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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TqdYaTyNSK/ws6jojwWubO5e9AV0uI00c8isiU+7UmZ5QiqJmuKdgyz59DjWLI/G
 fgpiHO0W5eEup/MWBrilzQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001289677-04-000020.txt : 20040714
<SEC-HEADER>0001289677-04-000020.hdr.sgml : 20040714
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040714155940
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001289677-04-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040712
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040714

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEWART LEANNE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229238

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00785
		FILM NUMBER:		04913937

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7600 FRANCE AVE SOUTH
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 355
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55440-0355

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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-12</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000069671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NASH FINCH CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NAFC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229238</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEWART LEANNE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NASH FINCH COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7600 FRANCE AVE. SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55435</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option becomes exercisable in 20% increments on January 12, 2005 and on July 12, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option granted pursuant to the Nash Finch 2000 Stock Incentive Plan as part of the reporting person's compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>LeAnne M. Stewart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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