Exhibit 25.1
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

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                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

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_____ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                               SECTION 305(b)(2)

                  NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

A U.S. National Banking Association                     41-1592157
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or                       (I.R.S. Employer
organization if not a U.S. national                     Identification No.)
bank)

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota                                  55479
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip code)

                       Stanley S. Stroup, General Counsel
                  NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                       Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue
                         Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
                                 (612) 667-1234
                              (Agent for Service)

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                         SHOPPERS FOOD WAREHOUSE CORP.
                               SFW HOLDING CORP.
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                53-0231809
Delaware                                                52-2014682
(State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)
 
4600 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, Maryland                                        20706
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip code)

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                         9 3/4% Senior Notes Due 2004
                      (Title of the indenture securities)

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Item 1.  General Information.  Furnish the following information as to the
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         trustee:

          (a)  Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to
               which it is subject.

               Comptroller of the Currency
               Treasury Department
               Washington, D.C.

               Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
               Washington, D.C.

               The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
               Washington, D.C.

          (b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

               The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Item 2.  Affiliations with Obligor.  If the obligor is an affiliate of the
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         trustee, describe each such affiliation.

          None with respect to the trustee.

No responses are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is
not in default as provided under Item 13.

Item 15.  Foreign Trustee.      Not applicable.
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Item 16.  List of Exhibits.     List below all exhibits filed as a part of this
          -----------------     Statement of Eligibility. Norwest Bank      
                                incorporates by reference into this Form T-1 
                                the exhibits attached hereto.                
                                                                             

          Exhibit 1.      a.    A copy of the Articles of Association of the 
                                trustee now in effect.*

          Exhibit 2.      a.    A copy of the certificate of authority of the
                                trustee to commence business issued June 28,
                                1872, by the Comptroller of the Currency to The
                                Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis.*

                          b.    A copy of the certificate of the Comptroller of
                                the Currency dated January 2, 1934, approving
                                the consolidation of The Northwestern National
                                Bank of Minneapolis and The Minnesota Loan and
                                Trust Company of Minneapolis, with the surviving
                                entity being titled Northwestern National Bank
                                and Trust Company of Minneapolis.*
 
                          c.    A copy of the certificate of the Acting
                                Comptroller of the Currency dated January 12,
                                1943, as to change of corporate title of
                                Northwestern National Bank and Trust Company of
                                Minneapolis to Northwestern National Bank of
                                Minneapolis.*

 
                         d.     A copy of the letter dated May 12, 1983 from the
                                Regional Counsel, Comptroller of the Currency,
                                acknowledging receipt of notice of name change
                                effective May 1, 1983 from Northwestern National
                                Bank of Minneapolis to Norwest Bank Minneapolis,
                                National Association.*
 
                         e.     A copy of the letter dated January 4, 1988 from
                                the Administrator of National Banks for the
                                Comptroller of the Currency certifying approval
                                of consolidation and merger effective January 1,
                                1988 of Norwest Bank Minneapolis, National
                                Association with various other banks under the
                                title of "Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
                                Association."*

        Exhibit 3.       A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise
                         corporate trust powers issued January 2, 1934, by the
                         Federal Reserve Board.*
 
        Exhibit 4.       Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.*

        Exhibit 5.       Not applicable.

        Exhibit 6.       The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b)
                         of the Act.

        Exhibit 7.       A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee
                         published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
                         supervising or examining authority.**
 
        Exhibit 8.       Not applicable.

        Exhibit 9.       Not applicable.






        *    Incorporated by reference to exhibit number 25 filed with
             registration statement number 33-66026.

        **   Incorporated by reference to exhibit number 25 filed with
             registration statement number 333-7575.

 
                                   SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the
trustee, Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of
Minneapolis and State of Minnesota on the 1st day of August, 1997.



                         NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
                         NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                         Raymond S. Haverstock 
                         --------------------- 
                         Raymond S. Haverstock
                         Vice President

 
                                   EXHIBIT 6



August 1, 1997



Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549

Gentlemen:

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the undersigned hereby consents that reports of examination of the
undersigned made by Federal, State, Territorial, or District authorities
authorized to make such examination may be furnished by such authorities to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.



                         Very truly yours,

                         NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
                         NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                         Raymond S. Haverstock
                         ---------------------- 
                         Raymond S. Haverstock
                         Vice President