EXHIBIT 23.1

                         Consent of Independent Auditors


The Board of Directors
Richfood Holdings, Inc.:

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Richfood  Holdings,  Inc. of our report dated June 14, 1997,  included in the
May 3, 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders of Richfood Holdings, Inc.

Our audit also included the financial  statement  schedule of Richfood Holdings,
Inc. for the fiscal year ended May 3, 1997 listed in Item 14(a).  This  schedule
is the  responsibility  of the Company's  management.  Our  responsibility is to
express an opinion based on our audit. In our opinion,  the financial  statement
schedule  referred to above,  when considered in relation to the basic financial
statements  taken as a whole,  presents  fairly  in all  material  respects  the
information set forth therein.

We also  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in (a) the  Registration
Statement  (Form S-8 No.  33-41210)  pertaining to the Richfood  Holdings,  Inc.
Long-Term Incentive Plan; (b) the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-41570)
pertaining to the Richfood Holdings,  Inc. Savings and Stock Ownership Plan; (c)
the Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No.  33-43652)  pertaining to the Richfood
Holdings,  Inc.  Omnibus Stock  Incentive Plan; (d) the  Registration  Statement
(Form S-8 No. 33-55299) pertaining to the Richfood Holdings,  Inc.  Non-Employee
Directors'  Stock  Option Plan;  (e) the  Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No.
33-63447)  pertaining to the Super Rite Corporation 1991 Omnibus Stock Incentive
Plan; (f) the Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-1251)  pertaining to the
Super  Rite  Foods,   Inc.  Employee   Investment   Opportunity  Plan;  (g)  the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No.  333-1253)  pertaining  to the Super Rite
Foods, Inc. Employee Investment Opportunity Plan for Retail Union Employees; and
(h) the  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8 No.  333-16411)  pertaining  to the
Richfood Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of our
report  dated  June  14,  1997,  with  respect  to  the  consolidated  financial
statements of Richfood Holdings, Inc., incorporated herein by reference, and our
report  included  in the  preceding  paragraph  with  respect  to the  financial
statement schedule of Richfood Holdings, Inc., included in this annual report on
Form 10-K of Richfood Holdings, Inc. for the fiscal year ended May 3, 1997.


                              /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Richmond, Virginia
July 30, 1997