<ARTICLE>                                                                 5
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
          FROM THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SPARTAN
          STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 22, 1996
          AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
          STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               MAR-29-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                  MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-22-1996
<CASH>                                                               26,440
<SECURITIES>                                                         16,063
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        82,931
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          2,664
<INVENTORY>                                                          74,515
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    209,334
<PP&E>                                                              285,823
<DEPRECIATION>                                                      126,509
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      378,509
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               155,925
<BONDS>                                                             113,670
<COMMON>                                                             24,664
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                           79,243
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        378,509
<SALES>                                                             568,025
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    568,025
<CGS>                                                               524,798
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       524,798
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                     37,586
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        146
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    2,424
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       4,155
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          1,397
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   2,758
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          2,758
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          2.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0