Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Investor Contact: Dave Staples
Executive Vice President & CFO
(616) 878-8319 Media Contact: Jeanne Norcross
Director Corporate Communications
(616) 878-2830

Spartan Stores Reports Fiscal 2002 Third-Quarter Financial Results

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN--February 4, 2002--Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPTN) today reported financial results for its fiscal 2002 third quarter, which ended January 5, 2002.

Sales for the fiscal 2002 third quarter decreased 6.4 percent to $1.06 billion from $1.14 billion in last year's third quarter. Same-store sales for the retail grocery segment were 5.2 percent lower for the quarter. Operating margin declined to 0.7 percent from 1.8 percent in the prior-year period due principally to a decrease in the Company's Ohio market retail-store sales. Fiscal 2002's third-quarter pretax earnings from continuing operations included a $0.7 million provision for bad debt related to Kmart Corporation's filing of Chapter 11. Net earnings from continuing operations for the quarter were at break-even compared with net earnings of $7.0 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, last year.

"Clearly we are very disappointed with the third-quarter financial results," said Spartan's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, James B. Meyer. "The competitive environment in our Ohio market has been challenging, but we are firmly committed to improving our store performance and are treating it with utmost priority. We are resolute in our commitment to a value strategy and delivering top-quality products and services to our customers. Our desire is to create and maintain a pleasant shopping experience at all of our stores and we are improving the physical facilities where needed, to levels comparable with the best stores in our Ohio market."

Through the first 40 weeks of the fiscal year, sales increased 3.6 percent to $2.74 billion from $2.64 billion, and net income from continuing operations decreased to $15.1 million from $19.7 million last year. Gross margin increased to 17.2 percent from last year's 15.2 percent, and operating margin declined to 1.4 percent from 1.9 percent. Fiscal 2002's 40-week period includes net other gains of $2.3 million compared with last year's $2.4 million. This year's other gains include $1.5 million in net real estate gains and a $0.8 million gain from the sale of stock in a service provider. Last year's 40-week period included other gains of $3.5 million in net real estate gains and a $1.1 million loss on a software write off.

At January 5, 2002, shareholders' equity increased 8.0 percent to $235.9 million and the total long-term debt-to-capital ratio decreased to 59.3 percent from 61.2 percent at the end of fiscal 2001.

"As previously announced, we have taken immediate action to improve the performance of our Ohio stores. Those actions include implementation of an automated labor-scheduling program to ensure staffing levels that improve service, further improving our in-stock performance standards, and rapidly employing best-store merchandising and other practices from our top-performing stores. These steps will become more visible at the store level through better customer service, a mix of merchandise that better reflects

2

local consumer preferences at an appealing value and improved product availability," Mr. Meyer said.

"These actions along with broader company initiatives focused on improving our distribution network efficiency, category management practices, and reducing corporate overhead costs are expected to improve our annualized net earnings between $5 and $10 million. We are in the beginning stages of many initiatives that will help drive and sustain future sales and earnings growth.

"We are also pleased to announce the election of Mr. Ken Stevens to our board of directors. Mr. Stevens was recently named Chief Operating Officer of Intimate Brands retail operation, The Bath and Body Works, and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bank One Retail Group, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Taco Bell Division of PepsiCo, and a partner at McKinsey & Company. We are delighted to have Mr. Stevens join our board and believe that our Company will benefit greatly from his retail industry acumen and insight. His election provides additional strength to our board's retail expertise."

A telephone conference call to discuss the company's third-quarter financial results is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. eastern tomorrow, Tuesday, February 5, 2002. A live webcast of this conference call will be available on the company's website, www.spartanstores.com. Simply click on "Investor Information" and follow the links to the live webcast. The webcast will remain available for replay on the company's website for approximately ten days.

Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) Grand Rapids, Michigan, owns and operates 102 supermarkets and 25 deep-discount drug stores in Michigan and Ohio, including Ashcraft's Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, Food Town, Glen's Markets, Great Day Food Centers, Prevo's Family Markets and The Pharm. The Company also distributes

3

more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to more than 350 independent grocery stores and serves as a wholesale distributor to 6,600 convenience stores.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward-looking statements. Internal and external factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, competitive pressures among food retail and distribution companies, changes in the interest rate environment and general economic and market conditions, difficulties assimilating and integrating acquisitions, difficulties in retail operations, labor shortages or stoppages, and other factors described in the Spartan Stores' Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. Spartan Stores disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

4

SPARTAN STORES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share data)

Third Quarter (16 weeks) ended (unaudited)		Year-to-Date (40 weeks) ended (unaudited)
January 5, 2002	December 30, 2000	January 5, 2002	December 30, 2000

Net sales	$	1,062,758	$	1,135,844	$	2,736,390	$	2,640,307
Cost of sales		885,892		947,304		2,265,021		2,238,066
Gross profit		176,866		188,540		471,369		402,241
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative		156,418		155,832		396,560		324,187
Depreciation and amortization		13,506		12,389		35,229		27,694
Total operating expenses		169,924		168,221		431,789		351,881
Operating income		6,942		20,319		39,580		50,360
Non-operating expense (income)
Interest expense		8,442		9,681		21,035		23,626
Interest income		(722	)	(1,912	)	(1,874	)	(3,412	)
Other (gains) and losses		(810	)	854		(2,330	)	(2,361	)
Total non-operating expense, net		6,910		8,623		16,831		17,853
Earnings before income taxes and discontinued      operations		32		11,696		22,749		32,507
Income taxes		12		4,667		7,650		12,789
Earnings from continuing operations		20		7,029		15,099		19,718
(Loss) earnings from discontinued insurance      segment		34		274		(226	)	325
Net earnings	$	54	$	7,303	$	14,873	$	20,043
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations	$	0.00	$	0.36	$	0.77	$	1.18
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations		0.00		0.01		(0.01	)	0.02
Net earnings		0.00		0.37		0.76		1.20
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations	$	0.00	$	0.36	$	0.76	$	1.18
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations		0.00		0.01		(0.01	)	0.02
Net earnings	$	0.00	$	0.37	$	0.75	$	1.20
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		19,758		19,498		19,483		16,677
Diluted		20,009		19,498		19,748		16,678

5

SPARTAN STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

		January 5, 2002			March 31, 2001
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	12,622		$	21,577
Marketable securities		10,392			21,978
Accounts receivable, net		96,142			87,565
Inventories		208,655			179,589
Other current assets		10,907			12,970
Total current assets		338,718			323,679
Other assets
Goodwill, net		156,756			155,737
Other		30,110			36,139
Total other assets		186,866			191,876
Property and equipment, net		271,545			285,988
Total assets	$	797,129		$	801,543
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	107,753		$	116,105
Accrued payroll and benefits		29,347			37,158
Insurance reserves		16,833			20,602
Other accrued expenses		30,808			31,715
Current maturities of long-term debt		33,704			38,478
Total current liabilities		218,445			244,058
Deferred taxes on income		10,545			13,840
Other long-term liabilities		21,815			18,600
Long-term debt		310,445			306,632
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, voting, no par value, authorized 50,000           shares, outstanding 19,763 shares and 19,262		115,700			109,868
Preferred stock, non-voting, no par value; 10,000 authorized;           no shares issued or outstanding		0			0
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(3,239	)		0
Retained earnings		123,418			108,545
Total shareholders' equity		235,879			218,413
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	797,129		$	801,543

6