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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 729YWWpIzu/hEmtHVFtIwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001229234-04-000001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001229234-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105190336
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001229234-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEIN LAURA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199099

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00785
		FILM NUMBER:		04507123

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 57
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230-0057

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NASH FINCH CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000069671
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & RELATED PRODUCTS [5140]
		IRS NUMBER:				410431960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7600 FRANCE AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 355
		CITY:			SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55435-0355
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6128320534

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NASH CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710617
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000069671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NASH FINCH CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NAFC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199099</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEIN LAURA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O H.J. HEINZ COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>600 GRANT STREET, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>300</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Share Unit</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><val
ue>235.0045</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.34</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>235.0045</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4133.7351</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Share units granted under the 1997 Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) convert to common s
tock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Share units are settled in shares of common stock as soon as practicable after the first day of the calendar quarter that follows the date on which the reporting person ceases to be a member of the board of directors.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes 15.6436 share units acquired during the fourth quarter 2003 as the result of the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents as provided in the Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Laura Stein</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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