Exhibit 99.4

                                  PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           EAGLE FOOD CENTERS

                                P.O. Box 6700, Rock Island, Illinois 61204-6700
                                Executive Offices & Distribution Center
                                Route 67 & Knoxville Road, Milan, Illinois 61264
                                Telephone: 309-787-7700/Fax: 309-787-7895


Analyst Contact:  Pat Hanrahan, Investor Relations
                  Eagle Food Centers 309-787-7730

Media Contacts:   Jacqueline K. Debowski, Public Relations
                  Eagle Food Centers 309-787-7873

                  John Digles
                  The MWW Group 312-853-3131
                  Email address: jdigles@mww.com

              EAGLE FOOD CENTERS OBTAINS COURT APPROVAL OF INTERIM
         FINANCING AND PAYMENT OF EMPLOYEE, TRADE, AND OTHER CLAIMS; THE
            COURT SCHEDULES A CONFIRMATION HEARING ON EAGLE'S PLAN OF
                         REORGANIZATION FOR MAY 17, 2000

         MILAN, ILLINOIS, March 2, 2000 -- Yesterday, Eagle Food Centers, Inc.
(NASDAQ: EGLE) successfully obtained Court approval of interim debtor in
possession financing and various "first day" requests for relief from the
Honorable Roderick R. McKelvie of the United States District Court presiding
over Eagle's chapter 11 reorganization case filed on Tuesday, February 29, 2000
in Wilmington, Delaware. In particular, the Court authorized Eagle, among other
things, to pay prepetition claims of employees, utilities, reclamation
claimants, critical trade vendors, and other key constituents. The Court
scheduled a hearing on March 21, 2000 to consider Eagle's request for final
approval of the $50 million debtor-in-possession and to authorize Eagle to pay
the prepetition claims of its remaining trade creditors.

         The Court also scheduled a hearing to approve Eagle's disclosure
statement for April 17, 2000 and a confirmation hearing on Eagle's plan of
reorganization on May 17, 2000.

         "We are quite pleased with the outcome of yesterday's hearing," said
Jeffrey Little, President and CEO of Eagle Food Centers, Inc. "We have
sufficient liquidity and will now be able to run our business during our short
stay in chapter 11 with minimal disruption to employees, vendors, and other
constituents."

         "Eagle and its 6,100 employees sincerely appreciate the continued
support of our suppliers and other creditors during our reorganization," said
Bob Kelly. "Through the reorganization process, we hope to eliminate
unprofitable stores and reject unfavorable leases which will greatly enhance the
profitability of our business. We fully anticipate emerging from chapter 11 in
early June as a stronger company better able to compete in the markets we
serve."


         On February 29, 2000, Eagle filed for protection under chapter 11 in
Wilmington, Delaware to effectuate a pre-negotiated plan of reorganization (the
"Plan"). The Plan has already been agreed to by Eagle's prepetition bank lender
and institutional holders of Eagle's 8 5/8% Senior Notes due April 15, 2000
representing approximately 29% of the $100,000,000 in outstanding Senior Notes.
The primary feature of the Plan will restructure the payment and interest terms
of the Senior Notes through the issuance of replacement notes (the "New Senior
Notes.") THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AND ALL INTEREST UNDER THE SENIOR NOTES WILL
BE PAID IN FULL UNDER THE TERMS OF THE NEW SENIOR NOTES AND THE PLAN. In
particular, the New Senior Notes will have the following material terms and
conditions: (i) a maturity date of April 15, 2005; (ii) an interest rate of 11%;
and (iii) Eagle may, at its option, redeem the New Senior Notes at 100% of the
principal amount outstanding at the time of redemption. On the effective date of
the Plan, Eagle will also pay: (a) all accrued interest on the Senior Notes
(which will continue to accrue through the duration of the case) and (b) $15
million in cash to reduce the principal amount of the New Senior Notes. On the
effective date of the Plan, Eagle will also distribute 15% of the fully diluted
common stock to Eagle to the holders of the Senior Notes, some of which (up to
10%) will be recoverable by Eagle upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

         Eagle Food Centers, Inc. is a leading regional supermarket chain
headquartered in Milan, Illinois, operating 83 stores in central Illinois,
eastern Iowa, and northwestern Indiana.

                                       ###

         This press release may include statements that constitute
"forward-looking" statements. These statements are made pursuant to the Safe
Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include but are not
limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace,
competitive factors, dependence upon third-party vendors and other risks
detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes
after the date of this release.