   =======
</TABLE>

    On April 24, 1998, the Company completed the sale of $165.0 million of 8.5%
senior subordinated notes due May 1, 2008, using the net proceeds from the
offering after fees and expenses, to reduce certain amounts borrowed under its
revolving credit facility.

    In the first quarter of 1998, in conjunction with the senior subordinated
debt offering, the Company prepaid $106.3 million of senior notes, and paid
prepayment premiums and wrote off related deferred financing costs totaling
$9.5 million. This transaction resulted in an extraordinary charge of
$5.6 million, or $.49 per share, net of income tax benefits of $3.9 million.

    At the end of fiscal 1999, the Company had one swap agreement in effect to
manage interest rates on a portion of its long-term debt. The agreement is based
on a notional amount of $30.0 million and calls for an exchange of interest
payments with the Company receiving payments based on a London Interbank Offered
Rate (LIBOR) floating rate and making payments based on a fixed rate of 6.54%,
without an exchange of the notional amount upon which the payments are based.
The differential to be paid or received from the counter-party as interest rates
change is included in other current assets or liabilities, with the
corresponding amount accrued and recognized as an adjustment of interest expense
related to the debt.

    The fair value of the swap agreement is not recognized in the financial
statements. Gains and losses on terminations of interest-rate swap agreements
are deferred as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the outstanding debt and
amortized as an adjustment to the interest expense related to the debt over the
remaining term of the original contract life of the terminated swap agreement.
In the event of the early extinguishment of a designated debt obligation, any
realized or unrealized gain or loss from the swap would be recognized in income
coincident with the extinguishment.

    Any swap agreements that are not designated with outstanding debt are
recorded as an asset or liability at fair value, with changes in fair value
recorded in other income or expense.

    The Company has a $350 million revolving credit facility (the "Credit
Facility") with two lead banks. The Credit Facility matures in October 2001.
Borrowings under this agreement will bear interest at variable rates equal to
LIBOR plus 150 basis points. In addition, the Company pays commitment fees of
 .5% percent on the entire facility both used and unused. The average borrowing
rate during the period was 7.9%.

    The Credit Facility and subordinated debt agreements contain covenants which
among other matters, limit the Company's ability to incur indebtedness and buy
and sell assets, impose dividend

                                       32
<PAGE>
payment limitations and require compliance to predetermined ratios related to
net worth, debt to equity and interest coverage.

    At January 1, 2000, land in the amount of $3.4 million and buildings and
other assets with a depreciated cost of approximately $11.6 million are pledged
to secure outstanding mortgage notes and obligations under issues of industrial
development bonds. In addition, borrowings under the Credit Facility are
collateralized by a security interest in certain accounts receivable and
inventory.

    Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt for the five fiscal years
after January 1, 2000 are as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
2000........................................................  $  1,508
2001........................................................   132,803
2002........................................................     2,413
2003........................................................     3,912
2004........................................................       735
2005 and thereafter.........................................  $174,228
</TABLE>

    Interest paid was $31.1 million, $29.6 million and $31.6 million, for fiscal
years 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

    Based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for long-term
financing with similar terms and average maturities, the fair value of long-term
debt, including current maturities, utilizing discounted cash flows is
$270.1 million.

(7) INCOME TAXES

    Income tax expense (benefit) related to continuing operations is made up of
the following components (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1999       1998       1997
                                                    --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>
Current:
  Federal.........................................  $ 3,698      6,048      3,029
  State...........................................      795      1,060        667
  Tax credits.....................................      (18)        --         --
Deferred:.........................................    6,741    (25,945)    (1,376)
                                                    -------    -------     ------
  Total...........................................  $11,216    (18,837)     2,320
                                                    =======    =======     ======
</TABLE>

    Total income tax expense (benefit) for the fiscal years 1999, 1998 and 1997
was $14.8 million, ($33.2) million and $2.2 million allocated as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       1999       1998       1997
                                                     --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>        <C>
Income from continuing operations..................  $11,216    (18,837)    2,320
Discontinued operations............................    3,587    (10,407)     (103)
Extraordinary item.................................       --     (3,951)       --
                                                     -------    -------     -----
  Total income tax expense (benefit)...............  $14,803    (33,195)    2,217
                                                     =======    =======     =====
</TABLE>

                                       33
<PAGE>
    Income tax expense from continuing operations differed from amounts computed
by applying the federal income tax rate to pre-tax income as a result of the
following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1999          1998          1997
                                                              --------      --------      --------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>           <C>
Federal statutory tax rate..................................    35.0%        (35.0)%        35.0%
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit..............     4.5          (2.0)         18.0
Dividends received deduction on domestic stock..............      --          (0.4)        (36.0)
Non-deductible goodwill.....................................     2.8           0.9         131.4
Adjustment to other income tax accruals.....................      --           3.9          27.7
Other, net..................................................     0.1           0.4          10.1
                                                              ------        ------        ------
  Effective tax rate........................................    42.4%        (32.2)%       186.2%
                                                              ======        ======        ======
</TABLE>

    Income taxes paid (refunded) were $(.9) million, $(4.4) million and
$8.9 million during fiscal years 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

    The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at January 1,
2000, January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998, are presented below (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1999       1998       1997
                                                              --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Inventories...............................................  $ 2,973      2,963      3,405
  Provision for obligations to be settled in future
    periods.................................................   29,964     25,225     15,971
  Discontinued operations...................................       --     10,587         --
  Closed locations..........................................   10,819     18,168     10,612
  Other.....................................................      528      1,782        731
                                                              -------     ------     ------
    Total deferred tax assets...............................  $44,284     58,725     30,719
                                                              -------     ------     ------
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Depreciation and amortization.............................    3,329        457      9,935
  Acquired asset adjustments for fair values................    9,503      7,686      7,686
  Accelerated tax deductions................................    2,287      2,260         --
  Other.....................................................      239         96      1,404
                                                              -------     ------     ------
    Total deferred tax liabilities..........................   15,358     10,499     19,025
                                                              -------     ------     ------
Net deferred tax asset......................................  $28,926     48,226     11,694
                                                              =======     ======     ======
</TABLE>

    Temporary differences for obligations to be settled in the future consist of
deferred compensation, vacation, health benefits and other expenses which are
not deductible for tax purposes until paid.

    The Company has determined a valuation allowance for the net deferred tax
asset is not required since it is more likely than not the deferred tax asset
will be realized through carryback to taxable income in prior years, future
reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income and
tax planning strategies.

(8)  STOCK RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

    Under the Company's 1996 Stockholder Rights Plan, one right is attached to
each outstanding share of common stock. Each right entitles the holder to
purchase, under certain conditions, one-half share of common stock at a price of
$30.00 ($60.00 per full share). The rights are not yet exercisable and no
separate rights certificates have been distributed. All rights expire on
March 31, 2006.

                                       34
<PAGE>
    The rights become exercisable 20 days after a "flip-in event" has occurred
or 10 business days (subject to extension) after a person or group makes a
tender offer for 15% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock. A
flip-in event would occur if a person or group acquires (1) 15% of the Company's
outstanding common stock, or (2) an ownership level set by the Board of
Directors at less than 15% if the person or group is deemed by the Board of
Directors to have interests adverse to those of the Company and its
stockholders. The rights may be redeemed by the Company at any time prior to the
occurrence of a flip-in event at $.01 per right. The power to redeem may be
reinstated within 20 days after a flip-in event occurs if the cause of the
occurrence is removed.

    Upon the rights becoming exercisable, subject to certain adjustments or
alternatives, each right would entitle the holder (other than the acquiring
person or group, whose rights become void) to purchase a number of shares of the
Company's common stock having a market value of twice the exercise price of the
right. If the Company is involved in a merger or other business combination, or
certain other events occur, each right would entitle the holder to purchase
common shares of the acquiring company having a market value of twice the
exercise price of the right. Within 30 days after the rights become exercisable
following a flip-in event, the Board of Directors may exchange shares of Company
common stock or cash or other property for exercisable rights.

    The Company follows APB 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its
employee stock options. Under APB 25, when the exercise price of employee stock
options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the
grant, no compensation expense is recognized.

    Under the Company's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "1994 Plan"),
a total of 845,296 shares were reserved for the granting of stock options,
restricted stock awards and performance unit awards. Stock options are granted
at not less than 100% of fair market value at date of grant and are exercisable
over a term which may not exceed 10 years from date of grant. Restricted stock
awards are subject to restrictions on transferability and such conditions for
vesting, including continuous employment for specified periods of time, as may
be determined at the date of grant. Performance unit awards are grants of rights
to receive shares of stock if certain performance goals or criteria, determined
at the time of grant, are achieved in accordance with the terms of the grant.

    Under the 1995 Director Stock Option Plan (the "Director Plan"), for which a
total of 40,000 shares were reserved, annual grants of options to purchase 500
shares are made automatically to each eligible non-employee director following
each annual meeting of stockholders. The stock options are granted at 100% of
fair market value at date of grant, become exercisable six months following the
date of grant and may be exercised over a term of five years from the date of
grant.

    At January 1, 2000, under the 1994 Plan, options to purchase 392,128 shares
of common stock of the Company at an average price of $11.12 per share and
exercisable over terms of five to seven years from the dates of grant, have been
granted and are outstanding. Effective June 1, 1998, options totaling 200,000
shares were granted to a key senior executive. These options which were not
granted under the 1994 Plan, become exercisable in 50,000 share increments over
a four year period beginning one year after the date of grant, at a price of
$16.84 per share (100% of fair market value at date of grant). In
February 1996, certain members of management exercised rights to purchase
restricted stock from the Company at a 25% discount to fair market value
pursuant to grants awarded in January 1996 under the terms of the 1994 Plan. The
purchase required a minimum of 10% payment in cash with the remaining balance
evidenced by a 5-year promissory note to the Company. Unearned compensation
equivalent to the excess of market value of the shares purchased over the price
paid by the recipient at the date of grant, and the unpaid balance of the
promissory note have been recorded in stockholders' equity. At January 1, 2000,
9,645 shares of restricted stock have been issued and are outstanding.
Performance unit awards having a maximum potential payout of 101,368 shares have
also been granted and are outstanding.

                                       35
<PAGE>
    Reserved for the granting of future stock options, restricted stock awards
and performance unit awards are 230,485 shares.

    At January 1, 2000 under the Director Plan, options to purchase 20,500
shares of common stock of the Company, at an average price of $15.98 per share
and exercisable over a term of five years from the date of grant, have been
granted and are outstanding. Reserved for the granting of future stock options
are 17,500 shares.

    Changes in outstanding options during the three fiscal years ended
January 1, 2000 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        WEIGHTED
                                                                        AVERAGE
                                                                      OPTION PRICE
                                                         SHARES        PER SHARE
                                                        --------      ------------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>
Options outstanding December 28, 1996.................      349          $17.18
  Exercised...........................................      (29)          16.82
  Forfeited...........................................      (33)          17.08
  Granted.............................................        5           18.38
                                                        -------          ------
Options outstanding January 3, 1998...................      292           17.24
  Exercised...........................................       (4)          16.58
  Forfeited...........................................      (33)          16.83
  Granted.............................................      255           16.48
                                                        -------          ------
Options outstanding January 2, 1999...................      510           16.89
  Exercised...........................................       --              --
  Forfeited...........................................     (165)          17.27
  Granted.............................................      268            8.54
                                                        -------          ------
Options outstanding January 1, 2000...................      613(a)       $13.15
                                                        =======          ======
Options exercisable at:
  January 1, 2000.....................................  207,760          $14.62
  January 2, 1999.....................................  238,628           17.12
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(a) Remaining average contractual life of options outstanding at January 1, 2000
    was 2.5 years, with an exercise price ranging from $7.25 to $22.31.

    The weighted average fair value of options granted during 1999, 1998 and
1997 are $1.69, $2.49 and $2.62 respectively. The fair value of each option
grant is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes single option
pricing model assuming a weighted average risk-free interest rate of 6.5%, an
expected dividend yield of 5.5%, expected lives of two and one-half years and
volatility of 35.1%. Had compensation expense for stock options been determined
based on the fair value method (instead of intrinsic value method) at the grant
dates for awards, the Company's 1999 and 1998 net earnings (loss) and earnings
(loss) per share would have been impacted by less than 1%.

                                       36
<PAGE>
(9)  EARNINGS PER SHARE

    The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings
per share for continuing operations:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1999       1998       1997
                                                              --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Numerator:
  Net earnings (loss).......................................  $15,237     (39,581)   (1,074)
                                                              -------    --------   -------
Denominator:
  Denominator for basic earnings per share (weighted-average
    shares).................................................   11,333      11,318    11,270
  Effect of dilutive contingent shares......................       76          --        --
                                                              -------    --------   -------
  Denominator for diluted earnings per share (adjusted
    weighted-average shares)................................   11,409      11,318    11,270
                                                              =======    ========   =======
  Basic earnings (loss) per share...........................  $  1.35       (3.50)    (0.10)
                                                              =======    ========   =======
  Diluted earnings (loss) per share.........................  $  1.34       (3.50)    (0.10)
                                                              =======    ========   =======
</TABLE>

(10)  LEASE AND OTHER COMMITMENTS

    A substantial portion of the store and warehouse properties of the Company
are leased. The following table summarizes assets under capitalized leases (in
thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1999       1998
                                                          --------   --------
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>
Buildings and improvements..............................  $ 25,233     24,878
Less accumulated amortization...........................   (12,192)   (11,213)
                                                          --------   --------
    Net assets under capitalized leases.................  $ 13,041     13,665
                                                          ========   ========
</TABLE>

    Total future minimum sublease rentals related to operating and capital lease
obligations as of January 1, 2000 are $130.7 million and $33.2 million,
respectively. Future minimum payments for operating and capital leases have not
been reduced by minimum sublease rentals receivable under non-cancelable
subleases. At January 1, 2000, future minimum rental payments under
non-cancelable leases and subleases are as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           OPERATING   CAPITAL
                                                            LEASES      LEASES
                                                           ---------   --------
<S>                                                        <C>         <C>
2000.....................................................  $ 30,383      5,579
2001.....................................................    27,821      5,531
2002.....................................................    33,312      5,543
2003.....................................................    22,932      5,514
2004 and thereafter......................................   125,053     43,520
                                                           --------    -------
Total minimum lease payments.............................  $239,501     65,687
Less imputed interest (rates ranging from 7.04% to
  15.99%)................................................               30,360
                                                                       -------
Present value of net minimum lease payments..............               35,327
Less current maturities..................................               (1,609)
                                                                       -------
Capitalized lease obligations............................              $33,718
                                                                       =======
</TABLE>

                                       37
<PAGE>
    Total rental expense under operating leases for fiscal years 1999, 1998 and
1997 is as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1999       1998       1997
                                                 --------   --------   --------
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
Total rentals..................................  $ 42,919     44,320     42,584
Less real estate taxes, insurance and other
  occupancy costs..............................    (1,950)    (2,357)    (2,731)
                                                 --------   --------   --------
Minimum rentals................................    40,969     41,963     39,853
Contingent rentals.............................      (128)      (154)       244
Sublease rentals...............................   (14,972)   (16,358)   (13,744)
                                                 --------   --------   --------
                                                 $ 25,869     25,451     26,353
                                                 ========   ========   ========
</TABLE>

    Most of the Company's leases provide that the Company pay real estate taxes,
insurance and other occupancy costs applicable to the leased premises.
Contingent rentals are determined on the basis of a percentage of sales in
excess of stipulated minimums for certain store facilities. Operating leases
often contain renewal options. Management expects that, in the normal course of
business, leases that expire will be renewed or replaced by other leases.

    The Company has outstanding letters of credit in the amounts of
$15.5 million and $9.2 million at January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999,
respectively, primarily supporting workers' compensation obligations.

(11)  CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

    The Company provides financial assistance in the form of secured loans to
some of its independent retailers for inventories, store fixtures and equipment
and store improvements. Loans are secured by liens on real estate, inventory
and/or equipment, by personal guarantees and by other types of collateral. In
addition, the Company may guarantee lease and promissory note obligations of
retailers.

    As of January 1, 2000, the Company has guaranteed outstanding promissory
note obligations of three retailers in the amount of $11.1 million,
$6.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The Company has guaranteed certain
lease and promissory note obligations of retailers aggregating approximately
$29.9 million.

    The Company establishes allowances for doubtful accounts based upon the
credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other information.
Management believes that adequate provisions have been made for any doubtful
accounts.

(12)  PROFIT SHARING PLAN

    The Company has a profit sharing plan covering substantially all employees
meeting specified requirements. Contributions, determined by the Board of
Directors, are made to a noncontributory profit sharing trust based on profit
performances. Profit sharing expense for 1999, 1998 and 1997 was $3.6 million,
$3.9 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

    Certain officers and key employees are participants in a deferred
compensation plan providing fixed benefits payable in equal monthly installments
upon retirement. Annual contributions to the deferred compensation plan, which
are based on Company performance, are expensed. An annual contribution of
$.4 million was provided for in 1999, however, no contributions were made in
1998 or 1997.

                                       38
<PAGE>
(13)  PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

    Super Food has a qualified non-contributory retirement plan to provide
retirement income for certain of its eligible full-time employees who are not
covered by union retirement plans. Pension benefits under the plan are based on
length of service and compensation. The Company contributes amounts necessary to
meet minimum funding requirements. During 1997, the Company formalized a
curtailment plan affecting all participants under the age of 55. All employees
impacted by the curtailment were transferred into the Company's existing defined
contribution plan effective January 1, 1998.

    The Company provides certain health care benefits for retired employees not
subject to collective bargaining agreements. Employees become eligible for those
benefits when they reach normal retirement age and meet minimum age and service
requirements. Health care benefits for retirees are provided under a
self-insured program administered by an insurance company.

    The estimated future cost of providing post-retirement health costs is
accrued over the active service life of the employees. The following table sets
forth the benefit obligations of post-retirement benefits and the funded status
of the curtailed pension plan.

    The actuarial present value of benefit obligations and funded plan status of
January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999 were (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             PENSION BENEFITS       OTHER BENEFITS
                                                            -------------------   -------------------
                                                              1999       1998       1999       1998
                                                            --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation at beginning of year...................  $(39,586)  (37,646)    (8,893)    (8,604)
Service cost..............................................      (144)     (199)      (402)      (376)
Interest cost.............................................    (2,591)   (2,630)      (620)      (560)
Amendment.................................................        --       148       (551)        --
Actuarial gain (loss).....................................     6,342    (1,462)     1,069         23
Benefits paid.............................................     2,384     2,203        695        624
                                                            --------   -------     ------     ------
Benefit obligation at end of year.........................  $(33,595)  (39,586)    (8,702)    (8,893)

CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year............  $ 39,220    36,261         --         --
Actual return on plan assets..............................     3,904     3,622         --         --
Employer contribution.....................................        --     1,540        695        624
Benefits paid.............................................    (2,384)   (2,203)      (695)      (624)
                                                            --------   -------     ------     ------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year..................  $ 40,740    39,220         --         --
                                                            --------   -------     ------     ------

Funded status.............................................  $  7,145      (366)    (8,702)    (8,893)
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)........................    (4,398)    2,806     (1,473)      (403)
Unrecognized transition obligation........................        --        --      3,219      3,467
Unrecognized prior service cost...........................      (121)     (136)        --         --
                                                            --------   -------     ------     ------
Prepaid (accrued) benefit cost............................  $  2,626     2,304     (6,956)    (5,829)
                                                            ========   =======     ======     ======

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE ASSUMPTIONS AS OF JANUARY 1, 2000
Discounted rate...........................................      8.25%     7.00%      8.25%      7.00%
Expected return on plan assets............................      8.00%     8.00%        --         --
Rate of compensation increase.............................      5.00%     5.00%        --         --
</TABLE>

                                       39
<PAGE>
The aggregate costs for the Company's retirement benefits included the following
components (in thousands):

Components of net periodic benefit cost (income)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PENSION BENEFITS                  OTHER BENEFITS
                                                   ------------------------------   ------------------------------
                                                     1999       1998       1997       1999       1998       1997
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Service cost.....................................  $   144        199        660        402        376        354
Interest cost....................................    2,591      2,630      2,663        620        560        576
Expected return on plan assets...................   (3,042)    (2,867)    (2,857)        --         --         --
Amortization of prior service costs..............      (15)       (12)        --         --         --         --
Amortization of unrecognized transition
  obligation.....................................       --         --         --        248        248        235
                                                   -------    -------    -------     ------     ------     ------
Net periodic benefit cost (income)...............  $  (322)       (50)       466      1,270      1,184      1,165
                                                   =======    =======    =======     ======     ======     ======
</TABLE>

    Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the 1999
amounts reported for the health care plans. The assumed annual rate of future
increases in per capita cost of health care benefits was 8.5% in fiscal 1999
declining gradually to 5.5% in 2005 and thereafter. A one-percentage point
change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects
(in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        1% INCREASE   1% DECREASE
                                                        -----------   -----------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>
Effect on total of service and interest cost
  components..........................................      $ 83           (64)
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation..........       562          (493)
</TABLE>

    Approximately 4.8% of the Company's employees are covered by
collectively-bargained, multi-employer pension plans. Contributions are
determined in accordance with the provisions of negotiated union contracts and
are generally based on the number of hours worked. The Company does not have the
information available to determine its share of the accumulated plan benefits or
net assets available for benefits under the multi-employer plans. Amounts
contributed to those plans during 1999 and 1998 were $2.5 million and
$2.9 million, respectively. The Company has a practice of providing
post-employment benefits when closing distribution center facilities.

(14)  SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

    The following table presents summarized combined financial information for
certain wholly owned subsidiaries which guarantee on a full, unconditional and
joint and several basis, $165.0 million of senior subordinated notes due May 1,
2008, which were offered and sold on April 24, 1998 by the Company:

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                1999        1998        1997
                                             ----------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>         <C>
Operating revenues.........................  $1,141,533   1,060,331   1,068,857
Operating expenses.........................   1,133,090   1,056,390   1,058,695
                                             ----------   ---------   ---------
Operating income...........................       8,443       3,941      10,162
Other income...............................       1,915       4,732       4,168
                                             ----------   ---------   ---------
Income before income tax...................      10,358       8,673      14,330
Income tax expense.........................       4,392       7,203       5,621
                                             ----------   ---------   ---------
Net income.................................  $    5,966       1,470       8,709
                                             ==========   =========   =========
</TABLE>

                                       40
<PAGE>
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1999       1998
                                                           --------   --------
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>
Current assets...........................................  $149,631   148,906
Non-current assets.......................................   102,580   106,294
Current liabilities......................................    63,513    64,937
Long-term debt and obligations...........................    35,003    23,907
Deferred credits and other liabilities...................    11,495     3,990
</TABLE>

Non-guarantor subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, are inconsequential.

(15)  SEGMENT INFORMATION

    The Company and its subsidiaries sell and distribute products that are
typically found in supermarkets. The Company has three reportable operating
segments. The Company's wholesale distribution segment consists of 13
distribution centers that sell to independently operated retail food stores, 114
corporately operated retail food stores, and institutional customers. The retail
segment consists of corporately operated stores that sell directly to the
consumer. The military distribution segment consists of two distribution centers
that sell products to military commissaries.

    In 1999, the Company sold the outstanding stock of its wholly-owned produce
growing and marketing subsidiary, Nash-De Camp Company. Nash-De Camp had
previously been reported as a discontinued operation (see Note 4 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements). Information presented below relates only to
results of continuing segments. The Company evaluates performance and allocates
resources based on profit or loss before income taxes, general corporate
expenses, interest and earnings from equity investments. The accounting policies
of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of
accounting policies except the Company accounts for inventory on a FIFO basis at
the segment level compared to a LIFO basis at the consolidated level.

    Intra-segment sales and transfers are recorded on a cost plus markup basis.
Wholesale segment profits on sales to Company operated stores have been
allocated back to the retail operating segment. In 1999, a change was made to
allocate the military management fee to the military segment. This had
previously been reported as unallocated corporate overhead. Prior years segment
information has been restated to reflect this change.

                                       41
<PAGE>
SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR END JANUARY 1, 2000 (IN THOUSANDS)    WHOLESALE     RETAIL    MILITARY   ALL OTHER(1)    TOTALS
- ---------------------------------------    ----------   --------   --------   ------------   ---------
<S>                                        <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
Revenue from external customers..........  $2,280,753   856,483    963,304       4,698       4,105,238
Inter-segment revenue....................     505,976        --         --       4,457         510,433
Interest revenue.........................      (3,050)     (229)        --           1          (3,278)
Interest expense (includes capital lease
  interest)..............................       2,611       596         --          --           3,207
Depreciation expense.....................      15,508     9,061      2,077         385          27,031
Segment profit (loss)....................      37,093    15,732     20,735        (368)         73,192
Assets...................................     618,013   165,545    140,667       4,526         928,751
Expenditures for long-lived assets.......      12,696    26,123        680           8          39,507
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR END JANUARY 2, 1999 (IN THOUSANDS)    WHOLESALE     RETAIL    MILITARY   ALL OTHER(1)    TOTALS
- ---------------------------------------    ----------   --------   --------   ------------   ---------
<S>                                        <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
Revenue from external customers..........  $2,491,736   738,018    916,819       3,004       4,149,577
Inter-segment revenue....................     443,061        --         --       2,628         445,689
Interest revenue.........................      (3,431)      (37)        --          --          (3,468)
Interest expense (includes capital lease
  interest)..............................       2,910        15         --          --           2,925
Depreciation expense.....................      17,916     9,794      2,250         119          30,079
Segment profit (loss)....................      41,571     5,923     19,566        (205)         66,855
Assets...................................     460,996    96,765    139,388       2,553         699,702
Expenditures for long-lived assets.......       7,987     9,327      1,550           4          18,868
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR END JANUARY 3, 1998 (IN THOUSANDS)    WHOLESALE     RETAIL    MILITARY   ALL OTHER(1)    TOTALS
- ---------------------------------------    ----------   --------   --------   ------------   ---------
<S>                                        <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
Revenue from external customers..........  $2,563,795   823,922    940,365       2,355       4,330,437
Inter-segment revenue....................     501,062        --         --       2,497         503,559
Interest revenue.........................      (4,001)      (12)        --          --          (4,013)
Interest expense (includes capital lease
  interest)..............................       3,340        20         --          --           3,360
Depreciation expense.....................      18,318    10,496      2,011         116          30,941
Segment profit (loss)....................      51,351     5,450     20,121         123          77,045
Assets...................................     461,642    98,180    143,437         587         703,846
Expenditures for long-lived assets.......      16,129    17,510      2,786         392          36,817
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) Revenue reported in All Other is attributable to a trucking transport
    business.

                                       42
<PAGE>
RECONCILIATION (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1999        1998        1997
                                                              ----------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>         <C>
REVENUES
Total external revenue for segments.........................  $4,105,238   4,149,577   4,330,437
Inter-segment revenue from reportable segments..............     510,433     445,689     503,559
Unallocated amounts.........................................      17,975      10,434      10,658
Elimination of intra-segment revenue........................    (510,433)   (445,689)   (503,559)
                                                              ----------   ---------   ---------
    Total consolidated revenues.............................  $4,123,213   4,160,011   4,341,095
                                                              ==========   =========   =========
PROFIT OR LOSS
Total profit for segments...................................  $   73,192      66,855      77,045
Unallocated amounts:
  Adjustment of LIFO to inventory...........................         859      (3,975)     (1,500)
  Unallocated corporate overhead............................     (54,643)    (52,827)    (44,265)
  Special charges...........................................       7,045     (68,471)    (30,034)
                                                              ----------   ---------   ---------
Income from continuing operations before income taxes.......  $   26,453     (58,418)      1,246
                                                              ==========   =========   =========
ASSETS
Total assets for segments...................................  $  928,751     699,702     703,846
Assets of a discontinued operation..........................          --      30,236      47,051
Unallocated corporate assets................................     (16,652)    180,273     228,514
Accumulated LIFO reserves...................................     (46,184)    (47,043)    (43,068)
Elimination of intercompany receivables.....................      (3,472)    (30,106)    (31,460)
Other elimination...........................................          --          33          --
                                                              ----------   ---------   ---------
    Total consolidated assets...............................  $  862,443     833,095     904,883
                                                              ==========   =========   =========
</TABLE>

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEMS--1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           SEGMENT                  CONSOLIDATED
                                                            TOTALS    ADJUSTMENTS      TOTALS
                                                           --------   -----------   ------------
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>           <C>
Depreciation.............................................  $27,031      15,588         42,619
Interest revenue.........................................    3,278       2,029          5,307
Interest expense.........................................    3,207      28,006         31,213
Expenditures for long-lived assets.......................   39,507      12,775         52,282
</TABLE>

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEMS--1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           SEGMENT                  CONSOLIDATED
1998                                                        TOTALS    ADJUSTMENTS      TOTALS
- ----                                                       --------   -----------   ------------
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>           <C>
Depreciation.............................................  $30,079      15,985         46,064
Interest revenue.........................................    3,468       1,358          4,826
Interest expense.........................................    2,925      26,109         29,034
Expenditures for long-lived assets.......................   18,868      33,862         52,730
</TABLE>

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEMS--1997

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           SEGMENT                  CONSOLIDATED
1997                                                        TOTALS    ADJUSTMENTS      TOTALS
- ----                                                       --------   -----------   ------------
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>           <C>
Depreciation.............................................  $30,941      15,412         46,353
Interest revenue.........................................    4,013       2,367          6,380
Interest expense.........................................    3,360      29,413         32,773
Expenditures for long-lived assets.......................   36,817      30,908         67,725
</TABLE>

The reconciling items to adjust expenditures for depreciation, interest revenue,
interest expense and expenditures for long-lived assets are for unallocated
general corporate activities. All revenues are attributed

                                       43
<PAGE>
to and all assets are held in the United States. The Company's market areas are
in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States.

(16)  SUBSEQUENT EVENT

    On January 31, 2000, the Company acquired Hinky Dinky Supermarkets, Inc.
("HDSI") through a cash purchase of all of HDSI's outstanding capital stock.
HDSI is the majority owner of twelve (12) supermarkets located in Nebraska.

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

    A summary of quarterly financial information is presented.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    SECOND
                                           FIRST QUARTER            QUARTER             THIRD QUARTER          FOURTH QUARTER
                                             12 WEEKS              12 WEEKS               16 WEEKS          12 WEEKS    13 WEEKS
                                        -------------------   -------------------   ---------------------   ---------   ---------
                                          1999       1998       1999       1998       1999        1998        1999        1998
                                        --------   --------   --------   --------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net sales and other revenue...........  $934,797   932,966    935,951    973,069    1,289,156   1,282,533    963,309     971,443
Cost of sales.........................   845,076   847,650    841,694    886,146    1,150,965   1,167,211    861,017     882,653
Earnings (loss) from continuing
  operations before income taxes and
  extraordinary charge................     2,070     5,984      3,945      6,122        6,036       4,503     14,402     (75,026)
Income taxes (benefit)................       878     2,265      1,673      2,542        2,559       1,984      6,106     (25,628)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing
  operations before extraordinary
  charge..............................     1,192     3,719      2,272      3,580        3,477       2,519      8,296     (49,398)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued
  operations, net of income tax
  (benefit)...........................        --    (1,091)        --         36           --         879         --         602
Earnings (loss) from disposal of
  discontinued operations, net of
  income tax (benefit)................        --        --         --         --        4,566          --         --     (16,913)
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary
  charge..............................     1,192     2,628      2,272      3,616        8,043       3,398      8,296     (65,709)
Extraordinary charge from early
  extinguishment of debt, net of
  income tax (benefit)................        --     5,569         --         --           --          --         --          --
Net earnings (loss)...................     1,192    (2,941)     2,272      3,616        8,043       3,398      8,296     (65,709)
Percent to sales and revenues.........      0.13     (0.32)      0.24       0.37         0.62        0.26       0.86       (6.76)
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  Earnings (loss) from continuing
    operations before extraordinary
    charge............................  $    .11       .33        .20        .32          .31         .22        .73       (4.36)
  Earnings (loss) before extraordinary
    charge............................  $    .11       .23        .20        .32          .71         .30        .73       (5.80)
  Net earnings (loss).................  $    .11      (.26)       .20        .32          .71         .30        .73       (5.80)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  Earnings (loss) from continuing
    operations before extraordinary
    charge............................  $    .11       .33        .20        .32          .31         .22        .73       (4.36)
  Earnings (loss) before extraordinary
    charge............................  $    .11       .23        .20        .32          .71         .30        .73       (5.80)
  Net earnings (loss).................  $    .11      (.26)       .20        .32          .71         .30        .73       (5.80)
</TABLE>

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

    Not applicable.

                                       44
<PAGE>
                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

A. DIRECTORS OF THE REGISTRANT.

    The information under the captions "Election of Directors--Information About
Directors and Nominees" and "Election of Directors--Other Information About
Directors and Nominees" in the Company's 2000 Proxy Statement is incorporated
herein by reference.

B. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

    Information concerning executive officers of the Company is included in this
Report under Item 4A, "Executive Officers of the Registrant".

C. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

    Information under the caption "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance" in the Company's 2000 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The information under the captions "Election of Directors--Compensation of
Directors" and "Executive Compensation and Other Benefits" in the Company's 2000
Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

    The information under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners" and "Security Ownership of Management" in the Company's 2000 Proxy
Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

    The information under the caption "Election of Directors--Other Information
About Directors and Nominees" in the Company's 2000 Proxy Statement is
incorporated herein by reference.

                                    PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

A. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

    The following financial statements are included in this report on the pages
indicated:

    Independent Auditors' Report--page 19

    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended January 1,
2000, January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998--page 20

    Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999--page
21

    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January 1,
2000, January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998--page 22

    Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the fiscal years ended
January 1, 2000, January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998--page 23

    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements--pages 24 to 44

                                       45
<PAGE>
B. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

    The following financial statement schedules are included herein and should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements referred to
above:

    Valuation and Qualifying Accounts--page 48

    Other Schedules. Other schedules are omitted because the required
information is either inapplicable or presented in the consolidated financial
statements or related notes.

C. EXHIBITS.

    The exhibits to this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index on pages 50 to
53 herein.

    A copy of any of these exhibits will be furnished at a reasonable cost to
any person who was a stockholder of the Company as of March 20, 2000, upon
receipt from any such person of a written request for any such exhibit. Such
request should be sent to Nash Finch Company, 7600 France Avenue South,
P.O. Box 355, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55440-0355, Attention: Secretary.

    The following is a list of each management contract or compensatory plan or
arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on
Form 10-K pursuant to Item 14(c):

      1. Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994 Revision and Nash Finch Profit
         Sharing Trust Agreement (as restated effective January 1, 1994)
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Annual
         Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1994 (File No.
         0-785)).

      2. Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994 Revision--First Declaration of
         Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994
         (File No. 0-785)).

      3. Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994 Revision--Second Declaration of
         Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 1995
         (File No. 0-785)).

      4. Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994 Revision--Third Declaration of
         Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1998
         (File No. 0-785)).

      5. Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994 Revision--Fourth Declaration of
         Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1998
         (File No. 0-785)).

      6. Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994 Revision--Fifth Declaration of
         Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1998
         (File No. 0-785)).

      7. Nash Finch Executive Incentive Bonus and Deferred Compensation Plan (as
         amended and restated effective December 31, 1993) (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
         for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1994 (File No. 0-785)).

      8. Excerpts from resolutions adopted February 25, 2000 by the Compensation
         Committee of the Board of Directors amending the Nash Finch Executive
         Incentive Bonus and Deferred Compensation Plan effective as of January
         1, 2000 (filed herewith).

      9. Nash Finch Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (filed herewith).

     10. Excerpts from minutes of the November 11, 1986 meeting of the Board of
         Directors regarding Nash Finch Pension Plan, as amended (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 10.9

                                       46
<PAGE>
         to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
         January 3, 1987 (File No. 0-785)).

     11. Excerpts from minutes of the November 21, 1995 meeting of the Board of
         Directors regarding Nash Finch Pension Plan, as amended (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
         10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 1995 (File No. 0-785)).

     12. Excerpts from minutes of the April 9, 1996 meeting of the Board of
         Directors regarding director compensation (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
         fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 (File No. 0-785)).

     13. Excerpts from minutes of the November 19, 1996 meeting of the Board of
         Directors regarding director compensation (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
         fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 (File No. 0-785)).

     14. Excerpts from minutes of the November 17, 1998 meeting of the Board of
         Directors regarding director compensation (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 10.35 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
         fiscal year ended January 2, 1999 (File No. 0-785)).

     15. Excerpts from minutes of the February 22, 2000 meeting of the Board of
         Directors regarding director compensation (filed herewith).

     16. Form of letter agreement specifying benefits in the event of
         termination of employment following a change in control of Nash Finch
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company's Annual
         Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 1990 (File
         No. 0-785)).

     17. Nash Finch Income Deferral Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
         10.17 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
         ended January 1, 1994 (File No. 0-785)).

     18. Nash Finch 1994 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
         10-Q for the period ended June 14, 1997 (File No. 0-785)).

     19. Nash Finch 1995 Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         period ended June 17, 1995 (File No. 0-785)).

     20. Nash Finch 1997 Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation Plan
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 14, 1997 (File No.
         0-785)).

D. REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:

    No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of the fiscal
year ended January 1, 2000.

                                       47
<PAGE>
                                                                     SCHEDULE II

                      NASH FINCH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
    FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2000, JANUARY 2, 1999 AND JANUARY 3, 1998
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              ADDITIONS
                                           BALANCE    -------------------------    CHARGED
                                             AT       CHARGED TO                  (CREDITED)                 BALANCE
                                          BEGINNING   COSTS AND       DUE TO       TO OTHER                   AT END
DESCRIPTION                                OF YEAR     EXPENSES    ACQUISITIONS    ACCOUNTS    DEDUCTIONS    OF YEAR
- -----------                               ---------   ----------   ------------   ----------   ----------    --------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>
53 weeks ended January 3, 1998:
  Allowance for doubtful
    receivables(c)......................   $28,093       5,055          --             67(a)      6,547(d)    26,668
  Provision for losses relating to
    leases on closed locations..........     4,878         393          --             --           954(d)     4,317
                                           -------      ------         ---            ---        ------       ------
                                           $32,971       5,448          --             67         7,501       30,985
                                           =======      ======         ===            ===        ======       ======
52 weeks ended January 2, 1999:
  Allowance for doubtful
    receivables(c)......................   $26,668      10,637          --              7(a)      2,895(b)    34,417
  Provision for losses relating to
    leases on closed locations..........     4,317       4,205          --             --         2,286(d)     6,236
                                           -------      ------         ---            ---        ------       ------
                                           $30,985      14,842          --              7         5,181       40,653
                                           =======      ======         ===            ===        ======       ======
52 weeks ended January 1, 2000:
  Allowance for doubtful
    receivables(c)......................   $34,417       4,388         280            268         8,325(b)    30,430
                                                                                                    598(e)
  Provision for losses relating to
    leases on closed locations..........     6,236       1,915          --             --         2,501        5,650
                                           -------      ------         ---            ---        ------       ------
                                           $40,653       6,303         280            268        11,424       36,080
                                           =======      ======         ===            ===        ======       ======
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(a) Recoveries on accounts previously charged off.

(b) Accounts charged off.

(c) Includes current and non-current receivables.

(d) Payments of lease obligations.

(e) Sale of Subsidiary.

                                       48
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C> <C>
Dated: March 30, 2000                                  NASH-FINCH COMPANY

                                                       By  /s/ RON MARSHALL
                                                           ------------------------------------------
                                                           Ron Marshall
                                                           PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND
                                                           DIRECTOR
</TABLE>

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below on March 30, 2000 by the following persons on
behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
/s/ RON MARSHALL                                       /s/ LAWRENCE A. WOJTASIAK
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
Ron Marshall, President,                               Lawrence A. Wojtasiak, Controller
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)  (Principal Accounting Officer)
and Director

/s/ JOHN A. HAEDICKE                                   /s/ CAROLE F. BITTER
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
John A. Haedicke, Chief Financial and                  Carole F. Bitter, Director
Administrative Officer, and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ RICHARD A. FISHER                                  /s/ JERRY L. FORD
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
Richard A. Fisher, Director                            Jerry L. Ford, Director

/s/ ALLISTER P. GRAHAM                                 /s/ JOHN H. GRUNEWALD
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
Allister P. Graham, Director                           John H. Grunewald, Director

/s/ RICHARD G. LAREAU                                  /s/ DONALD R. MILLER
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
Richard G. Lareau, Director                            Donald R. Miller, Director

/s/ ROBERT F. NASH                                     /s/ JEROME O. RODYSILL
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
Robert F. Nash, Director                               Jerome O. Rodysill, Director

/s/ JOHN E. STOKLEY                                    /s/ WILLIAM R. VOSS
- -------------------------------------------            -------------------------------------------
John E. Stokley, Director                              William R. Voss, Director
</TABLE>

                                       49
<PAGE>
                               NASH FINCH COMPANY
                         EXHIBIT INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT
                                  ON FORM 10-K
                     FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 1, 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        ITEM
         NO.            ITEM                                        METHOD OF FILING
- ---------------------   ----                                        ----------------
<C>                     <S>                                         <C>
         2.1            Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the
                        October 8, 1996 among the Company, NFC      Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
                        Acquisition Corporation, and Super Food     November 22, 1996 (File No. 0-785).
                        Services, Inc.

         3.1            Restated Certificate of Incorporation of    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
                        the Company                                 Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended December 28, 1985 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

         3.2            Amendment to Restated Certificate of        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to the
                        Incorporation of the Company, effective     Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        May 29, 1986                                quarter ended October 4, 1986 (File No. 0-785).

         3.3            Amendment to Restated Certificate of        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the
                        Incorporation of the Company, effective     Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
                        May 15, 1987                                (File No. 33-14871).

         3.4            Bylaws of the Company as amended,           Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the
                        effective November 21, 1995                 Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended December 30, 1995 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

         4.1            Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the
                        February 13, 1996, between the Company and  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
                        Norwest Bank Minnesota, National            February 13, 1996 (File No. 0-785).
                        Association

         4.2            Indenture dated as of April 24, 1998        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
                        between the Company, the Guarantors, and    Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4
                        U.S. Bank Trust National Association        filed May 22, 1998 (File No. 333-53363).

         4.3            Form of Company's 8.5% Senior Subordinated  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
                        Notes due 2008 Series A                     Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    quarter ended June 20, 1998 (File No. 0-785).

         4.4            Form of Company's 8.5% Senior Subordinated  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the
                        Notes due 2008 Series B                     Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    quarter ended June 20, 1998 (File No. 0-785).

         4.5            First Supplemental Indenture dated as of    Filed herewith.
                        June 10, 1999 between the Company, the
                        Subsidiary Guarantors, Erickson's
                        Diversified Corporation and U.S. Bank
                        Trust National Association
</TABLE>

                                       50
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        ITEM
         NO.            ITEM                                        METHOD OF FILING
- ---------------------   ----                                        ----------------
<C>                     <S>                                         <C>
        10.1            Credit Agreement dated as of October 8,     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
                        1996 among the Company, NFC Acquisition     Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        Corp., Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as    quarter ended October 5, 1996 (File No. 0-785).
                        Administrative Agent, and Bank of Montreal
                        and PNC Bank, N.A., as Co-Syndication
                        Agents ("Credit Agreement")

        10.2            First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the
                        as of December 18, 1996                     Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.3            Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the
                        as of November 10, 1997                     Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended January 3, 1998 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.4            Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
                        dated as of March 24, 1998                  Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    period ended March 28, 1998 (File No. 0-785).

        10.5            Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the
                        dated as of February       , 1999           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended January 2, 1999 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.6            Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
                        dated as of May 28, 1999                    Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    period ended October 9, 1999 (File No. 0-785).

        10.7            Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
                        Revision and Nash Finch Profit Sharing      Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        Trust Agreement (as restated effective      fiscal year ended January 1, 1994 (File
                        January 1, 1994)                            No. 0-785).

        10.8            Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the
                        Revision--First Declaration of Amendment    Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.9            Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the
                        Revision--Second Declaration of Amendment   Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended December 30, 1995 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.10           Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the
                        Revision--Third Declaration of Amendment    Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended January 3, 1998 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.11           Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the
                        Revision--Fourth Declaration of Amendment   Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended January 3, 1998 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.12           Nash Finch Profit Sharing Plan--1994        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the
                        Revision--Fifth Declaration of Amendment    Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended January 3, 1998 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.13           Nash Finch Executive Incentive Bonus and    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the
                        Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and  Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        restated effective December 31, 1993)       fiscal year ended January 1, 1994 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).
</TABLE>

                                       51
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        ITEM
         NO.            ITEM                                        METHOD OF FILING
- ---------------------   ----                                        ----------------
<C>                     <S>                                         <C>
        10.14           Excerpts from resolutions adopted by the    Filed herewith.
                        Compensation Committee of the Board of
                        Directors on February 25, 2000 amending
                        the Nash Finch Executive Incentive Bonus
                        and Deferred Compensation Plan

        10.15           Excerpts from minutes of the November 11,   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the
                        1986 meeting of the Board of Directors      Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        regarding Nash Finch Pension Plan, as       fiscal year ended January 3, 1987 (File
                        amended, effective January 2, 1966          No. 0-785).

        10.16           Excerpts from minutes of the November 21,   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the
                        1995 meeting of the Board of Directors      Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        regarding Nash Finch Pension Plan, as       fiscal year ended December 30, 1995 (File
                        amended                                     No. 0-785).

        10.17           Excerpts from minutes of the April 9,       Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the
                        1996 meeting of the Board of Directors      Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        regarding director compensation             fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.18           Excerpts from minutes of the November 19,   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the
                        1996 meeting of the Board of Directors      Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        regarding director compensation             fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.19           Excerpts from minutes of the November 17,   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the
                        1998 meeting of the Board of Directors      Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        regarding director compensation             fiscal year ended January 2, 1999 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.20           Excerpts from minutes of the February 22,   Filed herewith.
                        2000 meeting of the Board of Directors
                        regarding director compensation

        10.21           Form of Letter Agreement Specifying         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the
                        Benefits in the Event of Termination of     Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                        Employment Following a Change in Control    fiscal year ended December 29, 1990 (File
                        of Company                                  No. 0-785).

        10.22           Nash Finch Income Deferral Plan             Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the
                                                                    Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                                                    fiscal year ended January 1, 1994 (File
                                                                    No. 0-785).

        10.23           Nash Finch 1994 Stock Incentive Plan, as    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
                        amended                                     Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    period ended June 14, 1997 (File No. 0-785).

        10.24           Nash Finch 1995 Director Stock Option Plan  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
                                                                    Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    period ended June 17, 1995 (File No. 0-785).
</TABLE>

                                       52
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        ITEM
         NO.            ITEM                                        METHOD OF FILING
- ---------------------   ----                                        ----------------
<C>                     <S>                                         <C>
        10.25           Nash Finch 1997 Non-Employee Director       Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
                        Stock Compensation Plan                     Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                                                    period ended June 14, 1997 (File No. 0-785).

        10.26           Nash Finch 1999 Employee Stock Purchase     Filed herewith.
                        Plan

        10.27           Nash Finch Supplemental Executive           Filed herewith.
                        Retirement Plan

        21.1            Subsidiaries of the Company                 Filed herewith.

        23.1            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                Filed herewith.

        27.1            Financial Data Schedule                     Filed herewith.

        99.1            Risk Factors                                Filed herewith.
</TABLE>

                                       53

<PAGE>

                      FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OF TRUST

                                      among

                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY,
                                   as Issuer,

                           THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS,
                          named therein as Guarantors,

                       ERICKSON'S DIVERSIFIED CORPORATION,
                           as an Additional Guarantor,

                                       and

                      U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                   as Trustee,

                            Dated as of June 10, 1999

                                  Relating to:

                                  $165,000,000

               8 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, Series A
               8 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, Series B


<PAGE>

         THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OF TRUST is made and entered into as
of June 10, 1999 among Nash-Finch Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), the Subsidiary Guarantors named herein (the "GUARANTORS"), as
guarantors, Erickson's Diversified Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the
"ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR"), and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee
(the "TRUSTEE").

                                    RECITALS


         The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee are parties to the certain
Indenture dated as of April 24, 1998 (the "ORIGINAL INDENTURE").

         The Company has acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of the
Additional Guarantor.

         Pursuant to Section 10.18 and 12.04 of the Original Indenture, and
pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture, the Additional Guarantor has
executed this First Supplemental Indenture and a Guarantee substantially in the
form entered into by the Guarantors, as set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the
"GUARANTEE").

         The Company, the Guarantors and the Additional Guarantor have duly
executed this First Supplemental Indenture, and in the case of the Additional
Guarantor, its Guarantee.

         All things necessary have been done to constitute this First
Supplemental Indenture, when executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the
Additional Guarantor, and the Guarantee when executed by the Additional
Guarantor, the respective valid obligations of each of them.

         NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto intending to be legally bound hereby
and in consideration of the premises, do hereby agree, for the mutual and
proportionate benefit of all Holders (as defined in the Indenture) of the Notes
(as defined in the Indenture) as follows:

         Section 1. DEFINITIONS. All terms capitalized but not otherwise defined
in this First supplemental Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the Original Indenture.

         Section 2. EFFECT OF THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

         (A) Except as expressly supplemented or amended hereby, all of the
terms and provisions of the Original Indenture shall remain in full force and
effect.

         (B) To the extent of any inconsistency between the terms and provisions
of this First Supplemental Indenture and the terms and provisions of the
Original Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture shall control.

         (C) This First Supplemental Indenture shall take effect as of June 10,
1999.

         (D) The rules of construction stated in Section 1.03 of the Original
Indenture shall apply to this First Supplemental Indenture.


                                      2

<PAGE>

         Section 3. GUARANTEE OF ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR. The Additional Guarantor
agrees to make and deliver to the Trustee a Guarantee in the form of Exhibit A
hereto. Effective upon the effective date of such Guarantee, the Additional
Guarantor shall be a Guarantor (as defined in the Original Indenture) for all
purposes, and shall be subject to the provisions (including the representation
and warranties) of the Original Indenture as a Guarantor.

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


COMPANY:                             NASH-FINCH COMPANY


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------

GUARANTORS:                          NASH-DECAMP COMPANY


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------

                                     T.J. MORRIS COMPANY


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------

                                     SUPER FOOD SERVICES, INC.


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                     FORREST TRANSPORTATION
                                       SERVICES, INC.


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                       3

<PAGE>

                                     GTL TRUCK LINES, INC.


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                     PIGGLY WIGGLY NORTHLAND
                                       CORPORATION


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                     GILLETTE DAIRY OF THE BLACK
                                       HILLS, INC.


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                     NEBRASKA DAIRIES, INC.


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR:                ERICKSON'S DIVERSIFIED
                                       CORPORATION


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


TRUSTEE:                             U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL
                                       ASSOCIATION


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                       4

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


                                    GUARANTEE

         For value received, the undersigned hereby fully and unconditionally
guarantees to the Holder of each Note the cash payments in United States dollars
of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Note in the amounts and
at the time when due and interest on the overdue principal, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on such Note, if lawful, and the payment or performance of all
other obligations of the Company under the Indenture or the Notes, to the Holder
of any such Note and the Trustee, all in accordance with and subject to the
terms and limitations of such Note, Article Twelve of the Indenture and this
Guarantee. This Guarantee will become effective as of the date hereof in
accordance with Article Twelve of the Indenture and its terms shall be evidenced
therein. The validity and enforceability of this Guarantee shall not be affected
by the fact that it is not affixed to any particular Note. Capitalized terms
used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Indenture dated as of April 24, 1998, by and among, INTER ALIA, Nash Finch
Company, the undersigned and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee,
as amended or supplemented (including as amended and supplemented by that First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 10, 1999) (the "INDENTURE").

         The obligations of the undersigned to the Holders of Notes and to the
Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in
Article Twelve of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture
for the precise terms of the Guarantee and all of the other provisions of the
Indenture to which this Guarantee relates.

         THIS NOTE GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS
OF LAW. THE GUARANTOR HEREUNDER AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF
OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THIS NOTE GUARANTEE.

         This Guarantee is subject to release upon the terms set forth in the
Indenture.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Guarantor has caused this Guarantee
to be duly executed.

Dated:  June 10, 1999

                                     ERICKSON'S DIVERSIFIED CORPORATION


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           -------------------------------------


                                       5

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                             CONSENT RESOLUTIONS OF
                          THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF
                            THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY

The undersigned, comprising all of the voting members of the Compensation
Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of Nash-Finch Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby adopt the following resolutions by
written consent in lieu of a meeting, effective as of February 25, 2000:

         WHEREAS, the Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the
         "SERP") was adopted effective as of January 1, 2000, with the intention
         that it would supersede the Company's Executive Incentive Bonus and
         Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective December
         31, 1993 (the "Plan"), for years beginning after December 31, 1999;
         and, as a result, it is deemed appropriate to amend the Plan to conform
         its provisions to the purposes intended in adopting the SERP;

         RESOLVED, pursuant to the retained power of amendment contained in
         Section 12 of the Plan, the Plan be and is hereby amended as follows,
         effective as of January 1, 2000:

         1. Section 3 of the Plan is amended by adding the following language at
            the end of said Section:

                  "Notwithstanding the foregoing, an executive or key employee
                  who was not participating in the Plan prior to January 1, 2000
                  shall not begin participating after December 31, 1999."

         2. Section 4 of the plan is amended by adding the following language at
            the end of said Section:

                  "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall select no
                  participants to receive allotments under the Plan for any year
                  beginning after December 31, 1999."

         3. Section 5 of the Plan is amended by adding the following language as
            a new paragraph at the end of said Section:

                  "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall make no
                  allotments under the Plan to any participants for any year
                  beginning after December 31, 1999.


<PAGE>

         4. Section 9 of the Plan is amended by adding the following language as
            new paragraphs at the end of said Section:

                  "A participant who is actively employed by the Company, or is
                  on an approved leave of absence, on the last day of 1999, may
                  elect to transfer all, but not part, of the share equivalents
                  contingently credited to the participant pursuant to the Plan
                  as of December 31, 1999 to the Nash Finch Company Supplemental
                  Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP"). If such an election is
                  made, a dollar denominated credit will be made to a
                  bookkeeping account established under the SERP as of January
                  1, 2000. The amount of the credit to such account under the
                  SERP shall be equal to the dollar value of the electing
                  participant's account under the Plan as of December 31, 1999,
                  including share equivalents credited as of that date for 1999,
                  determined in the manner established under this Section 9 for
                  determining amounts distributable to a participant.

                  "If a participant makes the election provided for in the
                  preceding paragraph, the participant shall, as of January 1,
                  2000, cease to be a participant entitled to any benefit
                  arising under or in connection with the Plan. The election
                  shall be made in the manner, and in accordance with the terms
                  specified, in the SERP."

         5. Section 14.a. of the Plan, captioned "Current Allotments," is
            amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the
            following:

                  "a.      [Intentionally Omitted]"

         RESOLVED FURTHER, that except as otherwise expressly provided in the
         foregoing amendments, the terms of the Plan and any agreements entered
         into pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan with respect to any year before
         2000 remain in full force and effect.


_______________________________             ______________________________
Carole F. Bitter                            Robert F. Nash

_______________________________             ______________________________
Jerry L. Ford                               John E. Stokely

_______________________________             ______________________________
Allister P. Graham                          William R. Voss

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20


         WHEREAS, on November 15, 1999, the Nominating Committee of this Board
         of Directors approved an increase in the annual retainer to be paid to
         outside directors effective January 1, 2000, and reported the action to
         this Board of Directors at its meeting on November 16, 1999, which
         report was accepted without objection but, inadvertently, without any
         formal action by this Board of Directors being proposed or taken;

         RESOLVED, that the resolution adopted by this Board of Directors on
         November 19, 1996, relating to compensation of outside directors
         generally, as previously amended by resolution adopted by this Board of
         Directors on November 17, 1998, be and hereby is further amended and
         modified to provide that the per month retainer for serving as a
         director be increased from $1,500 per month ($18,000 per year) to
         $1,833.33 (or $1,833.34, as needed) per month ($22,000) per year
         effective January 1, 2000; and that all actions taken by officers of
         the Company to implement said increase as of the effective date thereof
         be and hereby are ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects.

         RESOLVED FURTHER, that the said resolution adopted November 17, 1998 be
         and hereby is revoked and rescinded, as of the effective date of the
         foregoing increase; and, except to the extent amended and modified by
         the foregoing resolution, the said resolutions adopted November 19,
         1996 remain in full force and effect.

<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.26

                                 NASH-FINCH COMPANY
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

1.      PURPOSE.

        The purpose of this 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is
to advance the interests of Nash-Finch Company ("the Company") and its
stockholders by allowing eligible employees of the Company and its
Participating Subsidiaries to use payroll deductions to acquire shares of the
Company's Common Stock on favorable terms. The Company intends that the Plan
qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code.
Accordingly, provisions of the Plan will be construed so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section
423 of the Code.

2.      DEFINITIONS.

        2.1  "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

        2.2  "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means an event described in Section 9.1 of
the Plan.

        2.3  "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        2.4  "COMMITTEE" means the group of individuals administering the
Plan, as provided in Section 3 of the Plan.

        2.5  "COMMON STOCK" means the common stock, par value $1.66-2/3 per
share, of the Company, or the number and kind of shares of stock or other
securities into which such common stock may be changed in accordance with
Section 4.3 of the Plan.

        2.6  "COMPENSATION" means all gross cash compensation (including
wage, salary, incentive, bonus and overtime earnings) paid by the Company or
any Participating Subsidiary to a Participant, including amounts that would
have constituted compensation but for a Participant's election to defer or
reduce compensation pursuant to any deferred compensation, cafeteria, capital
accumulation or any other similar plan of the Company; provided, however,
that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may expand or limit the amounts
that will be deemed compensation for purposes of the Plan in such manner as
it deems appropriate.

        2.7  "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" means any employee of the Company or a
Participating Subsidiary (other than an employee whose customary employment
with the Company or a Participating Subsidiary is for 20 hours or less per
week or five months or less per calendar year) who, with respect to any
Offering Period, has been continuously employed by the Company or a
Participating Subsidiary for at least three months prior to the Offering
Commencement Date for such Offering Period. With respect to a Subsidiary that
has been acquired by the Company and designated as a Participating Subsidiary
or a Subsidiary that is otherwise subsequently designated by the Committee as
a Participating Subsidiary, the period of employment of employees of such
Participating Subsidiary occurring prior to the time of such acquisition or
designation will be included for purposes of determining whether an employee
has been employed for the requisite period of time under the Plan.

        2.8  "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

<PAGE>

        2.9  "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, with respect to the Common Stock, as
of any date (or, if no shares were traded or quoted on such date, as of the
next preceding date on which there was such a trade or quote) (a) the mean
between the reported high and low sale prices of the Common Stock if the
Common Stock is listed, admitted to unlisted trading privileges or reported
on any foreign or national securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National
Market or an equivalent foreign market on which sale prices are reported; (b)
if the Common Stock is not so listed, admitted to unlisted trading privileges
or reported, the closing bid price as reported by the Nasdaq SmallCap Market,
OTC Bulletin Board, National Quotation Bureau, Inc. or other comparable
service; or (c) if the Common Stock is not so listed or reported, such price
as the Committee determines in good faith in the exercise of its reasonable
discretion.

        2.10  "OFFERING COMMENCEMENT DATE" means the first day of an Offering
Period.

        2.11  "OFFERING PERIOD" means any of the offerings to Participants of
Options under the Plan, each continuing for six months, as described in
Section 6 of the Plan.

        2.12  "OFFERING TERMINATION DATE" means the last day of an Offering
Period.

        2.13  "OPTION" means a right to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted to a Participant in connection with an Offering Period pursuant to
Section 7 of the Plan

        2.14  "OPTION PRICE" means, with respect to any Offering Period, the
lower of (a) 85% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the
Offering Commencement Date, or (b) 85% of the Fair Market Value of one share
of Common Stock on the Offering Termination Date.

        2.15  "PARTICIPANT" means an Eligible Employee who elects to
participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

        2.16  "PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARY" means a Subsidiary that has been
designated by the Committee from time to time, in its sole discretion, as a
corporation whose Eligible Employees may participate in the Plan.

        2.17  "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        2.18  "SUBSIDIARY" means any subsidiary corporation of the Company
within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

        2.19  "TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT" means a Participant's complete
termination of employment with the Company and all Participating Subsidiaries
for any reason, including death, disability or retirement. In the event that
a Participant is in the employ of a Participating Subsidiary and the
Participating Subsidiary ceases to be a Participating Subsidiary of the
Company for any reason, such event will be deemed a termination of employment
unless the Participant continues in the employ of the Company or another
Participating Subsidiary.

3.      ADMINISTRATION.

        The Plan will be administered by the Board or by a committee of the
Board. So long as the Company has a class of its equity securities registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, any committee administering the Plan
will consist solely of two or more members of the Board who are

                                       2
<PAGE>

"non-employee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act. Such a committee, if established, will act by majority approval of the
members (but may also take action with the written consent of all members of
such committee), and a majority of the members of such a committee will
constitute a quorum. As used in the Plan, "Committee" will refer to the Board
or to such a committee, if established. To the extent consistent with
corporate law, the Committee may delegate to any officers of the Company the
duties, power and authority of the Committee under the Plan pursuant to such
conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish; provided, however,
that only the Committee may exercise such duties, power and authority with
respect to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The Committee may exercise its duties, power and authority under the Plan in
its sole discretion without the consent of any Participant or other party,
unless the Plan specifically provides otherwise. Each determination,
interpretation or other action made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes
and on all persons, including, without limitation, the Company, the
stockholders of the Company, the participants and their respective
successors-in-interest. No member of the Committee will be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
Option granted under the Plan.

4.      SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE; ADJUSTMENTS FOR CERTAIN EVENTS.

        4.1  MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock that will be available for issuance under the Plan will be 200,000
shares of Common Stock. If the total number of shares of Common Stock that
would otherwise be issuable upon the exercise of Options granted pursuant to
Section 7 of the Plan on any Offering Termination Date exceeds the number of
shares then available for issuance under the Plan, the Committee will make a
pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock remaining available for
issuance under the Plan in as uniform and equitable a manner as it deems
appropriate.

        4.2  ACCOUNTING FOR OPTIONS. Shares of Common Stock that are issued
under the Plan or that are subject to outstanding Options will be applied to
reduce the maximum number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for
issuance under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock that are subject to an
Option that is terminated unexercised will automatically again become
available for issuance under the Plan.

        4.3  ADJUSTMENTS TO SHARES AND OPTIONS. In the event of any
reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation,
reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights
offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin-off) or any
other change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the
Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such
transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) will make
appropriate adjustment (which determination will be conclusive) as to the
number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) available
for issuance or payment under the Plan and, in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the rights of Participants, the number and kind of securities
or other property (including cash) subject to, and the exercise price of,
outstanding Options.

5.      PARTICIPATION; PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.

        5.1  PARTICIPATION. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and is not
a condition of employment. Eligible Employees may elect to participate in the
Plan, beginning with the first Offering Period to commence after such person
becomes an Eligible Employee, by properly completing a subscription agreement
authorizing payroll deductions on the form provided by the Company and filing
the participation form with the Company's Human Resources Department not
later than the 15th day of

                                       3
<PAGE>

the month immediately preceding the Offering Commencement Date of the first
Offering Period in which the Participant wishes to participate. An Eligible
Employee who elects to participate with respect to an Offering Period will be
deemed to have elected to participate in each subsequent Offering Period,
unless such Participant properly completes and files a notice of withdrawal
form in the manner described in Section 8.1 of the Plan.

        5.2  LIMITATION ON PARTICIPATION. Notwithstanding any provisions of
the Plan to the contrary, an Eligible Employee may not participate in the
Plan and will not be granted an Option under the Plan if, immediately after
the grant of such Option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose
stock ownership would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to
Section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock or options possessing 5% or more
of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Company or of its "parent" or "subsidiary" corporations (within the meaning
of Section 424 of the Code).

        5.3  PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.

               (a) By completing and filing a participation form, a Participant
        will elect to have payroll deductions made from such Participant's total
        Compensation in whole percentages from a minimum of 1% to a maximum of
        15%, (or such other minimum or maximum percentages as the Committee may
        from time to time establish); provided, however, that no Participant's
        payroll deductions may be less than $10.00 per pay period.

               (b) All payroll deductions authorized by a Participant will be
        credited as of each payday to an account established under the Plan for
        the Participant. Such account will be solely for bookkeeping purposes,
        no separate fund, trust or other segregation of such amounts will be
        established or made and the amounts represented by such account will be
        held as part of the Company's general assets, usable for any corporate
        purpose. A Participant may not make any separate cash payment or
        contribution to such Participant's account. No interest will accrue on
        amounts held in such accounts under the Plan.

               (c) No increases or decreases in the amount of payroll deductions
        for a Participant may be made during an Offering Period. A Participant
        may increase or decrease the amount of his or her payroll deductions
        under the Plan for subsequent Offering Periods by properly completing an
        amended participation form and filing it with the Company's Human
        Resources Department not later than the 15th day of the month
        immediately preceding the Offering Commencement Date of the Offering
        Period for which such change in payroll deductions is to be effective.

               (d) A Participant may withdraw from participation in the Plan at
        any time as provided in Section 8.1 of the Plan.

6.      OFFERING PERIODS.

        Options to purchase shares of Common Stock will be offered to
Participants under the Plan through a continuous series of Offering Periods,
each continuing for six months, and each of which will commence on January 1
and July 1 of each year, as the case may be, and will terminate on June 30
and December 31 of such year, as the case may be.

                                       4
<PAGE>

7.      OPTIONS.

        7.1  GRANT OF OPTIONS. With respect to any Offering Period, each
Participant participating in such Offering Period will be granted, by
operation of the Plan on the Offering Commencement Date for such Offering
Period, an Option to purchase (at the Option Price) as many full shares of
Common Stock as such Participant will be able to purchase with the
accumulated payroll deductions credited to such Participant's account during
such Offering Period plus the balance (if any) carried forward from the
Participant's payroll deduction account from the preceding Offering Period.

        7.2  LIMITATIONS ON PURCHASE. Notwithstanding Section 7.1 or any
other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the number of shares of Common
Stock that may be purchased under the Plan will be limited as follows:

               (a) No Participant may purchase more than 5,000 shares of Common
        Stock under the Plan in any given Offering Period.

               (b) No Participant may be granted an Option that permits such
        Participant's right to purchase Common Stock under the Plan and any
        other "employee stock purchase plans" (within the meaning of Section 423
        of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue (i.e., become
        exercisable) at a rate that exceeds $25,000 of Fair Market Value of
        Common Stock (determined at the time such Option is granted) for each
        calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time.

        7.3  EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

               (a) Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in
        Section 8.1 of the Plan, the Participant's Option for the purchase of
        shares of Common Stock granted with respect to an Offering Period will
        be exercised automatically at the Offering Termination Date of such
        Offering Period for the purchase of the number of full shares of Common
        Stock that the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant's
        account as of such Offering Termination Date will purchase at the
        applicable Option Price.

               (b) A Participant may only purchase one or more full shares in
        connection with the exercise of an Option granted for any Offering
        Period. The portion of any balance remaining in a Participant's payroll
        deduction account at the close of business on the Offering Termination
        Date of any Offering Period that is less than the purchase price of one
        full share of Common Stock will be carried forward into the
        Participant's payroll deduction account for the following Offering
        Period. In no event, however, will the balance carried forward be equal
        to or greater than the purchase price of one full share of Common Stock
        on the Offering Termination Date of an Offering Period.

               (c) No Participant (or any person claiming through such
        Participant) will have any interest in any Common Stock subject to an
        Option under the Plan until such Option has been exercised, at which
        point such interest will be limited to the interest of a purchaser of
        the Common Stock purchased upon such exercise pending the delivery of
        such Common Stock.

               (d) As promptly as practicable after the Offering Termination
        Date of each Offering Period, the Company will issue the shares of
        Common Stock purchased upon exercise of such Participant's Option
        granted for such Offering Period, registered in the name of the
        Participant or, if the Participant so directs on his or her
        Participation Form, in the names of the Participant

                                       5
<PAGE>

        and his or her spouse. The Committee may determine, in its sole
        discretion, the manner of delivery of shares of Common Stock
        purchased under the Plan, which may be by electronic account entry
        into new or existing brokerage or other accounts, delivery of physical
        stock certificates or such other means as the Committee deems
        appropriate.

8.      WITHDRAWAL FROM PLAN.

        8.1  VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL. A Participant may, at any time on or before
4:30 p.m., Minneapolis, Minnesota time on the 15th day of the last month of an
Offering Period, terminate his or her participation in the Plan and withdraw
all, but not less than all, of the payroll deductions credited to such
Participant's account under the Plan by giving written notice to the Company's
Human Resources Department. Such notice must state that the Participant wishes
to terminate his or her participation in the Plan and request the withdrawal of
all of the Participant's payroll deductions held under the Plan. All of the
Participant's payroll deductions credited to his or her account will be paid to
such Participant as soon as practicable after receipt of the notice of
withdrawal, such Participant's Option for such Offering Period will
automatically be canceled and will no longer be exercisable, and no further
payroll deductions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan
will be made.

        8.2  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

               (a) Upon the Termination of Employment of a Participant at any
        time, the payroll deductions credited to such Participant's account will
        be paid to such Participant as soon as practicable after the effective
        date of such Termination of Employment (or, in the case of death, to the
        person or persons entitled thereto under Sections 10 and 11.3 of the
        Plan), such Participant's Option for the current Offering Period will
        automatically be canceled and will no longer be exercisable, and no
        further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock
        under the Plan will be made.

               (b) Unless the Committee otherwise determines in its sole
        discretion, a Participant's employment will, for purposes of the Plan,
        be deemed to have terminated on the date recorded on the personnel or
        other records of the Company or the Participating Subsidiary for which
        the Participant provides employment, as determined by the Committee in
        its sole discretion based upon such records.

        8.3  EFFECT OF WITHDRAWAL. A Participant's withdrawal pursuant to
Section 8.1 of the Plan will not have any effect upon such Participant's
eligibility to participate in a subsequent Offering Period (so long as such
Participant completes and files a new Participation Form pursuant to Section
5 of the Plan) or in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the
Company.

9.      CHANGE IN CONTROL.

        9.1  CHANGE IN CONTROL. For purposes of this Section 9, a "Change in
Control" of the Company will mean the following:

               (a) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer, directly or
        indirectly, of substantially all of the assets of the Company (in one
        transaction or in a series of related transactions) to any Person (as
        defined below);

               (b) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any plan
        or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

                                       6
<PAGE>

               (c) any Person, other than a Bona Fide Underwriter (as defined
        below), becomes after the effective date of the Plan the "beneficial
        owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
        indirectly, of (i) 20% or more, but not more than 50%, of the combined
        voting power of the Company's outstanding securities ordinarily having
        the right to vote at elections of directors, unless the transaction
        resulting in such ownership has been approved in advance by the
        Continuity Directors (as defined below), or (ii) more than 50% of the
        combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities ordinarily
        having the right to vote at elections of directors (regardless of any
        approval by the Continuity Directors);

               (d) a merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party if
        the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to effective time of
        such merger or consolidation have, solely on account of ownership of
        securities of the Company at such time, "beneficial ownership" (as
        defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), immediately following the
        effective time of such merger or consolidation, of securities of the
        surviving corporation representing (i) 50% or more, but not more than
        80%, of the combined voting power of the surviving corporation's then
        outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections
        of directors, unless such merger or consolidation has been approved in
        advance by the Continuity Directors, or (ii) less than 50% of the
        combined voting power of the surviving corporation's then outstanding
        securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors
        (regardless of any approval by the Continuity Directors); or

               (e) the Continuity Directors cease for any reason to constitute
        at least a majority of the Board.

        9.2  CHANGE IN CONTROL DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Section 9:

               (a) "Continuity Director" means any individual who was a member
        of the Board on the effective date of the Plan, while he or she is a
        member of the Board, and any individual who subsequently becomes a
        member of the Board whose election, or nomination for election by the
        Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of
        the directors who are Continuity Directors (either by a specific vote or
        by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such
        individual is named as a nominee for director without objection to such
        nomination). For example, assuming that seven individuals comprise the
        entire Board as of the effective date of the Plan, if a majority of such
        individuals approved a proxy statement in which two different
        individuals were nominated to replace two of the individuals who were
        members of the Board as of the effective date of the Plan, these two
        newly elected directors would join the remaining five directors who were
        members of the Board as of the effective date of the Plan as Continuity
        Directors. Similarly, if subsequently a majority of these directors
        approved a proxy statement in which three different individuals were
        nominated to replace three other directors who were members of the Board
        as of the effective date of the Plan, these three newly elected
        directors would also become, along with the other four directors,
        Continuity Directors. Individuals subsequently joining the Board could
        become Continuity Directors under the principles reflected in this
        example.

               (b) "Bona Fide Underwriter" means a Person engaged in business as
        an underwriter of securities that acquires securities of the Company
        from the Company through such Person's participation in good faith in a
        firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of 40 days after the
        date of such acquisition.

                                       7
<PAGE>

               (c) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
        group, association or other "person," as such term is used in Section
        13(d) or Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, any
        affiliate or any benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any affiliate.
        For this purpose, an affiliate is (i) any corporation at least a
        majority of whose outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to
        vote at elections of directors is owned directly or indirectly by the
        Company or (ii) any other form of business entity in which the Company,
        by virtue of a direct or indirect ownership interest, has the right to
        elect a majority of the members of such entity's governing body.

        9.3  ADJUSTMENT OF OFFERING PERIOD. Without limiting the authority of
the Committee under Sections 3, 4.3 and 13 of the Plan, if a Change in
Control of the Company occurs, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may (a)
accelerate the Offering Termination Date of the then current Offering Period
and provide for the exercise of Options thereunder by Participants in
accordance with Section 7.3 of the Plan, or (b) accelerate the Offering
Termination Date of the then current Offering Period and provide that all
payroll deductions credited to the accounts of Participants will be paid to
Participants as soon as practicable after such Offering Termination Date and
that all Options for such Offering Period will automatically be canceled and
will no longer be exercisable.

10.     DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

        A Participant may file with the Company's Human Resources Department
a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive shares of Common
Stock and cash, if any, under the Plan in the event of such Participant's
death prior to delivery of such shares or cash to such Participant. Such
designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by
written notice to the Company's Human Resources Department. In the event of
the death of a Participant in the absence of a valid designation of a
beneficiary who is living at the time of such Participant's death, (a) the
Company will deliver such shares of Common Stock and cash to the executor or
administrator of the estate of the Participant, or (b) if to the Company's
knowledge no such executor or administrator has been appointed, the Company,
in its sole discretion, may deliver such shares of Common Stock and cash to
the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant
or, if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, to such
other person as the Company may designate.

11.     RIGHTS OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND PARTICIPANTS; TRANSFERABILITY.

        11.1  NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan will interfere with
or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Participating Subsidiary
to terminate the employment of any Eligible Employee or Participant at any
time, nor confer upon any Eligible Employee or Participant any right to
continue in the employ of the Company or any Participating Subsidiary.

        11.2  RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. As a holder of an Option under the
Plan, a Participant will have no rights as a shareholder unless and until
such Option is exercised and the Participant becomes the holder of record of
shares of Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no
adjustment will be made for dividends or distributions with respect to
Options as to which there is a record date preceding the date the Participant
becomes the holder of record of such shares, except as the Committee may
determine in its sole discretion.

        11.3  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Neither payroll deductions credited
to a Participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an
Option or to receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will,
the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 10 of the
Plan) by the Participant. Any such

                                       8
<PAGE>

attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will be without
effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
from the Plan in accordance with Section 8.1 of the Plan. During his or her
lifetime, a Participant's Option to purchase shares of Common Stock under the
Plan is exercisable only by such Participant.

12.     SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

        Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreements
entered into pursuant to the Plan, the Company will not be required to issue
any shares of Common Stock under the Plan, and a Participant may not sell,
assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock issued
pursuant to Options granted under the Plan, unless (a) there is in effect
with respect to such shares a registration statement under the Securities Act
and any applicable state or foreign securities laws or an exemption from such
registration under the Securities Act and applicable state or foreign
securities laws, and (b) there has been obtained any other consent, approval
or permit from any other regulatory body that the Committee, in its sole
discretion, deems necessary or advisable. The Company may condition such
issuance, sale or transfer upon the receipt of any representations or
agreements from the parties involved, and the placement of any legends on
certificates representing shares of Common Stock, as may be deemed necessary
or advisable by the Company in order to comply with such securities law or
other restrictions.

13.     AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

        The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at
any time, and may amend the Plan from time to time in such respects as the
Board may deem advisable in order that Options under the Plan will conform to
any change in applicable laws or regulations or in any other respect the
Board may deem to be in the best interests of the Company; provided, however,
that no amendments to the Plan will be effective without approval of the
stockholders of the Company if stockholder approval of the amendment is then
required pursuant to Section 423 of the Code or the rules of any stock
exchange or Nasdaq or similar regulatory body. Upon termination of the Plan,
the Committee, in its sole discretion, may take any of the actions described
in Section 9.3 of the Plan.

14.     EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

        The Plan will be effective as of February 17, 1999, the date it was
adopted by the Board. The Plan will terminate at midnight on December 31,
2008 and may be terminated prior to such time by Board action, and no Option
will be granted after such termination. The Plan has been adopted by the
Board subject to stockholder approval.

15.     MISCELLANEOUS.

        15.1  GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction, interpretation,
administration and effect of the Plan and any rules, regulations and actions
relating to the Plan will be governed by and construed exclusively in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, notwithstanding the
conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdictions.

        15.2  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Plan will be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the
Participants.

                                       9

<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.27

                               NASH FINCH COMPANY
                    SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN










































                                           As Adopted Effective January 1, 2000

<PAGE>

                               NASH FINCH COMPANY
                     SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Page
                                                                                 ----
<S>                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE 1 Description.............................................................1
   1.1   Plan Name................................................................1
   1.2   Plan Purpose.............................................................1
   1.3   Plan Type................................................................1
ARTICLE 2 Participation...........................................................2
   2.1   Eligibility..............................................................2
   2.2   Condition of Participation...............................................2
   2.3   Termination of Participation.............................................2
ARTICLE 3 Benefits................................................................3
   3.1   Participant Accounts.....................................................3
   3.2   Compensation Credits.....................................................3
   3.3   Executive Incentive Bonus and Deferred Compensation Plan Interest........3
   3.4   Earnings Credits.........................................................4
   3.5   Vesting..................................................................4
ARTICLE 4 Distribution............................................................6
   4.1   Distribution to Participant..............................................6
   4.2   Distribution to Beneficiary..............................................8
   4.3   Payment in Event of Incapacity...........................................9
ARTICLE 5 Source of Payments; Nature of Interest.................................10
   5.1   Establishment of Trust..................................................10
   5.2   Source of Payments......................................................10
   5.3   Status of Plan..........................................................10
   5.4   Non-assignability of Benefits...........................................11
ARTICLE 6 Adoption, Amendment, Termination.......................................12
   6.1   Adoption................................................................12
   6.2   Amendment...............................................................12
   6.3   Termination of Participation............................................12
   6.4   Termination.............................................................13
ARTICLE 7 Definitions, Construction and Interpretation...........................14
   7.1   Account.................................................................14
   7.2   Active Participant......................................................14
   7.3   Administrator...........................................................14
   7.4   Affiliate...............................................................14
   7.5   Base Salary.............................................................14
   7.6   Beneficiary.............................................................14
   7.7   Board...................................................................14
   7.8   Change in Control.......................................................14
   7.9   Code....................................................................16
   7.10  Company.................................................................16
   7.11  Cross Reference.........................................................16


                                       i
<PAGE>

   7.12  Disabled................................................................16
   7.13  ERISA...................................................................16
   7.14  Governing Law...........................................................16
   7.15  Headings................................................................16
   7.16  Number and Gender.......................................................16
   7.17  Participant.............................................................17
   7.18  Participating Employer..................................................17
   7.19  Plan....................................................................17
   7.20  Plan Rules..............................................................17
   7.21  Plan Year...............................................................17
   7.22  Termination of Employment...............................................17
   7.23  Trust...................................................................17
   7.24  Trustee.................................................................17
   7.25  Year of Participation...................................................17
ARTICLE 8 Administration.........................................................19
   8.1   Administrator...........................................................19
   8.2   Plan Rules..............................................................19
   8.3   Administrator's Discretion..............................................19
   8.4   Specialist's Assistance.................................................19
   8.5   Indemnification.........................................................19
   8.6   Benefit Claim Procedure.................................................19
   8.7   Limitations on Certain Actions..........................................20
ARTICLE 9 Miscellaneous..........................................................21
   9.1   Withholding and Offsets.................................................21
   9.2   Other Benefits..........................................................21
   9.3   No Warranties Regarding Tax Treatment...................................21
   9.4   No Employment Rights Created............................................21
   9.5   Successors..............................................................21
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>

                               NASH FINCH COMPANY
                     SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

                                    ARTICLE 1
                                   DESCRIPTION

1.1      PLAN NAME.  The name of the Plan is the "Nash Finch Company
         Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan."

1.2      PLAN PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to provide retirement income
         to Participants to supplement amounts available from other sources.

1.3      PLAN TYPE. The Plan is an unfunded plan maintained primarily for the
         purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of
         management or highly compensated employees and, as such, is intended to
         be exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Subtitle B of
         Title I of ERISA by operation of ERISA sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and
         401(a)(4), respectively. The Plan is also intended to be unfunded for
         tax purposes. The Plan will be construed and administered in a manner
         that is consistent with and gives effect to the foregoing.


                                       1
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                  PARTICIPATION

2.1      ELIGIBILITY.

          (A)  To be eligible to have credits made to his or her Account
               pursuant to Section 3.2 for a Plan Year, an individual must

               (1)  be a member of a select group of management or highly
                    compensated employees as determined by the Administrator and

               (2)  be selected by the Administrator for the Plan Year.

               An individual's selection pursuant to clause (2) for a Plan Year
               must be evidenced by a written notice from the Administrator to
               the individual.

          (B)  The fact that an individual has been eligible to have credits
               made to his or her Account pursuant to Section 3.2 with respect
               to any particular Plan Year does not give the individual any
               right to have such credits made to his or her Account with
               respect to any other Plan Year.

2.2      CONDITION OF PARTICIPATION. As a condition of participation, each
         Participant is bound by all the terms and conditions of the Plan and
         the Plan Rules, and must furnish to the Administrator such pertinent
         information, and execute such forms and other instruments, as the
         Administrator or Plan Rules may require by such dates as the
         Administrator or Plan Rules may establish.

2.3      TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION. A Participant will cease to be a
         Participant as of the later of the date on which (a) he or she ceases
         to be an Active Participant or (b) his or her entire Account balance
         has been distributed or forfeited.


                                       2
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 3
                                    BENEFITS

3.1      PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS.

          (A)  The Administrator will establish and maintain an Account for each
               Participant to evidence amounts credited with respect to the
               Participant pursuant to Section 3.2 and related earnings credits
               pursuant to Section 3.4.

          (B)  For each Participant for whom a credit is made pursuant to
               Section 3.3, the Administrator will establish and maintain a
               separate Account to evidence the amount credited pursuant to
               Section 3.3 and related earnings credits pursuant to Section 3.4.

3.2      COMPENSATION CREDITS.

          (A)  As of the close of the last day of each Plan Year, after the
               earnings credit for the calendar quarter then ending pursuant to
               Section 3.4, the Account of an Active Participant who satisfies
               the conditions described in Subsection (B) for the Plan Year will
               be credited with an amount equal to 20 percent of his or her Base
               Salary for the Plan Year.

          (B)  To be eligible to have a credit made on his or her behalf for a
               Plan Year, an Active Participant must be actively employed by, or
               on an approved leave of absence from, an Affiliate on the last
               day of the Plan Year. For this purpose, an Active Participant's
               status as an employee of an Affiliate on the last day of the Plan
               Year will be based on the Affiliate's classification on that day
               without regard to any subsequent retroactive reclassification.

3.3      EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE BONUS AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN INTEREST.

          (A)  An Active Participant on January 1, 2000 may elect to have the
               total share equivalents contingently credited to the Active
               Participant as of December 31, 1999 under the Nash Finch Company
               Executive Incentive Bonus and Deferred Compensation Plan (the
               "Deferred Compensation Plan") converted to a cash equivalent and
               credited to his or her Account as of January 1, 2000. The amount
               credited to the Active Participant's Account pursuant to this
               section will be the greater of (1) the amount at which the
               Participant's total share equivalents as of December 31, 1999
               were contingently credited to the Participant under the Deferred
               Compensation Plan and (2) an amount equal to the product of (a)
               the total share equivalents contingently credited to the
               Participant under the Deferred Compensation Plan as of December
               31, 1999 multiplied by (b) the average, rounded to the nearest
               one-tenth of a cent ($.001), of the closing sales price per share
               of common stock of the Company reported by the NASDAQ National
               Market System, for the calendar quarter ending on December 31,
               1999. For purposes of applying clause (b) of the prior sentence,
               the closing sales price for any trading day for which there are
               no reported sales of common stock of the Company will be deemed
               to be the last previously reported closing sales price.


                                       3
<PAGE>

          (B)     An Active Participant's election pursuant to Subsection (A)
                  must be (1) in writing on a form provided by the Administrator
                  and (2) received by the Administrator not later than a due
                  date specified by the Administrator. The election may be
                  revoked on or before the due date specified by the
                  Administrator but may not be revoked after the due date.

          (C)     An Active Participant whose Account is credited pursuant to
                  this section will cease to have any interest arising under or
                  in connection with the Deferred Compensation Plan effective as
                  of January 1, 2000 and the Participant's rights with respect
                  to his or her Account will, on and after January 1, 2000, be
                  determined solely in accordance with the terms of this Plan.

3.4      EARNINGS CREDITS. As of the last day of each calendar quarter, the
         Administrator will, in accordance with Plan Rules, credit a
         Participant's Account, including the undistributed portion of an
         Account being distributed in the form of installment payments, with
         earnings in an amount equal to the "applicable percentage" of the
         average daily balance of the Account for the quarter. The applicable
         percentage for a given calendar quarter is the quarterly equivalent of
         the average of the annual yield set forth for each month during the
         quarter in the MOODY'S BOND RECORD, published by Moody's Investor's
         Service, Inc. (or any successor thereto) under the heading of "Moody's
         Corporate Bond Yield Averages - Av. Corp." or, if such yield is no
         longer available, a substantially similar average selected by the
         Administrator.

3.5      VESTING.

          (A)  Subject to Section 4.1(D)(3), (1) a Participant will acquire a
               fully vested, nonforfeitable interest in his or her Account
               established and maintained pursuant to Section 3.1(A) upon
               attaining age 65 while he or she is an employee of an Affiliate
               or upon becoming an Active Participant after he or she attains
               age 65 and (2) a Participant will acquire a fully vested,
               nonforfeitable interest in his or her Account established and
               maintained pursuant to Section 3.1(B) upon attaining age 60 while
               he or she is an employee of an Affiliate.

          (B)  A Participant will acquire a fully vested, nonforfeitable
               interest in his or her Account if he or she dies or becomes
               Disabled while he or she is an employee of an Affiliate.

          (C)  Subject to Section 4.1(D)(3), a Participant whose employment
               terminates prior to his or her attainment of age 65 in the case
               of the Account established and maintained pursuant to Section
               3.1(A), or prior to his or her attainment of age 60 in the case
               of the Account established and maintained pursuant to Section
               3.1(B), other than by reason of his or her death or becoming
               Disabled will acquire a vested, nonforfeitable interest in his or
               her Account to the extent provided in the following schedule:


                                       4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       YEARS OF PARTICIPATION                PERCENTAGE VESTED
                       ----------------------                -----------------
                    <S>                                       <C>
                    Less Than Five Years                               0%
                    Five Years                                        50%
                    Six Years                                         60%
                    Seven Years                                       70%
                    Eight Years                                       80%
                    Nine Years                                        90%
                    Ten or More Years                                100%
</TABLE>

               Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection,
               subject to Section 4.1(D)(3), in no case will a
               Participant's vested, nonforfeitable interest in his or her
               Account established and maintained pursuant to Section 3.1(B)
               be less than 50 percent.

          (D)  A Participant will acquire a fully vested nonforfeitable interest
               in his or her Account upon the occurrence of a Change in Control.

          (E)  The Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting of all
               or any part of the nonvested portion of a Participant's Account.

          (F)  The nonvested portion of a Participant's Account will be
               permanently forfeited as of the beginning of the day on which
               he or she terminates employment.

          (G)  For purposes of this section, a Participant's status as an
               employee of an Affiliate on a given date will be based on the
               Affiliate's classification on that date without regard to any
               subsequent retroactive reclassification.


                                       5
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 4
                                  DISTRIBUTION

4.1      DISTRIBUTION TO PARTICIPANT.

          (A)  FORM. Distribution to a Participant will be made in the form of
               120 monthly payments.

          (B)  TIME. Distribution to a Participant will begin during the first
               month of the Plan Year next following the Plan Year during which
               the Participant terminates employment.

          (C)  AMOUNT. The amount of each monthly installment payment will be
               determined by dividing the Participant's vested Account balance
               as of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding
               the payment date, reduced by the amount of any subsequent
               installment payments, by the total number of remaining payments
               (including the payment in question).

          (D)  SPECIAL RULES. The provisions of this subsection apply
               notwithstanding Subsection (A), (B) or (C) to the contrary.

               (1)  ALTERNATIVE FORM. Prior to the date on which a Participant's
                    distribution commences in accordance with Subsection (B),
                    the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may elect to make
                    the distribution in any alternative form and at such time or
                    times as the Administrator determines; provided, that,
                    subject to clause (3), in any case the Participant's entire
                    vested Account balance must be distributed not later than
                    the last day of the tenth Plan Year that starts after the
                    Plan Year during which the Participant terminates
                    employment. In determining the amount of any distribution
                    pursuant to this clause, the following rules apply:

                    (a)  If the distribution is made in the form of a single
                         lump sum payment, the amount of the payment will be
                         equal to the Participant's vested Account balance as of
                         the last day of the calendar quarter immediately
                         preceding the payment;

                    (b)  If the distribution is made in the form of periodic
                         payments (other than installment payments made at
                         regular intervals), the amount of each payment except
                         the final payment will be determined by the
                         Administrator and the amount of the final payment will
                         be equal to the Participant's vested Account balance as
                         of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately
                         preceding the payment reduced by the amount of any
                         subsequent payments; and

                    (c)  If the distribution is made in the form of installment
                         payments made at regular intervals, the amount of each
                         payment will be determined in accordance with
                         Subsection (C).


                                       6
<PAGE>

               (2)  DIVESTITURES.

                    (a)  If some or all of the assets of a Participating
                         Employer are sold or otherwise disposed of to an
                         acquirer that is not an Affiliate, the Administrator
                         may, but is not required to, cause to be distributed
                         the vested Account balance of any Participant whose
                         employment with all Affiliates is terminated in
                         connection with the sale or disposition unless the
                         acquirer adopts a successor plan which is substantially
                         similar to the Plan in all material respects and
                         expressly assumes the Participating Employer's
                         obligation to provide benefits to the Participant, in
                         which case the Participating Employer will cease to
                         have any obligation to provide benefits to the
                         Participant pursuant to the Plan as of the effective
                         date of the assumption. Any such distribution will be
                         made in the form of a lump sum payment as soon as
                         administratively practicable after the date of the sale
                         or disposition. The amount of the payment will be
                         determined in accordance with clause (1)(a).

                    (b)  If a Participating Employer ceases to be an Affiliate,
                         unless otherwise provided in an agreement between an
                         Affiliate and the Participating Employer or an
                         Affiliate and an acquirer that is not an Affiliate,

                         (i)  a Participant who is employed with the
                              Participating Employer, or

                         (ii) a Participant who is not employed with the
                              Participating Employer but has an Account balance
                               attributable to the Participating Employer

                         will not become entitled to his or her Account balance
                         attributable to the Participating Employer solely as a
                         result of the cessation and the Participating Employer
                         will, after the date on which it ceases to be an
                         Affiliated Organization, continue to be solely
                         responsible to provide benefits to the Participant at
                         least equal to the balance of the Account as of the
                         effective date of the cessation and as thereafter
                         increased by credits pursuant to Section 3.2 relating
                         to the period before the effective date and earnings
                         credits pursuant to Section 3.4.

               (3)  CERTAIN FORFEITURES. The entire balance of a Participant's
                    Account will be permanently forfeited if, without the prior
                    written consent of the Company, the Participant, at any time
                    prior to his or her termination of employment or during the
                    period during which he or she is receiving distributions
                    pursuant to the Plan, actively participates or engages in
                    any business in competition with any Affiliate or fails to
                    make himself or herself available for consultation, or if
                    the Participant's employment is


                                       7
<PAGE>

                    terminated at any time prior to age 65 because of evidence
                    of dishonesty or mistrust in his or her employment or
                    because of his or her involvement in a crime or misdemeanor
                    against any Affiliate or any employee of an Affiliate for
                    which the Participant is convicted or which the Participant
                    has confessed in writing to the Company or any law
                    enforcement agency.


          (E)  REDUCTION OF ACCOUNT BALANCE. The balance of the Account from
               which a distribution is made will be reduced by the amount of the
               distribution as of the beginning of the date of the distribution.

4.2      DISTRIBUTION TO BENEFICIARY.

          (A)  FORM. In the event of a Participant's death, the balance of the
               Participant's Account will be distributed to the Participant's
               Beneficiary in a lump sum payment whether or not payments had
               commenced to the Participant in the form of installments prior to
               his or her death.

          (B)  TIME. Distribution to a Beneficiary will be made within 60 days
               after the date on which the Administrator receives notice of the
               Participant's death.

          (C)  AMOUNT. The amount of the payment will be determined in
               accordance with Section 4.1(D)(1)(a).

          (D)  REDUCTION OF ACCOUNT BALANCE. The balance of the Account from
               which a distribution is made will be reduced by the amount of the
               distribution as of the beginning of the date of the distribution.

          (E)  BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION.

               (1)  A Participant may designate, on a form furnished by the
                    Administrator, one or more primary Beneficiaries or
                    alternative Beneficiaries to receive all or a specified part
                    of his or her Account after his or her death, and the
                    Participant may change or revoke any such designation from
                    time to time. No such designation, change or revocation is
                    effective unless executed by the Participant and received by
                    the Administrator during the Participant's lifetime. No
                    designation of a Beneficiary other than the Participant's
                    spouse is effective unless the spouse consents to the
                    designation or the Administrator determines that spousal
                    consent cannot be obtained because the spouse cannot
                    reasonably be located or is legally incapable of consenting.
                    The consent must be in writing, must acknowledge the effect
                    of the election and must be witnessed by a notary public.
                    The consent is effective only with respect to the
                    Beneficiary or class of Beneficiaries so designated and only
                    with respect to the spouse who so consented.

               (2)  If a Participant -

                    (a)  fails to designate a Beneficiary, or


                                       8
<PAGE>

                    (b)  revokes a Beneficiary designation without naming
                         another Beneficiary, or

                    (c)  designates one or more Beneficiaries none of whom
                         survives the Participant or exists at the time in
                         question, for all or any portion of his or her Account,
                         such Account or portion will be paid to the
                         Participant's surviving spouse or, if the Participant
                         is not survived by a spouse, to the representative of
                         the Participant's estate.

               (3)  The automatic Beneficiaries specified above and, unless the
                    designation otherwise specifies, the Beneficiaries
                    designated by the Participant, become fixed as of the
                    Participant's death so that, if a Beneficiary survives the
                    Participant but dies before the receipt of the payment due
                    such Beneficiary, the payment will be made to the
                    representative of such Beneficiary's estate. Any designation
                    of a Beneficiary by name that is accompanied by a
                    description of relationship or only by statement of
                    relationship to the Participant is effective only to
                    designate the person or persons standing in such
                    relationship to the Participant at the Participant's death.

     4.3  PAYMENT IN EVENT OF INCAPACITY. If any individual entitled to receive
          any payment under the Plan is, in the judgment of the Administrator,
          physically, mentally or legally incapable of receiving or
          acknowledging receipt of the payment, and no legal representative has
          been appointed for the individual, the Administrator may (but is not
          required to) cause the payment to be made to any one or more of the
          following as may be chosen by the Administrator: the Beneficiary (in
          the case of the incapacity of a Participant); the institution
          maintaining the individual; a custodian for the individual under the
          Uniform Transfers to Minors Act of any state; or the individual's
          spouse, children, parents, or other relatives by blood or marriage.
          The Administrator is not required to see to the proper application of
          any such payment and the payment completely discharges all claims
          under the Plan against the Participating Employer, the Plan and Trust
          to the extent of the payment.


                                       9
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 5
                     SOURCE OF PAYMENTS; NATURE OF INTEREST

5.1      ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST.

          (A)  A Participating Employer may establish a Trust, or may be covered
               by a Trust established by another Participating Employer, with an
               independent corporate trustee. The Trust must (1) be a grantor
               trust with respect to which the Participating Employer is treated
               as the grantor for purposes of Code section 677, (2) not cause
               the Plan to be funded for purposes of Title I of ERISA and (3)
               provide that the Trust assets will, upon the insolvency of a
               Participating Employer, be used to satisfy claims of the
               Participating Employer's general creditors. The Participating
               Employers may from time to time transfer to the Trust cash,
               marketable securities or other property acceptable to the Trustee
               in accordance with the terms of the Trust.

          (B)  Notwithstanding Subsection (A), not later than the effective date
               of a Change in Control, each Participating Employer must transfer
               to the Trust an amount not less than the amount by which (1) 125
               percent of the aggregate balance of all Participants' Accounts
               attributable to the Participating Employer as of the last day of
               the month immediately preceding the effective date of the Change
               in Control exceeds (2) the value of the Trust assets attributable
               to amounts previously contributed by the Participating Employer
               as of the most recent date as of which such value was determined.

5.2      SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

          (A)  Each Participating Employer will pay, from its general assets,
               the portion of any benefit pursuant to Article 4 or Section 6.3
               or 6.4 attributable to a Participant's Account with respect to
               that Participating Employer, and all costs, charges and expenses
               relating thereto.

          (B)  The Trustee will make distributions to Participants and
               Beneficiaries from the Trust in satisfaction of a Participating
               Employer's obligations under the Plan in accordance with the
               terms of the Trust. The Participating Employer is responsible for
               paying any benefits attributable to a Participant's Account with
               respect to that Participating Employer that are not paid by the
               Trust.

5.3      STATUS OF PLAN. Nothing contained in the Plan or Trust is to be
         construed as providing for assets to be held for the benefit of any
         Participant or any other person or persons to whom benefits are to be
         paid pursuant to the terms of this Plan, the Participant's or other
         person's only interest under the Plan being the right to receive the
         benefits set forth herein. The Trust is established only for the
         convenience of the Participating Employers and no Participant has any
         interest in the assets of the Trust. To the extent the Participant or
         any other person acquires a right to receive benefits under this Plan,
         such right is no greater than the right of any unsecured general
         creditor of the Participating Employer.


                                       10
<PAGE>

5.4      NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF BENEFITS. The benefits payable under the Plan and
         the right to receive future benefits under the Plan may not be
         anticipated, alienated, sold, transferred, assigned, pledged,
         encumbered, or subjected to any charge or legal process.


                                       11
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 6
                        ADOPTION, AMENDMENT, TERMINATION

6.1      ADOPTION. With the prior approval of the Administrator, an Affiliate
         may, by action of its Board, adopt the Plan and become a Participating
         Employer.

6.2      AMENDMENT.

          (A)  The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan at any time to
               any extent that it may deem advisable. To be effective, an
               amendment must be stated in a written instrument approved in
               advance or ratified by the Company's Board and executed in the
               name of the Company by its President or a Vice President and
               attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.

          (B)  An amendment adopted in accordance with Subsection (A) is binding
               on all interested parties as of the effective date stated in the
               amendment; provided, however, that (1) no amendment may adversely
               affect a benefit to which a Participant, or the Beneficiary of a
               deceased Participant, is entitled under the terms of the Plan as
               of the later of the adoption date or effective date of the
               amendment and (2) no attempted amendment to Section 3.5(D),
               5.1(B), this clause (2) or Section 7.8 will be effective with
               respect to any Change in Control, as defined in Section 7.8
               without regard to the attempted amendment, occurring within 12
               months after the date on which the attempted amendment is
               approved by the Company's Board unless each Participant provides
               his or her written consent to the amendment. Notwithstanding the
               foregoing, the Company may amend the Plan at any time to change
               the method for determining the earnings credit pursuant to
               Section 3.4 for the period after the later of the adoption date
               or effective date of the amendment, and such amendment may be
               applied both to future credits to Participants' Accounts pursuant
               to Section 3.2 and to existing Account balances (but the
               amendment may not reduce the balance of any Account as of the
               later of the adoption date or effective date of the amendment).

          (C)  The provisions of the Plan in effect at the termination of a
               Participant's employment will, except as otherwise expressly
               provided by a subsequent amendment, continue to apply to such
               Participant.

6.3      TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION. Notwithstanding any other provision of
         the Plan to the contrary, if determined by the Administrator to be
         necessary to ensure that the Plan is exempt from ERISA to the extent
         contemplated by Section 1.3, or upon the Administrator's determination
         that a Participant's interest in the Plan has been or is likely to be
         includable in the Participant's gross income for federal income tax
         purposes prior to the actual payment of benefits pursuant to the Plan,
         the Administrator may take any or all of the following steps:

               (a)  terminate the Participant's future participation in the
                    Plan;


                                       12
<PAGE>

               (b)  cause the Participant's vested Account balance to be
                    distributed to the Participant in the form of an immediate
                    lump sum in an amount determined in accordance with Section
                    4.1(D)(1)(a); and/or

               (c)  transfer the benefits that would otherwise be payable
                    pursuant to the Plan for all or any of the Participants to a
                    new plan that is similar in all material respects (other
                    than those which require the action in question to be
                    taken.)

6.4      TERMINATION. The Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan in
         its entirety at any time. Each Participating Employer reserves the
         right to cease its participation in the Plan at any time. The Plan will
         terminate in its entirety or with respect to a particular Participating
         Employer as of the date specified by the Company or such Participating
         Employer in a written instrument by its authorized officers to the
         Administrator, adopted in the manner of an amendment. Upon the
         termination of the Plan in its entirety or with respect to any
         Participating Employer, the Company or Participating Employer, as the
         case may be, will either cause (a) any benefits to which Participants
         have become entitled prior to the effective date of the termination to
         continue to be paid in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 or
         (b) the entire vested Account balance of any or all Participants, or
         the Beneficiaries of any or all deceased Participants, to be
         distributed in the form of an immediate lump sum payment in an amount
         determined in accordance with Section 4.1(D)(1)(a).


                                       13
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 7
                  DEFINITIONS, CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION

The definitions and rules of construction and interpretation set forth in this
article apply in construing the Plan unless the context otherwise indicates.

7.1      ACCOUNT. "Account" means either or both of the bookkeeping accounts
         maintained with respect to a Participant pursuant to Section 3.1, as
         the context requires.

7.2      ACTIVE PARTICIPANT. "Active Participant" with respect to a Plan Year is
         an individual who the Administrator has determined pursuant to Section
         2.1 is eligible to have credits made to his or her Account pursuant to
         Section 3.2 for the Plan Year.

7.3      ADMINISTRATOR. The "Administrator" of the Plan is the Compensation
         Committee of the Company's Board or the person to whom administrative
         duties are delegated pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1, as the
         context requires.

7.4      AFFILIATE. An "Affiliate" is (a) the Company, (b) any corporation that
         is a member of a controlled group of corporations, within the meaning
         of Code section 414(b), that includes the Company and (c) any other
         entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest
         and which is identified by the Administrator as an Affiliate.

7.5      BASE SALARY. The "Base Salary" of an Active Participant for any Plan
         Year is his or her base salary paid by his or her Participating
         Employer during the Plan Year. Base Salary includes only regular cash
         salary and is determined before any reduction or deduction of any kind.

7.6      BENEFICIARY. "Beneficiary" with respect to a Participant is the person
         designated or otherwise determined under the provisions of Section
         4.2(E) as the distributee of benefits payable after the Participant's
         death. A person designated or otherwise determined to be a Beneficiary
         under the terms of the Plan has no interest in or right under the Plan
         until the Participant in question has died. A Beneficiary will cease to
         be such on the day on which all benefits to which he, she or it is
         entitled under the Plan have been distributed.

7.7      BOARD. "Board" means the board of directors of the Affiliate in
         question. When the Plan provides for an action to be taken by the
         Board, the action may be taken by any committee or individual
         authorized to take such action pursuant to a proper delegation by the
         board of directors in question.

7.8      CHANGE IN CONTROL.

          (A)  "Change in Control" is any of the following:

               (1)  the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer, directly or
                    indirectly, of all or substantially all of the assets of the
                    Company, in one transaction or in a series of related
                    transactions, to any person;


                                       14
<PAGE>

               (2)  the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any plan
                    or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the
                    Company;

               (3)  any person is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in
                    Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,
                    of (a) 20 percent or more, but not more than 50 percent, of
                    the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding
                    securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections
                    of directors, unless the transaction resulting in such
                    ownership has been approved in advance by the continuity
                    directors or (b) more than 50 percent of the combined voting
                    power of the Company's outstanding securities ordinarily
                    having the right to vote at elections of directors
                    (regardless of any approval by the continuity directors);

               (4)  a merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party if
                    the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the
                    effective date of such merger or consolidation have
                    beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
                    Exchange Act) immediately following the effective date of
                    such merger or consolidation of securities of the surviving
                    company representing (a) 50 percent or more, but not more
                    than 80 percent, of the combined voting power of the
                    surviving corporation's then outstanding securities
                    ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of
                    directors, unless such merger or consolidation has been
                    approved in advance by the continuity directors, or (b) less
                    than 50 percent of the combined voting power of the
                    surviving corporation's then outstanding securities
                    ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of
                    directors (regardless of any approval by the continuity
                    directors);

               (5)  the continuity directors cease for any reason to constitute
                    at least a majority of the Company's board of directors; or

               (6)  a change in control of the Company of a nature that would be
                    required to be reported pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of
                    the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject
                    to such reporting requirement.

(B) For purposes of this section:

               (1)  a "continuity director" means any individual who is a member
                    of the Company's board of directors on the Effective Date
                    while he or she is a member of the board, and any individual
                    who subsequently becomes a member of the Company's board of
                    directors whose election or nomination for election by the
                    Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a
                    majority of the directors who are continuity directors
                    (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy
                    statement of the Company in which such individual is named
                    as a nominee for director without objection to such
                    nomination);


                                       15
<PAGE>

               (2)  "Exchange Act" is the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                    amended from time to time; and

               (3)  "person" includes any individual, corporation, partnership,
                    group, association or other "person," as such term is
                    defined in section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than (i)
                    the Company; (ii) any corporation at least a majority of
                    whose securities having ordinary voting power for the
                    election of directors is owned, directly or indirectly, by
                    the Company; (iii) any other entity in which the Company, by
                    virtue of a direct or indirect ownership interest, has the
                    right to elect a majority of the members of the entity's
                    governing body; or (iv) any benefit plan sponsored by the
                    Company, a corporation described in clause (ii) or an entity
                    described in clause (iii).

7.9      CODE. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any
         reference to a specific provision of the Code includes a reference to
         that provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any
         successor provision.

7.10     COMPANY.  "Company" means Nash Finch Company.

7.11     CROSS REFERENCE. References within a section of the Plan to a
         particular subsection refer to that subsection within the same section
         and references within a section or subsection to a particular clause
         refer to that clause within the same section or subsection, as the case
         may be.

7.12     DISABLED. A Participant will be considered to be "Disabled" only if the
         Administrator determines that he or she is absent from active
         employment with all Affiliates because of his or her illness, injury or
         disease that is likely to be of long or indefinite duration or result
         in death.

7.13     ERISA. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
         1974, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of ERISA
         includes a reference to that provision as it may be amended from time
         to time and to any successor provision.

7.14     GOVERNING LAW. To the extent that state law is not preempted by the
         provisions of ERISA, or any other laws of the United States, all
         questions pertaining to the construction, validity, effect and
         enforcement of the Plan will be determined in accordance with the
         internal, substantive laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to
         the conflict of law principles of the State of Minnesota or any other
         jurisdiction.

7.15     HEADINGS. The headings of articles and sections are included solely for
         convenience of reference; if there exists any conflict between such
         headings and the text of the Plan, the text will control.

7.16     NUMBER AND GENDER. Wherever appropriate, the singular may be read as
         the plural, the plural may be read as the singular and one gender may
         be read as the other gender.


                                       16
<PAGE>

7.17     PARTICIPANT. "Participant" is a current or former Active Participant to
         whose Account amounts have been credited pursuant to Article 3 and who
         has not ceased to be a Participant pursuant to Section 2.3.

7.18     PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER. "Participating Employer" is the Company and any
         other Affiliate that has adopted the Plan, or all of them collectively,
         as the context requires. An Affiliate will cease to be a Participating
         Employer upon a termination of the Plan as to its Employees and the
         satisfaction in full of all of its obligations under the Plan or upon
         its ceasing to be an Affiliate.

7.19     PLAN. "Plan" means the Nash Finch Company Supplemental Executive
         Retirement Plan, as from time to time amended or restated.

7.20     PLAN RULES. "Plan Rules" are rules, policies, practices or procedures
         adopted by the Administrator pursuant to Section 8.2.

7.21     PLAN YEAR.  "Plan Year" means the calendar year.

7.22     TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. An individual will be deemed to have
         terminated employment for purposes of the Plan only if he or she has
         completely severed his or her employment relationship with all
         Affiliates.

7.23     TRUST. "Trust" means any trust or trusts established by a
         Participating Employer pursuant to Section 5.1.

7.24     TRUSTEE. "Trustee" means the independent corporate trustee or trustees
         that at the relevant time has or have been appointed to act as Trustee
         of the Trust.

7.25     YEAR OF PARTICIPATION.

          (A)  A Participant will be credited with one "Year of Participation"
               for each Plan Year if, at any time during the Plan Year, he or
               she is either (1) an Active Participant or (2) an employee of an
               Affiliate (as classified by the Affiliate at the time services
               are performed without regard to any subsequent retroactive
               reclassification) with an Account balance under the Plan.

          (B)  No Participant will be credited with a Year of Participation for
               any Plan Year ending before January 1, 2000.

          (C)  If a Participant terminates employment with all Affiliates and is
               subsequently rehired by an Affiliate:

               (1)  his or her service completed after he or she is rehired will
                    not increase his or her vested interest in his or her
                    Account balance attributable to participation before the
                    termination of employment and

               (2)  his or her Years of Participation completed before his or
                    her initial termination of employment will be disregarded in
                    determining his or her


                                       17
<PAGE>

                    vested interest in his or her Account attributable to
                    participation after he or she is rehired.


                                       18
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 8
                                 ADMINISTRATION

8.1      ADMINISTRATOR. The general administration of the Plan and the duty to
         carry out its provisions is vested in the Compensation Committee of the
         Company's Board. Such Committee may delegate any nondiscretionary,
         ministerial duty or any portion thereof to a named person and may from
         time to time revoke such authority and delegate it to another person.

8.2      PLAN RULES. The Administrator has the discretionary power and authority
         to make such Plan Rules as the Administrator determines to be
         consistent with the terms, and necessary or advisable in connection
         with the administration, of the Plan and to modify or rescind any such
         Plan Rules.

8.3      ADMINISTRATOR'S DISCRETION. The Administrator has the discretionary
         power and authority to make all determinations necessary for
         administration of the Plan, except those determinations that the Plan
         requires others to make, and to construe, interpret, apply and enforce
         the provisions of the Plan and Plan Rules whenever necessary to carry
         out its intent and purpose and to facilitate its administration,
         including, without limitation, the discretionary power and authority to
         remedy ambiguities, inconsistencies, omissions and erroneous benefit
         calculations. In the exercise of its discretionary power and authority,
         the Administrator will treat all similarly situated persons uniformly.

8.4      SPECIALIST'S ASSISTANCE. The Administrator may retain such actuarial,
         accounting, legal, clerical and other services as may reasonably be
         required in the administration of the Plan, and may pay reasonable
         compensation for such services. All costs of administering the Plan
         will be paid by the Participating Employers.

8.5      INDEMNIFICATION. The Participating Employers jointly and severally
         agree to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law,
         each director, officer, and employee of any Affiliate against any and
         all liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including legal fees) of
         every kind and nature that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted
         against such person at any time by reason of such person's services in
         connection with the Plan, but only if such person did not act
         dishonestly or in bad faith or in willful violation of the law or
         regulations under which such liability, loss, cost or expense arises.
         The Participating Employers have the right, but not the obligation, to
         select counsel and control the defense and settlement of any action for
         which a person may be entitled to indemnification under this provision.

8.6      BENEFIT CLAIM PROCEDURE.

          (A)  If a request for a benefit by a Participant or Beneficiary of a
               deceased Participant is denied in whole or in part, he or she
               may, not later than 30 days after the denial, file with the
               Administrator a written claim objecting to the denial.

          (B)  The Administrator, not later than 90 days after receipt of such
               claim, will render a written decision to the claimant on the
               claim. If the claim is denied, in whole or in part, such decision
               will include the reason or reasons for the denial; a reference


                                       19
<PAGE>

               to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based; a
               description of any additional material or information, if any,
               necessary for the claimant to perfect his or her claim; an
               explanation as to why such information or material is necessary;
               and an explanation of the Plan's claim procedure.

          (C)  The claimant may file with the Administrator, not later than 60
               days after receiving the Administrator's written decision, a
               written notice of request for review of the Administrator's
               decision, and the claimant or his or her representative may
               thereafter review relevant Plan documents which relate to the
               claim and may submit written comments to the Administrator.

          (D)  Not later than 60 days after receipt of such review request, the
               Administrator will render a written decision on the claim, which
               decision will include the specific reasons for the decision,
               including a reference to the Plan's specific provisions where
               appropriate.

          (E)  The foregoing 90 and 60-day periods during which the
               Administrator must respond to the claimant may be extended by up
               to an additional 90 or 60 days, respectively, if special
               circumstances beyond the Administrator's control so require and
               notice of such extension is given to the claimant prior to the
               expiration of such initial 90 or 60-day period, as the case may
               be.

          (F)  A Participant or Beneficiary must exhaust the procedure described
               in this section before making any claim of entitlement to
               benefits pursuant to the Plan in any court or other proceeding.

8.7      LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN ACTIONS. A Participant or Beneficiary may not
         commence a civil action pursuant to ERISA section 502(a)(1) with
         respect to a benefit under the Plan after the earlier of (a) six years
         after the occurrence of the facts or circumstances that give rise to or
         form the basis for such action and (b) two years after the date the
         Participant or Beneficiary had knowledge of the facts or circumstances
         that give rise to or form the basis for the action.


                                       20
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 9
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

9.1      WITHHOLDING AND OFFSETS. The Participating Employers and the Trustee
         retain the right to withhold from any compensation or benefit payment
         pursuant to the Plan, any and all income, employment, excise and other
         tax as the Participating Employers or Trustee deems necessary and the
         Participating Employers may offset against amounts then payable to a
         Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan any amounts then owing to the
         Participating Employers by such Participant or Beneficiary.

9.2      OTHER BENEFITS. Neither amounts deferred nor amounts paid pursuant to
         the Plan constitute salary or compensation for the purpose of computing
         benefits under any other benefit plan, practice, policy or procedure of
         a Participating Employer unless otherwise expressly provided
         thereunder.

9.3      NO WARRANTIES REGARDING TAX TREATMENT. The Participating Employers make
         no warranties regarding the tax treatment to any person of any credits
         or payments made pursuant to the Plan and each Participant will hold
         the Administrator and the Participating Employers and their officers,
         directors, employees, agents and advisors harmless from any liability
         resulting from any tax position taken in good faith in connection with
         the Plan.

9.4      NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CREATED. Neither the establishment of or
         participation in the Plan gives any Employee the right to continued
         employment or limits the right of the Participating Employer to
         discharge, transfer, demote, modify terms and conditions of employment
         or otherwise deal with any employee without regard to the effect which
         such action might have on him or her with respect to the Plan.

9.5      SUCCESSORS. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all
         obligations of the Participating Employers under the Plan are binding
         on any successor to the Participating Employer whether the existence of
         such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger,
         consolidation or otherwise of all or substantially all of the business
         and/or assets of the Participating Employer.


                                       21

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 21.1

                       SUBSIDIARIES OF NASH FINCH COMPANY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Subsidiary                                       State of
              Corporation                                     Incorporation
              -----------                                     -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Erickson's Diversified Corporation                              Wisconsin
Edina, Minnesota

GTL Truck Lines, Inc.                                           Nebraska
Norfolk, Nebraska

Hinky Dinky Supermarkets, Inc.                                  Nebraska
Edina, Minnesota

Nash Finch Funding Corp.                                        Delaware
Edina, Minnesota

Piggly Wiggly Northland Corporation                             Minnesota
Edina, Minnesota

Super Food Services, Inc.                                       Delaware
Dayton, Ohio

T.J. Morris Company                                             Georgia
Statesboro, Georgia

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 33-54487) pertaining to the 1994 Stock Incentive Plan of Nash Finch
Company, Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-64313) pertaining to the 1995
Director Stock Option Plan of Nash Finch Company, Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 333-27563) pertaining to the 1997 Non-Employee Director Stock
Compensation Plan, and Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-81441)
pertaining to the Nash Finch Company 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, of our
report dated February 22, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements and schedule of Nash Finch Company included in this Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended January 1, 2000.

                                        ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 30, 2000

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-01-2000
<CASH>                                          16,389
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  176,280
<ALLOWANCES>                                    22,214
<INVENTORY>                                    264,232
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               465,563
<PP&E>                                         554,550
<DEPRECIATION>                                 318,924
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 862,443
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          327,327
<BONDS>                                        314,091
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        19,402
<OTHER-SE>                                     158,272
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   862,443
<SALES>                                      4,123,213
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,123,213
<CGS>                                        3,698,752
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  362,407
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 4,388
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              31,213
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 26,453<F1>
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,216
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             15,237
<DISCONTINUED>                                   4,566<F4>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,803
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.74
<FN>
<F1>Includes net reversal of special charges of $7,045.
<F4>Disposal of discontinued operations net of income tax of $3,587.
</FN>


</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  RISK FACTORS

A.       SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE.

         The Company has substantial indebtedness and, as a result, significant
debt service obligations. As of January 1, 2000, the Company had approximately
$314 million of long-term indebtedness which represented approximately 64.5% of
total capitalization. The ability of the Company to satisfy its debt obligations
will be dependent on the future operating performance of the Company, which
could be affected by changes in economic conditions and financial, competitive,
legislative, regulatory and other factors, including factors beyond the control
of the Company.

         A failure to comply with the covenants and other provisions of any debt
instruments could result in events of default under such instruments, which
could permit acceleration of the debt under such instruments and in some cases
acceleration of debts under other instruments that contain cross-default or
cross-acceleration provisions. The Company believes, based on current
circumstances, that the Company's cash flow, together with available borrowings
under the bank credit facilities, will be sufficient to permit the Company to
meet its operating expenses, to pay dividends on its common stock and to service
its debt requirements as they become due for the foreseeable future. Significant
assumptions underlie this belief, including, among other things, that the
Company will succeed in implementing its business strategy and that there will
be no material adverse developments in the business, liquidity or capital
requirements of the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to generate sufficient cash flow to service its interest payment
obligations under its indebtedness or that cash flows, future borrowings or
equity financing will be available for the payment or refinancing of the
Company's indebtedness.

         If the Company is unable to service its indebtedness, it will be
required to adopt alternative strategies, which may include actions such as
reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or
refinancing its indebtedness or seeking additional equity capital. There can be
no assurance that any of these strategies could be effected on satisfactory
terms, if at all.

         The degree to which the Company is leveraged could have important
consequences, including: (i) the Company's ability to obtain additional
financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions
or general corporate purposes may be impaired; (ii) a substantial portion of the
Company's cash flows from operations may be dedicated to the payment of
principal and interest on its indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available
to the Company for its future operations; (iii) certain of the Company's
indebtedness contains financial and other restrictive covenants, including those
restricting the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the creation of liens,
the payment of dividends, sales of assets and minimum net worth requirements;
(iv) certain of the Company's borrowings are and will continue to be at variable
rates of interest which exposes the Company to the risk of greater interest
rates; and (v) the Company's substantial leverage may make it more vulnerable to
changing economic conditions, limit its ability to withstand competitive
pressures and reduce its flexibility in responding to changing business and
economic conditions. As a result of the Company's current level of indebtedness,
its financial capacity to respond to market conditions, capital needs and other
factors may be limited.


<PAGE>

B.       DEPENDENCE UPON THE OPERATIONS OF SUBSIDIARIES.

         As of the end of fiscal year 1999, a substantial portion of the
consolidated assets of the Company were held by the subsidiaries of the Company
and a substantial portion of the Company's cash flow and net income was
generated by such subsidiaries. Therefore, the Company's ability to be
profitable is dependent, in part, upon the profitability of its subsidiaries.

C.       LOW MARGIN BUSINESS; INCREASING COMPETITION AND MARGIN PRESSURE.

         The wholesale food distribution and retail grocery industries in which
the Company operates are characterized by low profit margins. As a result, the
Company's results of operations are sensitive to, and may be materially
adversely impacted by, among other things, competitive pricing pressures, vendor
selling programs, increasing interest rates and food price deflation. There can
be no assurance that one or more of such factors will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations.

         The wholesale food distribution industry is undergoing change as
producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers seek to lower costs and
increase services in an increasingly competitive environment of relatively
static over-all demand, resulting in increasing pressure on the industry's
already low profit margins. Alternative format food stores (such as warehouse
stores and supercenters) have gained market share at the expense of traditional
supermarket operators, including independent operators, many of whom are
customers of the Company. Vendors, seeking to ensure that more of their
promotional dollars are used by retailers to increase sales volume, increasingly
direct promotional dollars to large self-distributing chains. The Company
believes that these changes have led to reduced margins and lower profitability
among many of its customers and at the Company itself. In response to these
changes, the Company is pursuing a multi-faceted strategy that includes various
cost savings and value added initiatives, and growth through strategic
acquisitions and alliances. The Company believes that its ultimate success will
depend on its ability to pursue and execute these strategic initiatives, and on
the effectiveness of these strategic initiatives in reducing costs of operations
and enhancing operating margins. Any significant delay or failure in the
implementation of these strategic initiatives could result in diminished sales
and operating margins. No assurance can be given that the Company's strategic
initiatives, if implemented, will result in increased sales or enhanced profit
margins.

D.       ACQUISITION STRATEGY.

         Partly in response to changes in the wholesale food distribution
industry discussed above, the Company has for several years pursued a strategy
of aggressive growth through acquisitions in the wholesale food distribution
market, including both general and military distribution operations, and in
retail store operations. The Company intends to continue to pursue strategic
acquisition opportunities in these business segments, both in existing and new
geographic markets. In pursuing this acquisition strategy, the Company faces
risks commonly encountered with growth through acquisitions, including completed
acquisitions. These risks include, but are not limited to, incurring
significantly higher than anticipated capital expenditures and operating
expenses, failing to assimilate the operations and personnel of acquired
businesses, failing to install and integrate all necessary systems and controls,
losing customers, entering markets in which the Company has no or limited
experience, disrupting the Company's ongoing



<PAGE>

business and dissipating the Company's management resources. Realization of
the anticipated benefits of a strategic acquisition may take several years or
may not occur at all. The Company's acquisition strategy has placed, and will
continue to place, a significant strain on the Company's management,
operational, financial and other resources. The success of the Company's
acquisition strategy will depend on many factors, including the ability of
the Company to (i) identify suitable acquisition opportunities, (ii)
successfully close acquisition opportunities at valuations that will provide
superior returns on invested capital, (iii) successfully integrate acquired
operations quickly and effectively in order to realize operating synergies,
and (iv) obtain necessary financing on satisfactory terms. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to successfully execute and manage
its acquisition strategy, and any failure to do so could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.

E.       POTENTIAL CREDIT LOSSES FROM LOANS TO RETAILERS.

         From time to time, the Company extends secured loans to independent
retailers, often in conjunction with the establishment or expansion of supply
arrangements with such retailers. Such loans are generally extended to small
businesses which are unrated, and such loans are highly illiquid. The Company
also from time to time provides financial assistance to independent retailers by
guaranteeing loans from financial institutions and leases entered into directly
with lessors. The Company intends to continue, and possibly increase, the amount
of loans and guarantees to independent retailers, and there can be no assurance
that credit losses from existing or future loans or commitments will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.

F.       MILITARY COMMISSARY SALES.

         A significant portion of the Company's sales in fiscal 1999 resulted
from distribution of products to U.S. military commissaries. No assurance can be
given that the U.S. military commissary system will not undergo significant
changes in the foreseeable future, such as further base closings, privatization
of the military commissary system or a reduction in the number of persons having
access to such commissaries. Such changes could result in disruptions to
existing supply arrangements or reductions in volumes of purchases and could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.

G.       COMPETITION.

         The food marketing and distribution industry is highly competitive. The
Company faces competition from national, regional and local food distributors on
the basis of price, quality, variety and availability of products offered,
strength of private label brands offered, schedules and reliability of
deliveries and the range and quality of services provided. In addition, food
wholesalers compete based on willingness to invest capital in their customers.
Such investments present substantial risks as described above under the caption
"Potential Credit Losses from Loans to Retailers." The Company also competes
with retail supermarket chains that provide their own distribution function,
purchasing directly from producers and distributing products to their
supermarkets for sale to consumers.

         In its retail operations, the Company competes with other food outlets
on the basis of price, quality and assortment, store location and format, sales
promotions, advertising,



<PAGE>

availability of parking, hours of operation and store appeal. Traditional
mass merchandisers have gained a growing market share with alternative store
formats, such as warehouse stores and supercenters, which depend on
concentrated buying power and low-cost distribution technology. Market share
of stores with alternative formats is expected to continue to grow in the
future. To meet the challenges of a rapidly changing and highly competitive
retail environment, the Company must maintain operational flexibility and
develop effective strategies across many market segments. The inability to
adapt to changing environments could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

         Some of the Company's competitors have greater financial and other
resources than the Company. In addition, consolidation in the industry,
heightened competition among the Company's suppliers, new entrants and trends
toward vertical integration could create additional competitive pressures that
reduce margins and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to continue to compete effectively in its industry.

H.       COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET; INCREASING LABOR COSTS.

         The Company's continued success depends on its ability to attract and
retain qualified personnel in all areas of its business. The Company competes
with other businesses in its markets with respect to attracting and retaining
qualified employees. The labor market is currently very tight and the Company
expects the tight labor market to continue. A shortage of qualified employees
may require the Company to continue to enhance its wage and benefits package in
order to compete effectively in the hiring and retention of qualified employees
or to hire more expensive temporary employees. No assurance can be given that
the Company's labor costs will not continue to increase, or that such increases
can be recovered through increased prices charged to customers. Any significant
failure of the Company to attract and retain qualified employees, to control its
labor costs, or to recover any increased labor costs through increased prices
charged to customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.

I.       DEPENDENCE ON MANAGEMENT.

         The Company depends on the services of its executive officers for the
management of the Company. The loss or interruption of the continued full-time
services of certain of these executives could have a material adverse effect on
the Company and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to find
replacements with equivalent skills or experience at acceptable salaries.
Generally, the Company does not have employment contracts with its executive
officers, other than agreements providing certain benefits upon certain changes
in control of the Company.




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission