James Patitucci Joins Nash Finch Company as Executive Vice President, Merchandising and...

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 2004

Nash Finch Company (Nasdaq:NAFC), a leading national food retailer and distributor, today named James Patitucci as Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing.

"James' three decades of industry

experience is highlighted by a solid track record of success," Ron Marshall, CEO of Nash Finch stated. "His reputation for attention to detail and an ability to execute fits right in with our Performance Driven culture. We are pleased to welcome James to our team," Marshall concluded.

"I am very happy to join an organization that places so much emphasis on the combination of strategy and execution," Patitucci said. "I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of Nash Finch."

Patitucci most recently served as the President of Grocery Outlet, a privately held extreme value discount grocery retailer based in Oakland, California. He began his career with Alpha Beta supermarkets, holding a variety of operational and corporate positions, including responsibility for buying/merchandising in numerous grocery, frozen food and management categories. As Alpha Beta merged with Food 4 Less and later Ralph's grocery, James served in a variety of capacities including Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Ralph's Supermarkets, which at the time was a $6.5 billion division of Kroger.

Nash Finch Company is a Fortune 500 company and one of the leading food retail and distribution companies in the United States with approximately $4 billion in annual revenues. Nash Finch currently owns and operates more than 100 stores in the Upper Midwest, principally supermarkets under the AVANZA(R), Buy n Save(R), Econofoods(R), Sun Mart(R) and Family Thrift Center(TM) trade names. In addition to its retail operations, Nash Finch's food distribution business serves independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of Columbia and Europe. Further information is available on the company's website at www.nashfinch.com.