1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1
 
                           RALPHS SUPERMARKETS, INC.
                    (AS SUCCESSOR TO RALPHS GROCERY COMPANY)
 
              COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES(A)
                             (DOLLAR IN THOUSANDS)
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 


                                                   53 WEEKS         52 WEEKS         52 WEEKS         52 WEEKS         52 WEEKS
                                                    ENDED            ENDED            ENDED            ENDED            ENDED
                                                 FEBRUARY 3,      FEBRUARY 2,      JANUARY 31,      JANUARY 30,      JANUARY 29,
                                                     1991             1992             1993             1994             1995
                                                 -----------      -----------      -----------      -----------      -----------
                                                                                                        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes,
 cumulative effect of change in accounting
 and extraordinary item......................      $(25,529)        $(27,734)        $  2,792         $ 30,317         $ 32,118
Add:
  Portion of rents representative of the
    interest factor..........................        12,936           15,135           17,745           19,218           19,467
  Capitalized interest.......................           915              510            1,074              740              325
  Interest expense...........................       128,477          130,206          125,611          108,755          112,651
                                                   --------         --------         --------         --------         --------
  Earnings as adjusted.......................      $116,799         $118,117         $147,222         $159,030         $164,561
                                                   ========         ========         ========         ========         ========
Fixed charges:
  Interest expense...........................       128,477          130,206          125,611          108,755          112,651
  Capitalized interest.......................           915              510            1,074              740              325
  Portion of rents representative of the
    interest factor..........................        12,936           15,135           17,745           19,218           19,467
                                                   --------         --------         --------         --------         --------
  Total fixed charges........................      $142,328         $145,851         $144,430         $128,713         $132,443
                                                   ========         ========         ========         ========         ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges...........            --(b)            --(b)          1.02             1.24             1.24
                                                   ========         ========         ========         ========         ========

 
- ---------------
 
(a) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed based upon net
    earnings (loss) before income taxes, extraordinary item and fixed charges.
    Fixed charges consist of interest expense (including amortization of
    self-insurance reserves discount), capitalized interest, amortization of
    debt discount and expense and one-third of rental expense (the proportion
    deemed representative of the interest factor).
 
(b) Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges were insufficient to cover
    fixed charges for the periods ended February 3, 1991 and February 2, 1992 by
    $25,529 and $27,734, respectively.
 
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   2
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1
 
                         FOOD 4 LESS SUPERMARKETS, INC.
 
               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                  (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                            
                                         53 WEEKS ENDED       52 WEEKS ENDED       52 WEEKS ENDED       52 WEEKS ENDED  
                                         JUNE 30, 1990        JUNE 29, 1991        JUNE 27, 1992        JUNE 26, 1993       
                                       ------------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------   
                                                   FIXED                FIXED                FIXED                FIXED
                                       EARNINGS   CHARGES   EARNINGS   CHARGES   EARNINGS   CHARGES   EARNINGS   CHARGES   
                                       --------   -------   --------   -------   --------   -------   --------   -------   
                                                                                                
Income (loss) before provision for
 income taxes and extraordinary
 charges.............................  $(9,106)   $    --   $(3,387)   $    --   $(25,555)  $    --   $(25,936)  $    --   
Add: Fixed charges:
Interest expense including
  amortization of deferred financing
  costs..............................   50,789     50,789    50,084     50,084     70,211    70,211     69,732    69,732    
Interest factor in rent expense(1)...    3,814      3,814     6,523      6,523     15,569    15,569     14,835    14,835    
                                       -------    -------   -------    -------   --------   -------   --------   -------   
                                       $45,497    $54,603   $53,220    $56,607   $ 60,225   $85,780   $ 58,631   $84,567   
                                       =======    =======   =======    =======   ========   =======   ========   =======  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges...       --                   --                    --                   --                
                                       =======              =======              ========             ========            
Deficiency of earnings to cover fixed
  charges............................  $ 9,106              $ 3,387              $ 25,555             $ 25,936            
                                       =======              =======              ========             ========             
 

                                                
                                        52 WEEKS ENDED       32 WEEKS ENDED       31 WEEKS ENDED
                                        JUNE 25, 1994       FEBRUARY 5, 1994     JANUARY 29, 1995
                                      ------------------   ------------------   ------------------
                                                  FIXED                FIXED                FIXED
                                      EARNINGS   CHARGES   EARNINGS   CHARGES   EARNINGS   CHARGES
                                      --------   -------   --------   -------   --------   -------
                                                                         
Income (loss) before provision for
 income taxes and extraordinary
 charges.............................  $    --   $    --   $   240    $    --   $(11,500)  $    --
Add: Fixed charges:
Interest expense including
  amortization of deferred financing
  costs..............................   68,250    68,250    42,168     42,168     42,222    42,222
Interest factor in rent expense(1)...   16,596    16,596     9,943      9,943     11,819    11,819
                                       -------   -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
                                       $84,846   $84,846   $52,351    $52,111   $ 42,541   $54,041
                                       =======   =======   =======    =======   ========   =======
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges...      1.0                 1.0                    --
                                       =======             =======              ========
Deficiency of earnings to cover fixed
  charges............................  $    --             $    --              $ 11,500
                                       =======             =======              ========


- ---------------

(1) Calculated as one-third of minimum rent expense (see note 5 in the audited
financial statements):



                                           1990            1991            1992            1993           1994
                                         -------         -------          -------         -------        -------
                                                                                          
Minimum rent.........................    $11,443         $19,570          $46,706         $44,504        $49,788
Interest factor......................         /3              /3               /3              /3             /3
                                         -------         -------          -------         -------        -------
                                         $ 3,814         $ 6,523          $15,569         $14,835        $16,596
                                         =======         =======          =======         =======        =======
 

                                         32 WEEKS ENDED       31 WEEKS ENDED
                                        FEBRUARY 5, 1994     JANUARY 29, 1995
                                        ----------------     ----------------
                                                            
Minimum rent.........................       $29,830               $35,458
Interest factor......................            /3                    /3
                                            -------               -------
                                            $ 9,943               $11,819
                                            =======               =======

 
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