<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 JANUARY 3,
          1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                     OTHER<F1>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               MAR-28-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                  MAR-29-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JAN-03-1998
<CASH>                                                               25,095
<SECURITIES>                                                         22,161
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        72,953
<ALLOWANCES>                                                        (3,440)
<INVENTORY>                                                         104,861
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    234,382
<PP&E>                                                              312,299
<DEPRECIATION>                                                    (145,493)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      409,295
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               155,297
<BONDS>                                                             133,863
<COMMON>                                                             23,294
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                           89,148
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        409,295
<SALES>                                                           1,920,148
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  1,920,148
<CGS>                                                             1,727,146
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     1,727,146
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                    167,774
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                      1,207
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    8,364
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      15,657
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          5,612
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  10,045
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         10,045
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           .85
<FN>
<F1>40-Week Period
</FN>