Michigan
(State or Other Jurisdiction)
of Incorporation or Organization)

38-0593940
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

850 76th Street, S.W.
P.O. Box 8700
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

49518
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (616) 878-2000

(c)

   Exhibits:

99.1

Press Release dated January 29, 2002.

Forward Looking Statements

This Report and Exhibit may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identifiable by words or phrases indicating that Spartan Stores or management "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "plans" or "believes" that a particular occurrence "may result" or "will likely result" or that a particular event "may occur" or "will likely occur" in the future, or similarly stated expectations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily statements of belief as to the expected outcomes of future events. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date and time the statement is made. Actual results could materially differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.

In addition to other risks and uncertainties described in the Exhibit, in Spartan Stores' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2001 and in other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, there are many important factors that could cause actual results to be materially different from Spartan Stores' stated expectations, including but not limited to: competitive pressures among food retail and distribution companies; the acquisitions of Seaway Food Town, Inc. and Prevo's Family Markets, Inc.; the integration of the business operations of the retail stores and other businesses acquired by Spartan Stores; future business acquisitions, including additional retail stores; difficulties in the operation of the retail grocery segment; difficulties in assimilation of acquired personnel, operations, systems or procedures; inability to realize synergies in the amounts or within the time frame expected by management; adverse effects on existing business relationships with independent retail grocery store customers; difficulties in the retention or hiring of employees for the acquired businesses; labor shortages, stoppages or disputes; business divestitures; increased transportation or fuel costs; current or future lawsuits and administrative proceedings; additional borrowings for retail store acquisitions; interest rate changes; cigarette inventory levels; retail property sales; the volume of notes receivable; bankruptcy filings by customers or suppliers; and the amount of fees received on delinquent accounts. Furthermore, events resulting from the terrorist attacks of September 11 create considerable economic and political uncertainties which could have adverse effects on consumer buying behavior, fuel costs, shipping and transportation, product imports and other factors affecting Spartan Stores and the grocery industry generally.

Spartan Stores undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or conditions after the date the statements are made.

Date: January 29, 2002

SPARTAN STORES, INC.
(Registrant)

By /s/ Alex J. DeYonker

     Alex J. DeYonker
     Secretary
     (Duly authorized signatory for Registrant)

Exhibit
Number

Document

99.1

Press Release dated January 29, 2002.