EXHIBIT 12.1

                             RICHFOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
                          COMPUTATION OF CERTAIN RATIOS

The following  relates to the ratio  computations  in the Company's  fiscal 1999
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Book  value per share = Total  shareholders'  equity  divided  by the  shares of
      common stock outstanding at fiscal year end.

Working capital = Current assets minus current liabilities.

Current ratio = Current assets divided by current liabilities.

Inventory turnover = Cost of goods sold divided by average inventories.  Average
      inventories was computed by adding the inventories at the beginning of the
      fiscal year to the  inventories at the end of the fiscal year and dividing
      this sum by two.

Return on average assets = Net earnings divided by average total assets. Average
      total assets was  computed by adding the total assets at the  beginning of
      the  fiscal  year to the total  assets at the end of the  fiscal  year and
      dividing this sum by two.

Debt  to equity ratio = Total debt,  including  capital  lease  obligations  and
      current maturities, divided by total shareholders' equity.

Return on  average  shareholders' equity  =  Net  earnings  divided  by  average
      shareholders' equity.  Average shareholders' equity was computed by adding
      the  shareholders'  equity  at the  beginning  of the  fiscal  year to the
      shareholders'  equity at the end of the fiscal year and dividing  this sum
      by two.