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): May 17, 2011

SPARTAN STORES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Michigan	000-31127	38-0593940
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification no.)
850 76th Street, S.W. P.O. Box 8700 Grand Rapids, Michigan		49518-8700
(Address of principal executive offices)		(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:

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

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

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

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

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On May 18, 2011 the Company issued a press release announcing that the Board of Directors has declared a 30% increase in the Company’s quarterly dividend rate on its common stock, from $0.05 per share to $.065 per share. The next quarterly dividend is payable on June 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2011.

The Company also announced that the Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to $50 million of the Company’s common stock over a five-year period.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Exhibit 99.1 to this Report is being furnished and is not “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not incorporated by reference into any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

The press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These forward-looking statements relate to Spartan Stores’ current expectations and are subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in the press release as well as in Spartan Stores’ other documents filed with the SEC, including, without limitation, that actual events and/or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. The Company’s adoption of a dividend policy does not commit the board of directors to declare future dividends. Each future dividend will be considered and declared by the board of directors in its discretion. The authorization of the stock repurchase program is not a guarantee that any or all shares authorized for repurchase will be repurchased under the program. The ability of the board of directors to continue to declare dividends, and the ability of the Company to repurchase shares of common stock, will depend on a number of factors, including the Company’s future financial condition and profitability and compliance with the terms of its credit facilities.

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 May 18, 2011.

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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: May 18, 2011	SPARTAN STORES, INC.
	By	/s/ David M. Staples
		David M. Staples
		Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Document
99.1	Press Release dated May 18, 2011.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

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

Spartan Stores Announces Quarterly Dividend Increase and Authorizes Share

Repurchase Program

Company Increases Quarterly Dividend 30%

Authorizes Share Repurchase Program of $50 million

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – May 18, 2011 – Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) a leading regional grocery distributor and retailer, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a 30 percent increase in the quarterly dividend rate, from $0.05 per share to $0.065 per share. The Board also authorized a five year share repurchase program for up to $50 million of the Company’s common stock.

“In recognition of our strong financial position and our confidence in the future of Spartan Stores, the Board has voted to increase the dividend and authorize a share repurchase program,” commented Dennis Eidson, Spartan’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “These actions by our Board of Directors indicate their ongoing desire to increase the value provided to Spartan Stores shareholders. We expect to continue to generate strong cash from operations and our profitability remains at historically high levels. The consistent improvement of these key financial metrics is a strong indicator of our future ability to successfully execute on our long-term business strategy and we remain committed to pursuing prudent growth opportunities through acquisitions or new customer development in our existing markets or adjacent states.”

At the new rate, the indicated dividend on an annual basis is $0.26 per share compared to the previous rate of $0.20 per share. The next quarterly dividend is payable on June 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2011. Under the share repurchase program, the Company may purchase shares through May 17, 2016.

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 375 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and to our 97 corporate owned stores located in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen’s Markets, D&W Fresh Markets 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 “priority”, “trend”, “opportunity”, “future”, “indicator”, “outlook”, or “strategy”; that an event or trend “will” or “should” occur or “continue” or is “likely” or that Spartan Stores or its management

“anticipates”, “believes”, is “confident”, “expects” or “plans” a particular result. Accounting estimates are inherently forward-looking. Our restructuring cost provisions are estimates and actual costs may be more or less than these estimates and differences may be material. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. The Company’s adoption of a dividend policy does not commit the board of directors to declare future dividends. Each future dividend will be considered and declared by the board of directors in its discretion. The authorization of the stock repurchase program is not a guarantee that any shares will be repurchased under the program. The ability of the board of directors to continue to declare dividends, and the ability of the Company to repurchase shares of common stock, will depend on a number of factors, including the Company’s future financial condition and profitability and compliance with the terms of its credit facilities. Our ability to successfully realize growth opportunities, 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, anticipate and successfully respond to openings of competitors’ stores, achieve expected sales, cash flows, operating efficiencies and earnings, 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 risk factors to which Spartan Stores is exposed and other factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in Spartan Stores’ reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risk factors exist and new risk factors may emerge at any time. Given these risks and uncertainties, 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.

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