<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 33-_____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------

                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               DELAWARE                                      41-0431960
    (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

          7600 FRANCE AVENUE SOUTH
                P.O. BOX 355                              55440-0355
           MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA                         (Zip Code)
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             -----------------------

                  NASH-FINCH COMPANY 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                             -----------------------

                                NORMAN R. SOLAND
              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY
                            7600 FRANCE AVENUE SOUTH
                                  P.O. BOX 355
                           MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-0355
                                 (952) 844-1153
                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                            -------------------------

                  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED
                              SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
           IMMEDIATELY UPON THE FILING OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                              --------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO      AMOUNT TO BE         PROPOSED MAXIMUM           PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
   BE REGISTERED (1)       REGISTERED (2)     OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT   AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE  REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>                 <C>                       <C>                       <C>
 Common Stock, par
 value $1.66-2/3 per      953,279 Shares                                        $10,051,049            $2,653.48
 share                    --------------                                        -----------
                          444,250 shares (3)          $9.16 (3)               $4,069,330 (3)
                          455,750 shares (4)         $13.125 (4)              $5,981,719 (4)
                          53,279 shares (5)              n/a
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  This Registration Statement also includes common stock purchase rights,
     which are attached to all shares of Common Stock issued, pursuant to the
     terms of the Registrant's Stockholder Rights Agreement dated February 13,
     1996.

(2)  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, this Registration Statement includes an indeterminate number of
     additional shares as may be issuable as a result of anti-dilution
     provisions described in the above-referenced plan.

(3)  900,000 new shares were approved for issuance under the Nash-Finch Company
     2000 Stock Incentive Plan. The offering price for such shares is estimated
     solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
     and calculated

<PAGE>

     pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act with respect to options
     to purchase an aggregate 444,250 shares previously granted under the plan,
     on the basis of the weighted average exercise price of such options ($9.16
     per share).

(4)  900,000 new shares were approved for issuance under the Nash-Finch Company
     2000 Stock Incentive Plan. The offering price for such shares is estimated
     solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
     and calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act with
     respect to options to be granted under the plan, based on the average
     between the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on
     December 5, 2000 as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System

(5)  53,279 shares were incorporated into the Nash-Finch Company 2000 Stock
     Incentive Plan from the Nash-Finch Company 1994 Stock Incentive Plan which
     were previously registered on Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-54487.



<PAGE>


                                     PART II

                              INFORMATION REQUIRED
                          IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed by Nash Finch Company (the "Registrant"
or the "Company") (File No. 0-785) with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
January 1, 2000;

         (2) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the interim
periods ended March 25, 2000, June 17, 2000 and October 7, 2000;

         (3) All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") since
January 1, 2000;

         (4) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 10, including any amendments or reports filed for
the purpose of updating such description; and

         (5) The description of the common stock purchase rights contained in
the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered pursuant to this Registration
Statement have been sold or that deregisters all shares of Common Stock then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

         The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in the
Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2000,
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in
their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in
subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the
reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements (to the
extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission)
given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Norman R. Soland, the Company's Senior Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel. Mr. Soland


<PAGE>

is eligible to participate in the Plan and, as of November 15, 2000, was the
beneficial owner of 13,402 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase
40,024 shares of Common Stock.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware ("DGCL") empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a
manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was
unlawful.

           Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in
any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if such person acted under similar standards, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and
only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action
or suit was brought shall determine that, despite the adjudication of liability,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the court shall deem proper.

           Section 145 further provides that, to the extent a director or
officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in
connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be
entitled; and that the scope of indemnification extends to directors, officers,
employees or agents of a constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation or
merger and persons serving in that capacity at the request of the constituent
corporation for another. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation
against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in any such
capacity or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liabilities under Section 145, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

           Article XV of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, provides that no director of the Company shall be personally liable to
the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty by such director as a director; provided, however, that personal liability
shall not be eliminated or limited to the extent provided by applicable law (i)
for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the General Corporation Law of Delaware, dealing with the unlawful payment of
dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions, or (iv) for any
transactions in which the director received an improper personal benefit. In
addition, the personal liability of directors is further limited to the fullest
extent permitted to the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as amended from
time to time.


                                       2

<PAGE>

           Article V of the Company's Restated Bylaws, as amended and restated
(the "Bylaws"), provides that directors or officers, past or present, of the
Company, and such persons serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation or entity at the request of the Company, shall be
indemnified by the Company against reasonable expenses incurred in connection
with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which such person may be involved by reason
of the fact such person is or was a director or officer of the Company. Article
V of the Bylaws further provides that directors, officers and employees will be
indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

           The Company maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance,
including a reimbursement policy in favor of the Company. The Company has also
entered into indemnification agreements with certain of its directors and
executive officers providing such directors and officers with indemnification to
the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

           The foregoing represents a summary of the general effect of the DGCL,
the Company's By-Laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's
directors and officers liability insurance coverage and the indemnification
agreements for purposes of general description only.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTIONS FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable. No securities are to be re-offered or resold pursuant to
this Registration Statement.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.
-----------
<S>           <C>
4.1           Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to
              Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
              year ended December 30, 1989 (File No. 0-785)),

4.2           Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 1996, between the
              Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association
              (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Current
              Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 1996 (File No. 0-785)).

5.1           Opinion of Norman R. Soland (filed herewith electronically).

23.1          Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (filed herewith electronically).

23.2          Consent of Norman R. Soland (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1          Power of Attorney (included on page 6 of this Registration
              Statement).
</TABLE>

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

     (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

              (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                      being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                      Registration Statement:

                      (i)        To include any prospectus required by Section
                                 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;


                                       3

<PAGE>

                      (ii)       To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                                 events arising after the effective date of this
                                 Registration Statement (or the most recent
                                 post-effective amendment hereof) which,
                                 individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                                 fundamental change in the information set forth
                                 in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
                                 the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
                                 volume of securities offered (if the total
                                 dollar value of securities offered would not
                                 exceed that which was registered) and any
                                 deviation from the low or high end of the
                                 estimated maximum offering range may be
                                 reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
                                 the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
                                 the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                                 "Securities Act") if, in the aggregate, the
                                 changes in volume and price represent no more
                                 than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
                                 offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
                                 Registration Fee" table in the effective
                                 Registration Statement;

                      (iii)      To include any material information with
                                 respect to the plan of distribution not
                                 previously disclosed in this Registration
                                 Statement or any material change to such
                                 information in this Registration Statement.

                      Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
                      (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required
                      to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
                      paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
                      furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to
                      Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
                      incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

              (2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
                      the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
                      shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
                      relating to the securities offered therein, and the
                      offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
                      to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

              (3)     To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                      amendment any of the securities being registered which
                      remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

     (b)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
              determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of
              the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
              Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and where applicable, each
              filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
              Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
              reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
              new registration statement relating to the securities offered
              therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
              deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
              Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
              controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
              provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
              the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
              public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is
              therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
              indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
              by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
              officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful
              defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
              director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
              securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
              opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
              precedent, submit to a court of appropriate


                                       4

<PAGE>

              jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
              against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will
              be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       5

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements of filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on November 28,
2000.

                                      NASH FINCH COMPANY

                                      By: /s/ Ron Marshall
                                         --------------------------------------
                                          Ron Marshall
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ron
Marshall and Norman R. Soland, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution,
for and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on November 28, 2000 by the following
persons in the capacities indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                                     Title
----------                                                    -----
<S>                                       <C>
/s/ Ron Marshall                          President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal
---------------------------               Executive Officer) and Director
Ron Marshall

/s/ Robert B. Dimond                      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
---------------------------               (Principal Financial Officer)
Robert B. Dimond

/s/ LeAnne M. Stewart                     Vice President, Treasurer and Corporate Controller
---------------------------               (Principal Accounting Officer)
LeAnne M. Stewart

/s/ Carole F. Bitter                      Director
---------------------------
Carole F. Bitter

/s/ James L. Donald                       Director
---------------------------
James L. Donald

/s/ Richard A. Fisher                     Director
---------------------------
Richard A. Fisher

/s/ Jerry L. Ford                         Director
---------------------------
Jerry L. Ford


                                       6

<PAGE>

/s/ Allister P. Graham                    Director
---------------------------
Allister P. Graham

/s/ John H. Grunewald                     Director
---------------------------
John H. Grunewald

/s/ Richard G. Lareau                     Director
---------------------------
Richard G. Lareau

/s/ Robert F. Nash                        Director
---------------------------
Robert F. Nash

/s/ Jerome O. Rodysill                    Director
---------------------------
Jerome O. Rodysill

/s/ John E. Stokely                       Director
---------------------------
John E. Stokely

/s/ William R. Voss                       Director
---------------------------
William R. Voss
</TABLE>

                                       7




<PAGE>



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  No.                              Item                                             Method of Filing
-----                              ----                                             ----------------
<S>       <C>                                                      <C>
4.1       Form of Common Stock Certificate                         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
                                                                   Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                                                                   ended December 30, 1989 (File No. 0-785).

4.2       Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 1996,
          between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota,          Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the
          National Association...................................  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
                                                                   February 13, 1996 (File No. 0-785).

5.1       Opinion of Norman R. Soland............................  Filed herewith electronically.

23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP...........................  Filed herewith electronically.

23.2      Consent of Norman R. Soland............................  Included in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1      Power of Attorney......................................  Included on page 6 of this Registration Statement.
</TABLE>


                                       8
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a2032719zs-8.txt", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 26666}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NASH FINCH CO", "cik": "0000069671", "assigned-sic": "5140", "irs-number": "410431960", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0102"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-51508", "film-number": "785845"}, "business-address": {"street1": "7600 FRANCE AVE", "street2": "PO BOX 355", "city": "SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS", "state": "MN", "zip": "55435-0355", "phone": "6128320534"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "NASH CO", "date-changed": "19710617"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 33-_____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------

                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               DELAWARE                                      41-0431960
    (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

          7600 FRANCE AVENUE SOUTH
                P.O. BOX 355                              55440-0355
           MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA                         (Zip Code)
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             -----------------------

                  NASH-FINCH COMPANY 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                             -----------------------

                                NORMAN R. SOLAND
              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY
                            7600 FRANCE AVENUE SOUTH
                                  P.O. BOX 355
                           MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-0355
                                 (952) 844-1153
                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                            -------------------------

                  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED
                              SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
           IMMEDIATELY UPON THE FILING OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                              --------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO      AMOUNT TO BE         PROPOSED MAXIMUM           PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
   BE REGISTERED (1)       REGISTERED (2)     OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT   AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE  REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par
 value $1.66-2/3 per      953,279 Shares                                        $10,051,049            $2,653.48
 share                    --------------                                        -----------
                          444,250 shares (3)          $9.16 (3)               $4,069,330 (3)
                          455,750 shares (4)         $13.125 (4)              $5,981,719 (4)
                          53,279 shares (5)              n/a
===================================================================================================================
(1)  This Registration Statement also includes common stock purchase rights,
     which are attached to all shares of Common Stock issued, pursuant to the
     terms of the Registrant's Stockholder Rights Agreement dated February 13,
     1996.

(2)  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, this Registration Statement includes an indeterminate number of
     additional shares as may be issuable as a result of anti-dilution
     provisions described in the above-referenced plan.

(3)  900,000 new shares were approved for issuance under the Nash-Finch Company
     2000 Stock Incentive Plan. The offering price for such shares is estimated
     solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
     and calculated
pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act with respect to options
     to purchase an aggregate 444,250 shares previously granted under the plan,
     on the basis of the weighted average exercise price of such options ($9.16
     per share).

(4)  900,000 new shares were approved for issuance under the Nash-Finch Company
     2000 Stock Incentive Plan. The offering price for such shares is estimated
     solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
     and calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act with
     respect to options to be granted under the plan, based on the average
     between the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on
     December 5, 2000 as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System

(5)  53,279 shares were incorporated into the Nash-Finch Company 2000 Stock
     Incentive Plan from the Nash-Finch Company 1994 Stock Incentive Plan which
     were previously registered on Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-54487.
PART II

                              INFORMATION REQUIRED
                          IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed by Nash Finch Company (the "Registrant"
or the "Company") (File No. 0-785) with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
January 1, 2000;

         (2) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the interim
periods ended March 25, 2000, June 17, 2000 and October 7, 2000;

         (3) All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") since
January 1, 2000;

         (4) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 10, including any amendments or reports filed for
the purpose of updating such description; and

         (5) The description of the common stock purchase rights contained in
the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered pursuant to this Registration
Statement have been sold or that deregisters all shares of Common Stock then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

         The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in the
Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2000,
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in
their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in
subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the
reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements (to the
extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission)
given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Norman R. Soland, the Company's Senior Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel. Mr. Soland
is eligible to participate in the Plan and, as of November 15, 2000, was the
beneficial owner of 13,402 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase
40,024 shares of Common Stock.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware ("DGCL") empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a
manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was
unlawful.

           Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in
any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if such person acted under similar standards, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and
only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action
or suit was brought shall determine that, despite the adjudication of liability,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the court shall deem proper.

           Section 145 further provides that, to the extent a director or
officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in
connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be
entitled; and that the scope of indemnification extends to directors, officers,
employees or agents of a constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation or
merger and persons serving in that capacity at the request of the constituent
corporation for another. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation
against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in any such
capacity or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liabilities under Section 145, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

           Article XV of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, provides that no director of the Company shall be personally liable to
the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty by such director as a director; provided, however, that personal liability
shall not be eliminated or limited to the extent provided by applicable law (i)
for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the General Corporation Law of Delaware, dealing with the unlawful payment of
dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions, or (iv) for any
transactions in which the director received an improper personal benefit. In
addition, the personal liability of directors is further limited to the fullest
extent permitted to the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as amended from
time to time.

                                       2
Article V of the Company's Restated Bylaws, as amended and restated
(the "Bylaws"), provides that directors or officers, past or present, of the
Company, and such persons serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation or entity at the request of the Company, shall be
indemnified by the Company against reasonable expenses incurred in connection
with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which such person may be involved by reason
of the fact such person is or was a director or officer of the Company. Article
V of the Bylaws further provides that directors, officers and employees will be
indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

           The Company maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance,
including a reimbursement policy in favor of the Company. The Company has also
entered into indemnification agreements with certain of its directors and
executive officers providing such directors and officers with indemnification to
the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

           The foregoing represents a summary of the general effect of the DGCL,
the Company's By-Laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's
directors and officers liability insurance coverage and the indemnification
agreements for purposes of general description only.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTIONS FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable. No securities are to be re-offered or resold pursuant to
this Registration Statement.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No.
-----------
4.1           Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to
              Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
              year ended December 30, 1989 (File No. 0-785)),

4.2           Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 1996, between the
              Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association
              (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Current
              Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 1996 (File No. 0-785)).

5.1           Opinion of Norman R. Soland (filed herewith electronically).

23.1          Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (filed herewith electronically).

23.2          Consent of Norman R. Soland (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1          Power of Attorney (included on page 6 of this Registration
              Statement).
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

     (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

              (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                      being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                      Registration Statement:

                      (i)        To include any prospectus required by Section
                                 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                                       3
(ii)       To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                                 events arising after the effective date of this
                                 Registration Statement (or the most recent
                                 post-effective amendment hereof) which,
                                 individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                                 fundamental change in the information set forth
                                 in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
                                 the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
                                 volume of securities offered (if the total
                                 dollar value of securities offered would not
                                 exceed that which was registered) and any
                                 deviation from the low or high end of the
                                 estimated maximum offering range may be
                                 reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
                                 the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
                                 the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                                 "Securities Act") if, in the aggregate, the
                                 changes in volume and price represent no more
                                 than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
                                 offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
                                 Registration Fee" table in the effective
                                 Registration Statement;

                      (iii)      To include any material information with
                                 respect to the plan of distribution not
                                 previously disclosed in this Registration
                                 Statement or any material change to such
                                 information in this Registration Statement.

                      Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
                      (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required
                      to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
                      paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
                      furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to
                      Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
                      incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

              (2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
                      the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
                      shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
                      relating to the securities offered therein, and the
                      offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
                      to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

              (3)     To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                      amendment any of the securities being registered which
                      remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

     (b)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
              determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of
              the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
              Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and where applicable, each
              filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
              Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
              reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
              new registration statement relating to the securities offered
              therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
              deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
              Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
              controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
              provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
              the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
              public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is
              therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
              indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
              by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
              officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful
              defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
              director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
              securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
              opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
              precedent, submit to a court of appropriate

                                       4
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
              against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will
              be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       5
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements of filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on November 28,
2000.

                                      NASH FINCH COMPANY

                                      By: /s/ Ron Marshall
                                         --------------------------------------
                                          Ron Marshall
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ron
Marshall and Norman R. Soland, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution,
for and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on November 28, 2000 by the following
persons in the capacities indicated.
Signature                                                     Title
----------                                                    -----
/s/ Ron Marshall                          President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal
---------------------------               Executive Officer) and Director
Ron Marshall

/s/ Robert B. Dimond                      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
---------------------------               (Principal Financial Officer)
Robert B. Dimond

/s/ LeAnne M. Stewart                     Vice President, Treasurer and Corporate Controller
---------------------------               (Principal Accounting Officer)
LeAnne M. Stewart

/s/ Carole F. Bitter                      Director
---------------------------
Carole F. Bitter

/s/ James L. Donald                       Director
---------------------------
James L. Donald

/s/ Richard A. Fisher                     Director
---------------------------
Richard A. Fisher

/s/ Jerry L. Ford                         Director
---------------------------
Jerry L. Ford

                                       6
/s/ Allister P. Graham                    Director
---------------------------
Allister P. Graham

/s/ John H. Grunewald                     Director
---------------------------
John H. Grunewald

/s/ Richard G. Lareau                     Director
---------------------------
Richard G. Lareau

/s/ Robert F. Nash                        Director
---------------------------
Robert F. Nash

/s/ Jerome O. Rodysill                    Director
---------------------------
Jerome O. Rodysill

/s/ John E. Stokely                       Director
---------------------------
John E. Stokely

/s/ William R. Voss                       Director
---------------------------
William R. Voss
7
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
No.                              Item                                             Method of Filing
-----                              ----                                             ----------------
4.1       Form of Common Stock Certificate                         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
                                                                   Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                                                                   ended December 30, 1989 (File No. 0-785).

4.2       Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 1996,
          between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota,          Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the
          National Association...................................  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
                                                                   February 13, 1996 (File No. 0-785).

5.1       Opinion of Norman R. Soland............................  Filed herewith electronically.

23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP...........................  Filed herewith electronically.

23.2      Consent of Norman R. Soland............................  Included in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1      Power of Attorney......................................  Included on page 6 of this Registration Statement.
8