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 11, 2010

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 11, 2010, the shareholders of Spartan Stores, Inc. (the "Company") approved the Spartan Stores, Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2010 (the "Plan"). The Plan is designed and intended to provide participants with the opportunity to earn incentive compensation that qualifies as "performance based" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 162(m)"). The Plan allows for the payment of incentive awards to senior executive officers upon the achievement of financial and other business goals of the Company as established by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may use only objective measures of financial performance specified in the Plan itself (or approved by the Company's shareholders at a later date), and it must specify the relationship between the level of the award and the performance measure. Payment of awards under the Plan are entirely contingent on the achievement of the specified obje ctive measures of performance.

                    The Compensation Committee intends to limit participation in the Executive Plan to those individuals who are expected to receive compensation that would not otherwise be tax deductible under Section 162(m). Because Section 162(m), by its terms, limits its application to a corporation's chief executive officer and four other most highly compensated officers, it is not presently expected that any person other than those five officers would receive payments under the Executive Plan in any year.

                    The above description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1, and the form of award under the Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.2, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

          Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation

                    On August 11, 2010, the Company's shareholders approved amendments to the Articles of Incorporation. The amendments:

• eliminate the classification of the Board of Directors and provide for the annual election of directors, to be phased in over a three-year period; and

• clarify that the shareholders of the Company may amend, alter, modify or repeal the Bylaws by a vote of two-thirds of shares outstanding and entitled to vote.

                    The foregoing brief description of the amendments is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the amendments themselves, the text of which are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1, and by the description of the amendments set forth in the Company's definitive proxy statement, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.

- -2-

          Amendment to the Bylaws

                    In conjunction with the shareholder approval of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation providing for the declassification of the Board of Directors and annual election of directors, as discussed above, the Board of Directors approved a conforming amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws to eliminate the election of directors by classes. The text of the amendment is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

                    Spartan Stores, Inc. held its annual meeting of shareholders on August 11, 2010. At that meeting, the Company's shareholders voted on the matters set forth below:

1. All of the nominees for election to the Board of Directors were elected, each for a term of office expiring in 2013, by the following vote:

	Votes Cast
	For	Withheld	Broker Non-Votes
Craig C. Sturken	18,468,117	86,615	1,781,559
Dennis Eidson	18,488,534	66,198	1,781,559
Frederick J. Morganthall, II	17,966,073	588,659	1,781,559

2. A proposal to amend the Company's Articles of Incorporation to declassify the Board of Directors to provide for the annual election of all directors was approved by the following vote:

Votes for	20,236,852
Votes against	62,001
Abstentions	37,438
Broker Non-Votes	0

- -3-

3.	The shareholders voted on two related proposals to amend the Articles of Incorporation to clarify the shareholder vote required for an amendment to the Bylaws by the shareholders. The voting on each proposal was as follows:
	A.	A proposal to eliminate a supermajority shareholder vote requirement in Article XII(A) of the Company's Articles of Incorporation was approved by the following vote:

Votes for approval	19,594,550
Votes against	446,466
Abstentions	295,275
Broker Non-Votes	0

B. A proposal to lower the supermajority vote provision in set forth in Article XIII of the Company's Articles of Incorporation was approved by vote set forth below. Under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, this proposal required the approval of at least 80% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common stock.

Votes for approval	19,747,924
Votes against	529,581
Abstentions	58,786
Broker Non-Votes	0

4. A proposal to approve the Spartan Stores, Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2010 was approved by the following vote:

Votes for approval	17,951,821
Votes against	543,559
Abstentions	59,352
Broker Non-Votes	1,781,559

5. A proposal to ratify of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 26, 2011 was approved by the following vote:

Votes for approval	19,395,110
Votes against	901,935
Abstentions	39,246
Broker Non-Votes	0

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

                    On August 12, 2010, the Company issued a press release announcing the results of voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated here by reference.

- -4-

                    The information reported in this Item 7.01 (including the press release) is furnished to and not "filed" with the Commission for the purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
	(d)	Exhibits: The following documents are attached as an exhibit to this report on Form 8-K:
	3.1	Amendments to the Company's Articles of Incorporation.
	3.2	Amendments to the Company's Bylaws.
	10.1	Spartan Stores, Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2010, as amended.
	10.2	Form of Incentive Award under the Spartan Stores, Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2010.
	99.1	Press Release dated August 12, 2010.

- -5-

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 12, 2010	SPARTAN STORES, INC.
	By	/s/ David M. Staples
		David M. Staples Chief Financial Officer

- -6-

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Document
3.1	Amendments to the Company's Articles of Incorporation.
3.2	Amendments to the Company's Bylaws.
10.1	Spartan Stores, Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2010, as amended.
10.2	Form of Incentive Award under the Spartan Stores, Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2010.
99.1	Press Release dated August 12, 2010.

EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

Amendments to Articles V, XII(A), and XIII
of the Spartan Stores, Inc. Restated Articles of Incorporation

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS; CLASSIFICATION;
VACANCIES; NOMINATIONS

          A.          The number of the directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the entire Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation shall not be less than three (3).

          B          The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible, with the term of office of one class expiring each year. At each annual meeting of the shareholders, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Regardless of anything to the contrary in these Restated Articles of Incorporation, commencing with the annual meeting of shareholders that is held in calendar year 2011 (the "2011 Annual Meeting"), the directors shall be elected annually for terms of one year, except that any director in office at the 2011 Annual Meeting whose term expires at the annual meeting of shareholders held in calendar year 2012 or calendar year 2013 shall continue to hold office until the end of the term for which such director was electe d and until such director's successor shall have been elected and qualified. Accordingly, at the 2011 Annual Meeting, the successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders that is held in calendar year 2012 and until such directors' successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the annual meeting of shareholders that is held in calendar year 2012, the successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders that is held in calendar year 2013 and until such directors' successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the annual meeting of shareholders in the calendar year 2013 and each annual meeting occurring thereafter, all directors shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders and until such directors' successors shall have been elected and qualified.

          C.          Any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason, and any directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, may be filled only by the Board of Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum. Any director chosen to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such directors shall have been chosen and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. Subject to the foregoing and subject to paragraph B. of this Article V, at each annual meeting of shareholders the successors to the class of directors whose term shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the holders of any class or series of preferred stock are entitled to elect one or more directors to the exclusion of other shareholders, vacancies of any directorship ele cted by that class or series may be filled only by majority vote of the directors elected by that class or series then in office, whether or not a quorum, or by the holders of that class or series. Subject to paragraph B. of this Article V, when the number of directors is changed, any newly created or eliminated directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as possible. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENT OF RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                    The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal any provision contained in these Restated Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and these Restated Articles of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon shareholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however:

          A.          Supermajority-In General. No amendment to these Restated Articles of Incorporation shall alter, modify, or repeal any or all of the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII or IX of these Restated Articles of Incorporation, or this Section A of Article XII, and the shareholders of the Corporation shall not have the right to alter, modify, or repeal any or all provisions of the bylaws of the Corporation, unless such amendment, alteration, modification, or repeal is adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the Voting Stock; provided, that this Section A shall not apply to, and such 2/3 vote shall not be required for, any amendment, alteration, modification, or repeal that has first been approved by the affirmative vote of 80% of the entire Board of Directors.

***

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

                    The bylaws of the Corporation may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new bylaws may be adopted at any time by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. The bylaws of the Corporation may not be amended, altered, or repealed, or new bylaws adopted, by the shareholders of the Corporation except upon the affirmative vote of at least 80% two-thirds (2/3) of the total voting power of all shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class at an annual or special meeting of shareholders.

EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

Amendments to Article III of the
Spartan Stores, Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

          Section 1. Number of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors as may be determined from time to time by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office. Directors need not be shareholders. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with the term of office of one class expiring each year. At each annual meeting of the shareholders, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders and until such directors' successors shall have been elected and qualified. held in the third year following the year of their election. If shareholders of any class or series of shar es have the exclusive right to elect one or more directors, those directors may be elected only by the vote of those shareholders.

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

SPARTAN STORES, INC.
EXECUTIVE CASH INCENTIVE PLAN OF 2010

SECTION 1
ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF PLAN

          1.1          Establishment of Plan. Spartan Stores, Inc., a Michigan corporation, hereby establishes the EXECUTIVE CASH INCENTIVE PLAN OF 2010 (the "Plan") for senior executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Plan permits the award of incentive compensation in the form of performance-based incentive awards payable in cash.

          1.2          Purposes of Plan. The purposes of the Plan are to motivate Participants to achieve the Company's financial and business objectives; to allow Participants to share appropriately in the financial success of the Company; to provide a highly competitive incentive compensation opportunity; to create a linkage between Participant contribution and the Company's financial and business objectives; and to assist in the attraction, retention and motivation of senior executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in structuring incentive compensation to best promote the foregoing objectives. Within that context, the Plan is intended to provide performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and shall be interpreted and administered to achieve that purpose.

          1.3          Plan Document. This instrument, as amended from time to time, constitutes the governing document of the Plan.

          1.4          Effective Date. The Plan is initially effective as of the date of the first meeting of shareholders held in 2010 (the "Effective Date"). Adoption of the Plan by the Board and payment of Incentive Bonuses for Fiscal Year 2011 shall be contingent upon approval by the shareholders at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof or at a Special Meeting of the Shareholders. In the absence of such approval, this Plan shall be void.

          1.5          Incentive Compensation Plan. The Plan is an incentive compensation program for Participants. Because the Plan does not provide welfare benefits and does not provide for the deferral of compensation until termination of employment, it is established with the intent and understanding that it is not an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS

                    The following terms shall have the definitions stated, unless the context plainly requires a different meaning. Other defined terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein.

          2.1          Annual Base Salary. "Annual Base Salary" means a Participant's annual salary rate in effect at the end of a Performance Period without regard to incentive compensation or bonuses or awards under this Plan or other benefits or incentive compensation plans maintained or provided by the Company.

          2.2          Affiliate. "Affiliate" means any organization controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company.

          2.3          Beneficiary. "Beneficiary" means the individual, trust or other entity designated by the Participant to receive any amount payable with respect to the Participant under the Plan after the Participant's death. A Participant may designate or change a Beneficiary by filing a signed designation with the Committee in a form approved by the Committee. A Participant's will or other estate planning document is not effective for this purpose. If a designation has not been completed properly and filed with the Committee or is ineffective for any other reason, the Beneficiary shall be the Participant's Surviving Spouse. If there is no effective designation and the Participant does not have a Surviving Spouse, the remaining benefits under this Plan, if any, shall be paid to the Participant's estate.

          2.4          Board. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          2.5          Business Unit. "Business Unit" means any Subsidiary, department, division, profit center or other operational unit of the Company or any Subsidiary as to which the Committee shall establish a Target Bonus under the Plan applicable in a Performance Period.

          2.6          Code. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          2.7          Committee. "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee as the Board designates to administer this Plan. The Committee shall consist of at least two persons, all of whom shall be "non-employee directors" as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and "outside directors" as defined in the regulations issued under Section 162(m) of the Code.

          2.8          Common Stock. "Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, no par value.

          2.9          Company. "Company" means Spartan Stores, Inc., a Michigan corporation, and its successors and assigns.

          2.10          Fiscal Year. "Fiscal Year" means the financial reporting and taxable year of the Company as the Company may adopt from time to time.

          2.11          Incentive Bonus. "Incentive Bonus" means a bonus awarded and paid in cash to a Participant for services to the Company or its Subsidiaries during a Performance Period that is based upon achievement of pre-established performance objectives by the Company, a Subsidiary, or a Business Unit.

2

          2.12          Participant. "Participant" means a senior executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary designated by the Committee to participate in this Plan for a Performance Period.

          2.13          Performance. "Performance" means the level of achievement by the Company or its Subsidiaries or Business Units of the performance goals established by the Committee pursuant to Section 5.

          2.14          Performance Period. "Performance Period" means the period of time during which the performance objectives must be achieved by the Company, a Subsidiary, or a Business Unit to determine the payout of an Incentive Bonus, if any.

          2.15          Retirement. "Retirement" means termination of employment as a result of retirement on or after the earlier of the date the Participant reaches (a) age 65; or (b) age 55, but only if such Participant has completed at least ten Years of Vested Service (as defined below) since the later of the Participant's date of hire or, if the Participant became an associate of the Company in connection with a merger or acquisition, the date of the effective time of such merger or acquisition.

          2.16          Subsidiary. "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock or voting ownership interest is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, except that for purposes of this Plan, the term "Subsidiary" does not include Spartan Insurance Company Ltd. or SI Insurance Agency, Inc.

          2.17          Surviving Spouse. "Surviving Spouse" means the husband or wife of the Participant at the time of the Participant's death who survives the Participant. If the Participant and the spouse die under circumstances that make the order of their deaths uncertain, it shall be presumed for purposes of this Plan that the Participant survived the spouse.

          2.18          Target Bonus. "Target Bonus" means the bonus goal established by the Committee for each Participant under Section 5.1(a).

          2.19          Total Disability. "Total Disability" means the condition of a Participant who is and remains eligible for total and permanent disability benefits under § 223 of the Social Security Act, as amended.

          2.20          Year of Vested Service. "Year of Vested Service" means a calendar year in which a Participant is credited with at least 1,000 hours of employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, "hours of employment" include actual hours of paid work, paid leave or other time off, and hours of work missed due to military service provided that the Participant returns to work while his or her rehire rights are protected by law.

3

SECTION 3
ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

          3.1          Plan Administration.

          (a)          Power and Authority. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Except as limited in the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to interpret the provisions of the Plan and shall have full power and authority to supervise the administration of the Plan. Action may be taken by a written instrument signed by a majority of the members of the Committee and any action so taken shall be as effective as if it had been taken at a meeting. All determinations, interpretations and selections made by the Committee regarding the Plan shall be final and conclusive on all parties. To the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, the Committee may adopt rules, policies and forms for the administration, interpretation and implementation of the Plan.

          (b)          Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate any, some or all of its record keeping, calculation, payment and other ministerial or administrative authority and responsibility from time to time to and among one or more individuals, who may be members of the Committee or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, but all actions taken pursuant to delegated authority and responsibility shall be subject to such review, change and approval by the Committee as the Committee considers appropriate.

          3.2          Grants or Awards to Participants. In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine all matters as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and as are consistent with the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, the following: (a) the persons who shall be selected as Participants and (b) the nature and extent of the incentive awards granted to each Participant.

          3.3          Indemnification. A member of the Committee or any other individual or group to whom authority is delegated shall not be personally liable for any act or omission in connection with the performance of powers or duties or the exercise of discretion or judgment in the administration and implementation of the Plan. The Company shall hold harmless and indemnify each member of the Committee, and any other individual or group exercising delegated authority or responsibility with respect to the Plan, from any and all liabilities, costs and expenses arising from any act or omission related to the performance of duties or the exercise of discretion and judgment with respect to the Plan. This Section 3.3 shall not be construed as limiting the Company's or any Subsidiary's ability to terminate or otherwise alter the terms and conditions of the employment of an individual or group exercising delegated authority or responsibility with re spect to the Plan, or to discipline any such person. Each such individual shall be justified in relying on information furnished in connection with the Plan's administration by any appropriate person or persons.

4

SECTION 4
ELIGIBILITY

          4.1          Participation. For each Performance Period, the Committee shall designate the senior executive officers of the Company or any Subsidiary who shall be Participants for that Performance Period. Senior executive officers designated as Participants after the first 90 days of any Performance Period shall not be eligible for any Incentive Bonus paid with respect to such Performance Period under this Plan. Participants shall be notified in writing and provided a written summary of the Plan.

          4.2          No Continuing Participation. Designation as a Participant for a Performance Period will not continue in effect for any subsequent Performance Period unless and until the Committee designates the individual as a Participant in the subsequent Performance Period. The Committee may terminate participation by any Participant at any time with or without cause.

SECTION 5
ESTABLISHMENT OF GOALS AND CRITERIA

          5.1          Selection of Criteria. The Committee shall preestablish performance goals for each Participant in the manner and within the time limits specified in this Section 5. For each Participant for each Performance Period, the Committee shall specify:

          (a)          Performance Period. A Performance Period, expressed as a number of Fiscal Years or other unit of time. Any Performance Period may overlap with one or more other Performance Periods.

          (b)          Target Bonus. A Target Bonus, expressed as a percentage of the Participant's Annual Base Salary or a specified dollar amount;

          (c)          Incentive Bonus. The Incentive Bonus levels, expressed as a percentage of the Target Bonus, that shall be paid to the Participant at specified levels of achievement by one or more of the Company, a Subsidiary or a Business Unit, of the performance goals established by the Committee pursuant to this Section 5;

          (d)          Performance Measurement. The applicable measurement of Performance under Section 5.2; and

          (e)          Conditions on Incentive Bonus. Any specific conditions under which an Incentive Bonus specified under subsection (b) above may be reduced or forfeited (but not increased).

The Incentive Bonus levels specified under subsection (c) above may be expressed either as (i) a matrix of percentages of the Target Bonus that will be paid at specified levels of the Performance or (ii) a mathematical formula that determines the percentage of the Target Bonus that will be paid at varying levels of Performance. If the Incentive Bonus levels are expressed a matrix of

5

percentages and the actual Performance achieved exceeds the threshold level and falls between specified levels, then the Compensation Committee may determine by interpolation the percentage of the Target Bonus that will be paid.

          5.2          Measurement of Performance. Unless and until the Committee proposes for shareholder vote and the shareholders approve a change in the measurements of Performance set forth in this Section 5.2, the performance goals established by the Committee pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by reference to one or more of the following measurements of Performance:

(a)	Net earnings;
(b)	Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization;
(c)	Earnings per share, reflecting dilution of the Common Stock as the Committee deems appropriate and, if the Committee so determines, net of or including dividends;
(d)	Net sales;
(e)	Net sales growth;
(f)	Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity, or sales);
(g)	Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow);
(h)	Cash flow return on capital;
(i)	Gross or operating margins;
(j)	Productivity ratios;
(k)	Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return);
(l)	Expense or cost levels;
(m)	Margins;
(n)	Operating efficiency;
(o)	Customer satisfaction, satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey;
(p)	Working capital targets;
(q)	Economic value added measurements;
(r)	Market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas;
(s)	Aggregate product price and other product measures;
(t)	Reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios;
(u)	Reduction in fixed costs;
(v)	Inventory turnover;
(w)	Debt reduction;
(x)	Associate turnover;
(y)	Specified objective social goals;
(z)	Safety record.

These measurements of Performance may be used to measure Performance of one or more of the Company, its Subsidiaries, its Affiliates, any Business Units of any of them or any combination of the foregoing, compared to pre-determined levels, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or

6

compared to the performance of a pre-established peer group, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate; or the Committee may select the measurement of Performance set forth in subsection 5.2(k) above (with respect to the Company) as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Incentive Bonus based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the measurements of Performance specified in this Section 5.

          5.3          Incentive Bonus Conditioned on Performance. Except as explicitly provided in Sections 6.4, payment of an Incentive Bonus to a Participant for a Performance Period under this Plan shall be entirely contingent upon achievement of the performance goals established by the Committee pursuant to this Section 5, the satisfaction of which is substantially uncertain when established by the Committee for the Performance Period. The Committee may provide, when establishing the performance goals pursuant to this Section 5, that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events or their effects that occurs during the relevant Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordi nary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company's annual report to shareholders for the applicable fiscal year(s), (f) acquisitions, divestitures or accounting changes, (g) foreign exchange gains and losses, and (h) other special charges or extraordinary items. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect the Incentive Bonus of a Participant, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility.

          5.4          Time of Determination by Committee. All determinations to be made by the Committee for a Performance Period pursuant to this Section 5 shall be made in writing by the Committee during the first 90 days of the Performance Period.

          5.5          Objective Standards. An Incentive Bonus shall be based solely upon objective criteria, consistent with this Section 5, from which an independent third party with knowledge of the facts could determine whether the performance goal or range of goals is met and from that determination could calculate the Incentive Bonus to be paid. Although the Committee has authority to exercise reasonable discretion to interpret this Plan and the performance goals it shall specify pursuant to this Section 5 of the Plan, it may not amend or waive such performance goals after the 90th day of the Performance Period. The Committee shall have no authority or discretion to increase any Incentive Bonus or to construct, modify or apply the measurement of Performance in a manner that will directly or indirectly increase the Incentive Bonus for any Participant for any Performance Period above the amount determined by the applicable objective criteria established within the first 90 days of the Performance Period.

          5.6          Committee Discretion. In the event that applicable tax laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing measurements of Performance set forth in this Section 5 of the Plan without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Incentive

7

Bonuses that shall not qualify as performance-based compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and may base vesting on measurements of Performance other than those set forth in this Section 5 of the Plan.

SECTION 6
DETERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF INCENTIVE BONUSES

          6.1          Committee Certification. The Incentive Bonus for each eligible Participant for a Performance Period shall be determined on the basis of the Target Bonus and Performance for the Performance Period. The Committee shall determine and, except as explicitly provided in Sections 6.4, shall certify in writing prior to payment of the Incentive Bonus that the Company Performance for the Performance Period satisfied the performance goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period. Approved minutes of the Committee shall constitute sufficient written certification for this purpose.

          6.2          Maximum Incentive Bonus. The Incentive Bonus for any Participant shall not, in any event, exceed an amount equal to the number of full or partial Fiscal Years in the Performance Period multiplied by $4,500,000.

          6.3          Payment to Participant or Beneficiary; Form of Payment. The Incentive Bonus of each Participant shall be paid to the Participant, or the Beneficiary of any deceased Participant, by the Company as soon as feasible following final determination and certification by the Committee of the amount payable and that the applicable performance goals have been satisfied and vesting by the Participant in the Incentive Bonus; provided, however, such Incentive Bonus shall be paid no later than the 15^th day of the third month following the later of the end of the Performance Period for which the performance goals for the Incentive Bonus have been met and the date the Participant vests in the Incentive Bonus award. Unless otherwise elected as set forth below, each Participant will receive his or her Incentive Bonus in cash. Any Participant may elect to receive a portion of his or her Incentive Bonus to be paid in cash under this Plan in the form of Common Stock under the Company's 2001 Stock Bonus Plan (or any successor to that plan) or any other incentive award plan that the Company may adopt, provided that the Participant is a participant under the other plan with the right to elect to receive shares of Common Stock under the plan.

          6.4          Eligibility for Payment. The Incentive Bonus otherwise payable to a Participant for a Performance Period shall be adjusted as follows:

          (a)          Death, Total Disability, or Change in Control. If a Participant ceases to be a Participant because of death, Total Disability or Change in Control (as defined in the Spartan Stores, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan), or upon a Change in Control that does not result in the termination of a Participant's employment, before the end of any Performance Period or before vesting in the applicable Incentive Bonus award, an award shall vest and be paid to the Participant or the Participant's Beneficiary if and to the extent provided by the Committee in the grant of the Incentive Bonus award. Notwithstanding the

8

previous sentence, the Committee shall only grant awards payable upon death, Total Disability, or Change in Control in a timely manner so as to be exempt from Section 409A as provided in Section 8.8. Specifically, the award shall be paid no later than the 15^th day of the third month following the date on which the Participant's rights under this subsection vest due to the Participant's death, Total Disability, or Change in Control or, if already vested, the 15^th day of the third month following the date of death, Total Disability, or Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have discretion to reduce or eliminate any Incentive Bonus otherwise payable pursuant to this Section 6.4(a).

          (b)          Retirement. If a Participant ceases to be a Participant because of Retirement before the end of any Performance Period or before vesting in the applicable Incentive Bonus award, an award shall vest and be paid to the Participant or the Participant's Beneficiary if and to the extent provided by the Committee in the grant of the Incentive Bonus award; provided, however, that the Committee shall have no authority or discretion to waive satisfaction of the Performance requirements or increase any Incentive Bonus. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Committee shall only grant awards payable upon Retirement in a timely manner so as to be exempt from Section 409A as provided in Section 8.8. Specifically, the award shall be paid to the Participant or the Participant's Beneficiary in accordance with Section 6.3, including, but not limited to, being paid no later than the 15^th day of the third month following the la ter of the end of the Performance Period for which the performance goals for the Incentive Bonus have been met and the date the Participant vests in the Incentive Bonus award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have discretion to reduce or eliminate any Incentive Bonus otherwise payable pursuant to this Section 6.4(b).

          (c)          Other Termination. If an employee ceases to be a Participant because of the Participant's termination of employment for any reason other than described in Section 6.4(a) or (b) during any Performance Period or before vesting in the applicable Incentive Bonus award, or prior to actual receipt of the award for a previous Performance Period, the Participant will not be entitled to any award for such Performance Period.

SECTION 7
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

                    The Board or Committee may terminate the Plan at any time, or may from time to time amend the Plan as it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company. No termination or amendment may impair the validity of, or the obligation of the Company to pay, any Incentive Bonus awarded for any Performance Period prior to the Performance Period in which the termination or amendment is adopted or, if later, is effective. No amendment adopted after the first 90 days of a Performance Period may directly or indirectly increase any Incentive Bonus for that Performance Period. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan and the applicable

9

objective criteria established pursuant to this Plan for determining the amount of any Incentive Bonus for a Performance Period, no Incentive Bonuses shall be payable for the Performance Period in which the Plan is terminated, or, if later, in which the termination is effective.

SECTION 8
GENERAL PROVISIONS

          8.1          Benefits Not Guaranteed; No Rights to Award. Neither the establishment and maintenance of the Plan nor participation in the Plan shall provide any guarantee or other assurance that Incentive Bonuses will be payable under the Plan. No Participant or other person shall have any claim to be granted any award or benefit under the Plan and there is no obligation of uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan

          8.2          No Right to Participate. Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed or interpreted to provide a Participant or any non-participating employee with any contractual right to participate in or receive benefits under the Plan. No designation of a person as a Participant for any Performance Period shall create a right to any Incentive Bonus under the Plan for any other Performance Period.

          8.3          No Employment Right. Participation in this Plan shall not be construed as constituting a commitment, guarantee, agreement, or understanding of any kind that the Company or any Subsidiary will continue to employ any individual and this Plan shall not be construed or applied as any type of employment contract or obligation. Nothing herein shall abridge or diminish the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary to determine the terms and conditions of employment of any Participant or other person or to terminate the employment of any Participant or other person with or without cause at any time.

          8.4          No Assignment or Transfer. Neither a Participant nor any Beneficiary or other representative of a Participant shall have any right to assign, transfer, attach, or pledge any bonus amount or credit, potential payment, or right to future payments of any bonus amount or credit, or any other benefit provided under this Plan. Payment of any amount due or to become due under this Plan shall not be subject to the claims of creditors of the Participant or to execution by attachment or garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceeding or process.

          8.5          Withholding and Payroll Taxes. The Company shall deduct from any payment made under this Plan all amounts required by federal, state and local tax laws to be withheld and shall subject any payments made under the Plan to all applicable payroll taxes and assessments.

          8.6          Incompetent Payee. If the Committee determines that a person entitled to a payment hereunder is incompetent, it may cause benefits to be paid to another person for the use or benefit of the Participant or the Participant's Beneficiary at the time or times otherwise payable hereunder, in total discharge of the Plan's obligations to the Participant or Beneficiary.

          8.7          Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan and applicable federal law.

10

          8.8          Construction. The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. Capitalized terms, except those at the beginning of a sentence or part of a heading, have the meaning defined in the Plan. The Plan is intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code by providing for short-term deferrals as described in Treasury Regulations § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and shall be interpreted and administered to achieve that purpose.

          8.9          Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

          8.10          No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, including the grant of stock options and other stock-based awards, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. However, no payment under any other plan or arrangement shall be contingent upon failure to attain the Performance necessary for payment of an Incentive Bonus under this Plan.

SECTION 9
DURATION OF THE PLAN

                    Subject to earlier termination by the Board or Committee, this Plan shall terminate without action by the Board or Committee as of the date of the first meeting of shareholders held in 2015, unless reapproved by the shareholders at such meeting or earlier. If reapproval occurs, the Plan will terminate as of the date of the first meeting of shareholders in the fifth year following reapproval or any subsequent reapproval. If the Plan terminates under this provision due to lack of reapproval by the shareholders, no Incentive Bonuses shall be paid under the Plan for any Performance Period ending on or after the date of the first meeting of shareholders held in 2015.

11

EX-10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

Award Recipient: «First_Name» «Last» Grant Date:

Dear «First_Name»:

Re: Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan Award - Fiscal Year 2011

                    I am pleased to inform you that Spartan Stores, Inc. ("Spartan") has awarded to you the opportunity to earn cash incentive compensation under the Executive Incentive Plan of 2010 (the "Plan") for a multi-year performance period as described in this letter. Please note that this award is contingent upon the Plan's approval by Spartan's shareholders at the 2010 Annual Meeting. If the Plan is not approved, this award will automatically be canceled without compensation. By accepting this award, you agree that the award is subject to the terms and conditions of this letter and the Plan (which are incorporated into this letter by reference). If there is any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this letter, the terms of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms not defined in this letter have the meanings given to them in the Plan.

          1.          Target Bonus Amount. Your threshold, target, and maximum Long-Term Incentive Bonus opportunity for the three-year period covering fiscal 2011, 2012 and 2013 will be communicated to you separately. As discussed in more detail below, your Long-Term Incentive Bonus, if any, will be paid if Spartan achieves at least the threshold levels of performance specified by the Compensation Committee for the applicable Performance Period and you satisfy the vesting requirements discussed in this letter.

          2.          Performance Measurement and Performance Period. The amount of the Long-Term Incentive Bonus paid to you will be determined by Spartan's performance with respect to two Performance Measurements: Earnings Per Share ("EPS") and Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC"). Sixty percent (60%) of your Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be determined by Spartan's EPS performance, and forty percent (40%) of your Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be determined by Spartan's ROIC performance, in each case during the Performance Period set forth on the following page:

Performance Measurement	Percentage of Long- Term Incentive Bonus	Performance Period	Vesting Period
EPS	60%	1 year (fiscal 2011)	2 years after completion of the Performance Period (paid after FYE 2013)
ROIC*	40%	2 years (fiscal 2011 and 2012)	1 year after completion of the Performance Period (paid after FYE 2013)

*Spartan defines ROIC as profit after tax, adjusted for asset impairment, exit costs and LIFO expense, divided by total invested capital (total assets plus LIFO reserve less cash and non-interest bearing current liabilities).

          Your Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be calculated as follows:

	(Target Bonus x 0.60) x (Percentage of EPS Target Achieved)
+	(Target Bonus x 0.40) x (Percentage of ROIC Target Achieved)
=	Long-Term Incentive Bonus

          3.          Performance Goals and Payouts. Your Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be determined according to the matrix presented below. The levels of performance for EPS and ROIC have been established by the Compensation Committee and will be communicated to you separately. No Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be paid unless Spartan achieves the threshold level of performance for at least one of the Performance Measurements.

Earnings Per Share

Performance		Payout
Level	% of EPS Goal	% of Target
--	<80%	0%
Threshold	80%	10%
--	90%	55%
Target	100%	100%
--	108%	150%
Maximum	≥116%	200%

2

ROIC

Performance		Payout
Level	% of ROIC GOAL	% of Target
--	<97.3%	0%
Threshold	97.3%	50%
--	98.7%	75%
Target	100%	100%
--	101.4%	150%
Maximum	≥ 102.7%	200%

                    If Spartan's actual performance achieved exceeds the threshold level and falls between specified levels, then the Compensation Committee may determine by interpolation the percentage of the Target Bonus that will be paid.

          4.          Vesting Period. Your Long-Term Incentive Bonus is designed to be earned and vested over a total period of three years. Each component of your Long-Term Incentive Bonus earned according to the matrix above, if any, will be subject to an additional vesting period during which you must remain employed by Spartan or one of its subsidiaries (unless the vesting period is terminated earlier in accordance with this letter and the Plan). For the EPS component, the vesting period is two (2) years following completion of the Performance Period, and for the ROIC component, the vesting period is one (1) year following completion of the Performance Period. Except as provided by the Plan and the terms of this letter, your Long-Term Incentive Bonus, even if earned, will be forfeited if your employment terminates prior to the expiration of the vesting.

          5.          Effect of Termination of Employment. Except as provided in this Section 5 and Section 6 below, if your employment with Spartan is terminated for any reason, you will forfeit any: (a) unearned Long-Term Incentive Bonus; (b) earned but unvested Long-Term Incentive Bonus; and (c) earned and vested but unpaid Long-Term Incentive Bonus. If your employment with Spartan terminates for retirement, death or total disability your eligibility for a Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be determined in accordance with the following table:

3

Reason for Termination	Timing of Termination
	More than 12 Months Remaining in Performance Period	Less than 12 Months remaining in Performance Period	After Performance Period, during vesting period
Death or Total Disability	Your Target Bonus will be paid on a pro-rata basis based on the number of full months you were employed during the 36 month total performance and vesting period.	Following the completion of the Performance Period, any earned Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be paid based on actual performance results on a pro-rata basis based on the number of full months you were employed during the 36 month total performance and vesting period.	Any earned Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be paid on a pro-rata basis according to the number of full months you were employed during the 36 month total performance and vesting period.
Retirement	Your Long-Term Incentive Bonus, if any, will be the amount you would have earned had you remained employed with Spartan for the Performance Period and the vesting period based on actual performance results, paid on a pro-rated basis for the number of full months you were employed during the combined 36 month performance and vesting period.	Your Long-Term Incentive Bonus, if any, will be the amount you would have earned had you remained employed with Spartan for the Performance Period and the vesting period based on actual performance results, paid on a pro-rated basis for the number of full months you were employed during the combined 36 month performance and vesting period.	Any earned Long-Term Incentive Bonus will be paid on a pro-rata basis according to the number of full months you were employed during the 36 month total performance and vesting period.

          6.          Change in Control.

          (a)          During Performance Period. Upon a Change in Control of Spartan Stores (as defined in the Spartan Stores, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan) during the Performance Period, you will earn an Incentive Award equal to the greater of the Target Bonus or the projected Incentive Award based on the Company's performance as

4 of the date of the Change in Control, to be paid on a pro-rata basis for the number of full months completed of the combined 36 month performance and vesting period prior to the Change in Control. The Incentive Award will be paid no later than the 15^th day of the third month following the Change in Control.

          (b)          After Performance Period. Upon a Change in Control following the Performance Period, any earned but unvested Incentive Award will be payable in full upon the earliest to occur of the termination of your employment for any reason, the applicable vesting date, or the date that is the 15^th day of the third month following the Change in Control.

          7.          Executive Severance Agreement. The Long-Term Incentive Bonus opportunity described in this letter is not subject to the provisions of your Executive Severance Agreement with the Company. In the event of a Change in Control, your right to receive any portion of the Long-Term Incentive Bonus described in this letter will be governed exclusively by the terms and conditions of this letter, and you will not receive any additional payment for the Long-Term Incentive Bonus under your Executive Severance Agreement.

          8.          Annual Incentive Award. You will be separately notified of your eligibility to earn an annual incentive award for Fiscal 2011.

          9.          Compensation Committee Authority and Discretion. The Plan is administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Committee may provide that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude special charges or extraordinary items. Although the Committee has authority to exercise reasonable discretion to interpret the Plan and the performance goals, it may not amend or waive any performance goal after the 90th day of the Performance Period. The Committee has no authority or discretion to increase any Long-Term Incentive Bonus.

          10.          Withholding. Spartan is entitled to withhold and deduct from your future wages (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to you from Spartan), or make other arrangements for the collection of, all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all federal, state, local and foreign withholding and employment-related tax requirements attributable to a Long-Term Incentive Bonus.

          11.          Miscellaneous.

                    (a)          This letter and your rights hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this letter, all of which shall be binding upon you.

                    (b)          The Board may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

5

                    (c)          This letter and the Plan shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns. This letter agreement shall not be modified except in a writing executed by you and Spartan.

                    (d)          This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Michigan.

Very truly yours,

Dennis Eidson

President and Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and Agreed to:

«First_Name» «Last»

Date

6

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

For Immediate Release
Investor Contact: Dave Staples Executive Vice President & CFO (616) 878-8793	Media Contact: Jeanne Norcross Vice President Corporate Affairs (616) 878-2830

Spartan Stores Holds Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Amends Articles to Declassify Board of Directors Over Three Years;
Changes Bylaw Supermajority Shareholder Vote Provisions;
Elects Three Directors

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN-August 12, 2010-Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPTN) held its 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders yesterday at the Grand Valley State University Eberhard Conference Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In remarks at the meeting, Spartan Stores' President and Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Eidson, discussed the Company's solid financial performance in the context of persistent economic challenges and changing consumer purchasing behavior. Mr. Eidson highlighted the Company's relatively high financial performance by historical measures and execution of its balanced business strategy of targeted capital investment, operating efficiency improvements and structural cost reductions.

"Although this past year presented significant economic and market challenges, we are pleased with our financial performance," said Mr. Eidson. "On an adjusted basis, annual operating earnings were the second highest in our company history and for the second consecutive year, we generated annual Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) of more than $100 million."

"During the year, we continued to prudently invest capital in areas of our business that present efficiency improvement and long-term strategic growth opportunities," continued Mr. Eidson. "These investments included a newly constructed replacement store, five remodeled stores and five new fuel centers. In addition, we consolidated all distribution activity into our Grand Rapids, Michigan warehouse, which, through the first quarter of fiscal 2011, improved order processing on specialty items, reduced grocery inventory investment by $5.6 million and lowered supply chain operating expenses by more than five percent.

"We also continued to execute our consumer centric business strategy by better leveraging market research and enhancing our consumer value proposition. Our private brands continue to be a meaningful competitive advantage, particularly during this economic cycle. During the year, we introduced more than 300 new private brand products, plan to introduce 310 more items in fiscal 2011 and are working to further strengthen our private brand identity," said Mr. Eidson.

At the annual meeting, shareholders re-elected Board Directors Mr. Craig Sturken, Mr. Dennis Eidson and Mr. Frederick Morganthall, II to three-year terms expiring at the 2013 annual meeting.

Mr. Sturken is Spartan's Executive Chairman and has been a director since 2003. He was formerly Spartan's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board, and has been serving as Executive Chairman since October 2008. He has more than 40 years of retail grocery experience, including 10 years with the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company ("A&P") serving as CEO of the company's Atlantic and Midwest regions. He also held executive level positions with The Grand Union Company and Hannaford Brothers Company.

Mr. Eidson is Spartan's President and Chief Executive Officer and has been a director since October 2007. He was formerly Spartan's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Marketing and Merchandising. Prior to Spartan Stores, he served as Divisional President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President Sales and Merchandising of A&P's Midwest region. He also served as Vice President of Merchandising for A&P's Farmer Jack division.

Mr. Morganthall, II has been a Spartan director since 2006. He has been the President of Harris Teeter, Inc. since 1997, a wholly owned supermarket subsidiary of publicly traded Ruddick Corporation with stores located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.

Shareholders also approved amendments to the Company's Articles of Incorporation, approved its 2010 Executive Cash Incentive Plan and ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditors for fiscal 2011. Each of the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation will be effective upon filing of the amendments with the State of Michigan, which the Company intends to do promptly.

The Articles of Incorporation were amended to declassify the Board of Directors. The classification of the Board will be phased out with the term of office of those directors elected at the 2010 Annual Meeting ending at the 2013 Annual Meeting, at which time those directors will be eligible to stand for re-election for a one-year term. Those continuing directors whose terms expire at the 2011 or 2012 Annual Meetings, respectively, will serve the remainder of their terms, and thereafter will be eligible to stand for re-election for a one-year term. Beginning with the 2013 Annual Meeting of shareholders, all of the Company's directors will be elected each year for a one-year term.

The Board believes in strong corporate governance principles and practices, and that this amendment providing for annual election of all directors is in the best interest of Spartan Stores and its shareholders. The Board recognizes that many investors and commentators believe that the election of directors is the primary means for shareholders to influence the governance policies and hold management accountable for implementing those policies.

2

Shareholders also approved an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation regarding the votes required for changes to the bylaws initiated by shareholders. The shareholder vote required to amend, alter, or repeal the bylaws, or adopt new bylaws has changed to two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote from the previous requirement of 80% of the shares outstanding and eligible to vote. Approval was also given to amend the Articles of Incorporation to delete a duplicative provision in order to eliminate an inconsistency between two sections in the Articles of Incorporation regarding the votes required for shareholder changes to the bylaws.

About Spartan Stores

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) is the nation's eleventh largest grocery distributor with 1.4 million square feet of warehouse, distribution, and office space located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 corporate and national brand products to approximately 365 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 97 retail supermarkets in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Felpausch Food Centers and VG's Food and Pharmacy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identifiable by words or phrases such as "opportunities", "execute", or "strategy," that an event or trend "will" occur or "continue," or that Spartan Stores or its management "expects" or "plans" a particular result. Our ability to realize growth opportunities, achieve expected sales and earnings, expand our customer base, effectively implement and achieve the expected benefits of capital investments, warehouse consolidation and store openings, successfully respond to the weak economic environment and changing consumer behavior, achieve expected operating effectiveness, implement plans, programs and strategies, reduce debt, and continue to pay dividends is not certain and depends on many factors, not all of which are in our control. Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in Spartan Stores' reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as predictions of future results. Spartan Stores undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after the date of this press release.

3