-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 sace+jvPB2UmXx10AUh3FA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001042046-03-000229.txt : 20031211
<SEC-HEADER>0001042046-03-000229.hdr.sgml : 20031211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031211105732
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001042046-03-000229
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARSH SUPERMARKETS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000062737
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-GROCERY STORES [5411]
		IRS NUMBER:				350918179
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9800 CROSSPOINT BLVD
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46256
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3175942100

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042046
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-01532
		FILM NUMBER:		031048671

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135792121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970709
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000062737</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARSH SUPERMARKETS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MARSA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001042046</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE EAST FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 919</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Class A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>709844</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Class B</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#2</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Class B</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#3</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Class B</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>602644</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Indirect #1:  Great American Insurance Company (&quot;GAI&quot;) - 100% owned subsidiary of American Financial Group, Inc. (&quot;AFG&quot;)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Indirect #2:  Windsor Insurance Company (&quot;WIC&quot;) - 100% owned subsidiary of Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation (&quot;INFIN&quot;)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On 12/10/2003, WIC transferred 203,101 shares of Class B Common Stock to Indirect #1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On 12/10/2003, INFIN transferred 210,000 shares of Class B Common Stock to Indirect #1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Indirect #3:  INFIN is a 38% owned subsidary of AFG.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Karl J. Grafe, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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