8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  August 7, 2008

SPARTAN STORES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)

Michigan
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 000-31127
(Commission
File Number) 38-0593940
(IRS Employer
Identification no.)

850 76^th Street, S.W.
P.O. Box 8700
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(Address of principal executive offices)
49518-8700
(Zip Code)

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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

          On August 7, 2008, the Board of Directors of Spartan Stores, Inc. (the "Company") voted to appoint Dennis Eidson, age 54, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective October 15, 2008. Mr. Eidson will continue to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer until his transition to President and Chief Executive Officer, and is a director of the Company. Craig C. Sturken will continue to serve as an executive of the Company in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Board, and as a director, and will continue to serve as the Company's Chief Executive Officer until the effective date of Mr. Eidson's appointment.

          Mr. Eidson previously served the Company as Executive Vice President Marketing and Merchandising, a position he held from March 2003 until his promotion to the position of Chief Operating Officer in February 2007. In October 2007, Mr. Eidson was appointed to the office of President and to the Company's board of directors.

          Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Eidson served as the Divisional President and Chief Executive Officer of A&P's Midwest region from October 2000 to July 2002, as the Executive Vice President Sales and Merchandising of A&P's Midwest region from March 2000 to October 2000, and as the Vice President of Merchandising of A&P's Farmer Jack division from June 1997 to March 2000.

          There are no transactions or proposed transactions in which Mr. Eidson has a direct or indirect material interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

          On August 7, 2008, the Company issued the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K, which is here incorporated by reference and furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
	(d)	Exhibits: The following document is attached as an exhibit to this report on Form 8-K:
	99.1	Press Release dated August 7, 2008

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SIGNATURES

                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  August 7, 2008	SPARTAN STORES, INC.
	By	/s/ David M. Staples
		David M. Staples Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Document
99.1	Press Release dated August 7, 2008.

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EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

For Immediate Release
Investor Contact: Dave Staples Executive Vice President & CFO (616) 878-8319	Media Contact: Jeanne Norcross Vice President Corporate Affairs (616) 878-2830

Spartan Stores' Board of Directors Approves CEO Succession Plan

Dennis Eidson To Become Chief Executive Officer
Craig Sturken to Continue as Executive Board Chairman

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN-August 7, 2008-Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Dennis Eidson as Chief Executive Officer effective October 15, 2008. Mr. Craig Sturken will continue in his role as Executive Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Eidson will continue in his current role as a board member, President and Chief Operating Officer until his transition to President and Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, he will focus on developing and executing the board approved, consumer-centric business strategies and leveraging the company's distinct hybrid business model, while identifying sustainable market growth opportunities and upholding the company's highly motivated and performance driven corporate culture. Mr. Sturken will work closely with Dennis to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities during the next three months. As Executive Chairman, Mr. Sturken will continue to manage board functions and facilitate interaction between the board and executive management. In addition, Mr. Sturken will coordinate with the CEO to develop and execute the Company's business strategy, cultivate a performance-driven corporate culture, mentor executive leadership, and assist in maintaining critical business relationships.

"For the past 24 months, our board has been engaged in CEO succession planning," stated Craig C. Sturken, Spartan's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. I have worked with our board to assess our critical leadership needs and to ensure that we selected the right individual to lead us through our future growth stages. During the past six years, we have built Spartan Stores into a leading and well respected regional grocery distributor and retailer. During those years Dennis has consistently demonstrated his exceptional leadership talent, strategic insight and business plan execution capabilities. He has been instrumental in guiding our business strategies, which produced record fiscal 2008 earnings and our tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. He has been the chief architect behind our critical marketing, merchandising and category management strategies that have led to our successful business performance. Dennis has my full and enthusiastic support, along with the support of our board, the ex ecutive management team, and our associates," said Mr. Sturken.

"It is both a privilege and an honor to be appointed to this critical leadership role," said Mr. Eidson. Spartan Stores is an outstanding and cohesive organization comprised of exceptionally talented, hard working executives and other associates who are firmly committed to the Company's long-term success. I look forward to working closely with all of our constituents, including Spartan's board of directors, shareholders, distribution customers, suppliers, and the communities that we serve. Our Company has enjoyed tremendous success under Craig's leadership. I look forward to working with Craig to continue increasing shareholder value by relentlessly focusing on our consumer-centric business strategy. I expect to further strengthen our market position by leveraging our organization's core competencies and competitive advantages to ensure that we extend our success well into the future."

Mr. Eidson joined Spartan Stores in March 2003 as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising. In October 2007 he was appointed to the Board of Directors and as Company President, following his appointment in February 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He has accumulated more than 32 years of grocery industry knowledge and experience. Prior to joining Spartan Stores, Eidson was Divisional President and Chief Executive Officer of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company's Midwest region, and Assistant General Manager for Nash Finch, Inc.'s Michigan operations. He is a graduate of Michigan State University's Food Management program and has spent his entire career working in the Midwest region's grocery industry.

About Spartan Stores

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) is the nation's tenth largest grocery distributor with warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to nearly 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 84 retail supermarkets in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, and Felpausch Food Centers.

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