EXHIBIT 99.3 - FORM OF STANDBY STOCK PURCHASE AND DEBT REDUCTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN SMART & FINAL INC. AND CASINO USA


                      [LETTERHEAD OF SMART & FINAL INC.]
                                        

Casino USA, Inc.
524 Chapala Street
Santa Barbara, California  93101


Re: Standby Stock Purchase and Debt Reduction Agreement


Gentlemen:

This letter agreement ("Agreement") will confirm the terms and conditions which
have been negotiated among Smart & Final Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), Casino USA, Inc., a California corporation ("Casino USA"), and
Casino Guichard-Perrachon S.A., a publicly traded French joint stock limited
liability company ("Casino") regarding a proposed offering of Company common
stock through an equity rights offering mechanism, with Casino USA acting as a
standby purchaser.

                                   Section 1.
                             The Rights Offering.
    
A.  Rights Offering.  The Company proposes to distribute to holders of record
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    of its Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), as of the close of business on
    May 12, 1999, or, if later, the date on which the Registration Statement (as
    defined below) becomes effective (the "Record Date"), transferable rights
    (the "Rights") to purchase an aggregate of 6,486,406 shares of Common Stock
    (the "Shares") at a price of $9.25 per share (the "Subscription Price") by
    issuing to such holders subscription warrants (the "Subscription Warrants")
    evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock held as of the Record
    Date (the "Rights Offering").      
    
B.  Subscription Privileges.  The Company proposes to offer to sell the Shares
    -----------------------                                                   
    on the basis of one Share for every 3.4884 Rights granted and properly
    exercised (the "Basic Subscription Privilege"). In addition, all holders of
    Rights are entitled, subject to availability and proration as described in
    the Registration Statement, to purchase Shares not purchased by other
    stockholders under the Basic Subscription Privilege (the "Oversubscription
    Privilege"). The Company expects to mail the Subscription Warrants together
    with the prospectus (as defined below) and related instructions to the
    record holders of Shares as soon as practicable after the Registration
    Statement becomes effective (the "Time of Mailing"). The Rights will expire
    at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on June 3, 1999 (the "Expiration 
    Date").      

 
     
C.  Registration Statement.  The Company filed on April 2, 1999 with the
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    Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on
    Form S-3 (No. 333-75627) and a related preliminary prospectus for
    the registration of the Rights and the Shares under the Securities Act of
    1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), has filed an amendment thereto on May 4, 
    1999 and such amended preliminary prospectuses as may have been required
    prior to the date hereof, and will file such additional amendments thereto
    and such amended prospectuses as may hereafter be required. Such
    registration statement (as amended, if applicable) and the final prospectus
    relating to the offering constituting a part thereof (including in each case
    all documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein), as from time to
    time amended or supplemented pursuant to the 1933 Act, are hereinafter
    referred to as the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus,"
    respectively.       
    
D.  Related Parties.  Casino USA is currently the owner of approximately
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    12,415,925 shares of Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 55% of
    the total issued and outstanding shares. Casino is the principal shareholder
    and beneficial owner of Casino USA.      

E.  Casino Loan Agreement/New Note.  The Company and Casino USA are parties to
    ------------------------------                                            
    that certain Loan Agreement (the "Casino Loan Agreement") dated as of
    November 13, 1998, pursuant to which they agreed to consolidate certain
    unsecured pre-existing notes and cash advances owed by the Company to Casino
    USA, plus a 1.75% structuring fee of the consolidated amount, into one
    aggregate principal obligation totaling $55,387,505 (the "Principal
    Amount"), bearing interest at the LIBOR rate plus 4.50% per annum and
    maturing February 15, 2002. Under the Casino Loan Agreement, the Company
    executed and delivered to Casino USA a promissory note in the form attached
    to the Casino Loan Agreement (the "New Note") evidencing the obligations
    under the Casino Loan Agreement.
    
F.  Purchase Commitments.  In order to facilitate the success of the Rights
    --------------------                                                   
    Offering, Casino USA hereby commits to exercise its Basic Subscription
    Privilege to subscribe for all Shares that Casino USA may acquire by
    exercise of its Rights (the "Basic Shares"). Casino USA may, at its sole
    election, exercise its Oversubscription Privilege to subscribe for all or
    part of that number of Shares which it is permitted to purchase pursuant to
    the Oversubscription Privilege (the "Oversubscription Shares"). Subject to
    the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Casino USA further commits to
    subscribe (at the Subscription Price) for that number of Shares not
    subscribed for by the Company's record holders or their transferees (which
    shall include Casino USA) in the Rights Offering (the "Excess Shares"). 
         
    
G.  Manner of Payment for Shares. Casino USA hereby agrees to pay for Shares
    ----------------------------                                             
    purchased by it upon exercise of Casino USA's Rights and under this
    Agreement by reducing the outstanding Principal Amount under the Casino Loan
    Agreement (and reducing the amount owing under the New Note) by the total
    Subscription Price otherwise due for such Shares, and to pay cash for Shares
    purchased by it pursuant to the Offering to the extent the aggregate
    Subscription Price payable by it exceeds the Principal Amount.      

 
H.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the
    meanings respectively given to those terms in the Registration Statement.


                                   Section 2.
                   Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Securities.

    
A.  Closing Time.  Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
    ------------                                                     
    certificates for, the Basic Shares, any Oversubscription Shares and any
    Excess Shares (collectively, the "Purchased Shares") shall be made at the
    principal executive office of the Company, or at such other place as shall
    be agreed upon by Casino USA and the Company, at 8:30 A.M., Los Angeles
    time, on the fourth business day after the Expiration Date of the Rights
    Offering, or such other time and date as shall be agreed upon by Casino USA
    and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein
    called "Closing Time"). Certificates for the Shares purchased by Casino USA
    under this Agreement shall be in such denominations and registered in such
    names as Casino USA may request in writing at least two business days before
    the Closing Time.      
    
B.  Manner of Payment for Purchased Shares. Casino USA shall at the Closing Time
    --------------------------------------                                      
    deliver to the Company (i) the original New Note marked "paid in full," plus
    (ii) an amount of U.S. Dollars, paid in immediately available funds
    delivered to the Company by wire transfer, equal to the excess, if any, of
    (A) the aggregate Subscription Price for the total number of Purchased
    Shares over (B) the Principal Amount. If the procedure in clause (ii) is
    necessary, the Company shall give written notice to Casino USA at least two
    business days prior to the Closing Time setting forth wiring instructions
    for the Company's account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, pursuant to
    this Agreement, Casino USA purchases Shares having an aggregate Subscription
    Price which is less than the Principal Amount, Casino USA shall at the
    Closing Time, in lieu of the delivery and payment set forth in the preceding
    sentence, deliver to the Company a written statement executed by Casino USA
    to the effect that the Principal Amount is thereby reduced by the amount
    specified in such statement, which shall be equal to the aggregate
    Subscription Price for the total number of Purchased Shares acquired by
    Casino USA in the Rights Offering. Such notice will be attached to and
    become part of the New Note.     

C.  Affiliate Status.  The parties acknowledge that Casino USA is an affiliate
    ----------------                                                          
    of the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act, and that the ability of Casino
    USA to resell the Purchased Shares may be limited by applicable provisions
    of Rule 144 or other limitations in effect from time to time under the 1933
    Act. The Company shall be entitled to imprint on or attach to certificates
    for Shares delivered to Casino USA the Company's customary legend to the
    effect that the holder thereof is an affiliate subject to such limitations.

D.  Performance Guarantee.  Casino hereby guarantees the performance of Casino
    ---------------------                                                     
    USA under this Agreement.

 
                                  Section 3.
                        Representations and Warranties.

A.  The Company.  The Company hereby represents and warrants to Casino USA as
    -----------                                                              
    follows: (i) the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to
    enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions set forth in
    Sections 1 and 2 hereof; (ii) the execution and delivery by the Company of
    this Agreement, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions set
    forth in Sections 1 and 2 hereof, have been duly authorized by all necessary
    corporate action on the part of the Company; (iii) this Agreement has been
    duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and
    binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in
    accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof may be
    limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors'
    rights generally or general principles of equity; (iv) no consent, approval,
    order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any
    court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority
    or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, is required by, or with respect to,
    the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
    by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions set
    forth in Section 2 hereof (other than the filing and effectiveness of the
    Registration Statement); (v) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
    the Company and the consummation of the transactions set forth in Sections 1
    and 2 hereof by the Company do not conflict with, or result in a breach of,
    any law or regulation of any governmental authority applicable to the
    Company or any material agreement to which the Company is a party; and (vi)
    when issued and paid for in accordance with the provisions of Section 2
    hereof, the Purchased Shares sold to Casino USA pursuant to Section 2 hereof
    shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and
    free of any claims or encumbrances.

B.  Casino USA.  Casino USA hereby represents and warrants to the Company as
    ----------                                                              
    follows: (i) it has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
    into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions set forth in Sections
    1 and 2 hereof; (ii) the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement, and
    the consummation by it of the transactions set forth in Sections 1 and 2
    hereof, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its
    part; (iii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and
    constitutes a valid and binding obligation of it enforceable against it in
    accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof may be
    limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors'
    rights generally or general principles of equity; (iv) no consent, approval,
    order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any
    court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority
    or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, is required by, or with respect to,
    it in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it or
    the consummation by it of the transactions set forth in Sections 1 and 2
    hereof (other than any filings pursuant to Section 16(a) of, or Regulation
    13D under, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended); (v) the
    execution and delivery of this Agreement by it and the consummation by it of
    the transactions set forth in Sections 1 and 2 hereof do not conflict with,
    or result in a breach of, any law or regulation of any governmental
    authority applicable to it or, at the Closing Time, any material agreement
    to which it is a party; (vi) it will acquire the Purchased Shares for its
    own account and not with a view to distribution or resale in any manner
    which would be in violation of the 1933 Act;

 
    and (vi) it will have at the Closing Time readily available funds in an
    amount sufficient to satisfy its monetary obligations, if any, hereunder.

                                   Section 4.
                        Covenants of the Parties Hereto.

A.  Mutual Assurance.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
    ----------------                                                         
    each party hereto will use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
    all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary
    or reasonably desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
    Agreement.

B.  Fees and Expenses.  The Company hereby agrees to pay or reimburse all out-
    -----------------                                                        
    of-pocket expenses and professional fees reasonably incurred by Casino USA
    in connection with this Agreement and the Rights Offering (including
    reasonable fees and expenses of its investment banking adviser and legal
    counsel), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $450,000. The Company agrees
    to pay all other expenses and professional fees incurred by the Company in
    connection with the Rights Offering, including the expenses referred to in
    Part II of the Registration Statement.

C.  Standby Purchaser Fee.  In consideration of Casino USA's standby purchaser
    ---------------------                                                     
    commitment under Sections 1.F. and 1.G. of this Agreement, the Company
    agrees to issue to Casino USA at the Closing Time ten thousand (10,000)
    shares of Common Stock as a standby purchaser fee, payable in the form of a
    certificate including or representing such shares and delivered to Casino
    USA at the Closing Time. This fee is in addition to the Shares which are the
    subject of the Offering and is in addition to any Purchased Shares which
    Casino USA may purchase under the Basic Subscription Privilege or
    Oversubscription Privilege or otherwise pursuant to the Rights Offering .
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, this fee is not payable unless the
    Registration Statement is declared effective and Casino USA timely performs
    its obligations hereunder.


                                   Section 5.
                           Conditions to the Closing.

A.  Mutual Conditions.  The obligations of Casino USA, on the one hand, and the
    -----------------                                                          
    Company, on the other hand, to consummate their respective obligations
    pursuant to Section 2 hereof are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to
    the Expiration Date of each of the following conditions:
    
              (i)     The Registration Statement shall have become effective not
        later than 5:30 P.M. on May 11, 1999; and at the Expiration Date no stop
        order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall
        have been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings therefor shall
        have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.     

 
              (ii)    Each of the representations and warranties of the other
        parties hereto contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
        all material respects, at and as of the Expiration Date, with the same
        force and effect as if given on the Expiration Date.

              (iii)   The Rights Offering shall have been completed in
        conformity with all of the requirements related thereto provided in the
        Registration Statement and the Prospectus and under applicable the rules
        and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act.

              (iv)    The Shares shall have been approved for listing on the New
        York Stock Exchange subject to notice of issuance.

B.  Other Conditions Benefiting Casino USA.  The obligations of Casino USA to
    --------------------------------------                                   
    consummate its obligations pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 hereof shall also be
    subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Expiration Date of each of
    the following conditions:

              (i)     Material Adverse Change.  Since the respective dates as 
                      -----------------------     
        to which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
        Prospectus, there shall not have been any material adverse change in or
        affecting the business, prospects, financial position, stockholders'
        equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
        taken as a whole.

              (ii)    Legal Opinion.  Casino USA shall have received the 
                      ------------- 
        opinion, dated as of the date hereof, of Donald G. Alvarado, Esq., as
        counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel
        for Casino USA, relating to incorporation and good standing of the
        Company, authorization of the Rights Offering and the issuance of
        Shares, capitalization of the Company, effectiveness and compliance with
        regulatory requirements of the Registration Statement, and other
        consents and approvals required in connection with the Rights Offering,
        including those as may be contemplated in Section 3.A.(iv) of this
        Agreement.

              (iii)   Accountant's Comfort Letter.  Casino USA shall have 
                      ---------------------------  
        received from Arthur Andersen LLP a comfort letter with respect to the
        Registration Statement dated as of the date hereof, in form and
        substance satisfactory to it and its counsel, of the type typically
        rendered to underwriters in public offerings in the United States.

C.  No Transfer of Rights By Casino USA.  Casino USA shall not sell, transfer or
    -----------------------------------                                         
    assign any of the Rights issued to it in the Rights Offering.


                                   Section 6.
                               Other Provisions.
                                        
A.  Notices.  Any notice required to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if
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    in writing and sent by facsimile transmission (with transmission confirmed),
    by courier service (with proof of service), hand delivery or certified or
    registered mail (return receipt requested and first-class postage prepaid),
    addressed as follows:

 
        If to the Company, to Smart & Final Inc., 600 Citadel Drive, City of
        Commerce, California 90040; attention: Donald G. Alvarado, Esq., Senior
        Vice President, Law/Development;

        If to Casino USA or to Casino, to Casino USA, Inc., 524 Chapala Street,
        Santa Barbara, California  93101; attention:  Chairman;

        or to such other address as any party shall specify by written notice so
        given, and such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the
        date so telecommunicated, personally delivered or mailed.

B.  Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
    -------                                                                   
    Casino USA, the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed
    or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
    person, firm or corporation, other than Casino USA, the Company and their
    respective successors, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
    or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This
    Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for
    the sole and exclusive benefit of Casino USA and the Company and their
    respective successors. No purchaser of Purchased Shares from Casino USA
    shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase. The
    parties acknowledge the receipt and adequacy of legal consideration for
    their respective rights and obligations under this Agreement.

C.  Governing Law and Time.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
    ----------------------                                                    
    in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California without
    regard to conflicts of law principles. Unless otherwise set forth herein,
    specified times of day refer to New York City time.

D.  Other General Provisions.  The representations and warranties of the parties
    ------------------------                                                    
    hereunder shall survive the Closing Time and shall not be affected by any
    investigation of the subject matter thereof made by or on behalf of either
    party. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of
    which shall be deemed an original and part of one instrument, and a
    signature hereto sent by facsimile transmission shall be as binding as
    delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. Each party agrees to
    indemnify and hold harmless the other party from any liability for any
    commission or compensation in the nature of a finders' fee (and the costs
    and expenses of defending against such asserted liability) for which the
    indemnifying party or any of such party's agents is responsible. Any
    provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the written
    consent of the Company and Casino USA and Casino. This Agreement shall
    constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and shall
    supersede any prior oral or written term sheets or other agreements or
    understandings concerning the subject matter hereof.


                                   Section 7.
                            Agreement and Execution.

 
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among
the Company, Casino USA and Casino in  accordance with its terms.

Executed as of this     day of                  1999.
                    ---        ----------------
 
                                   Very truly yours,
                                   Smart & Final Inc.


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


Accepted as of the date written above in this Section 7.

Casino USA, Inc.

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


Casino Guichard-Perrachon, S.A.

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