<PAGE>

           As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2001
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

                     U.S. 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
            (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)

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

              NASH FINCH COMPANY 1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE 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 BE    AMOUNT TO BE        PROPOSED MAXIMUM            PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
       REGISTERED(1)          REGISTERED(2)   OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT(3)  AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE  REGISTRATION FEE

 =========================== ================ ========================== ========================= =================
<S>                          <C>              <C>                        <C>                       <C>
 Common Stock, par value         250,000               $20.19                   $5,047,500            $1,261.88
 $1.66-2/3 per share
 =========================== ================ ========================== ========================= =================

</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 employee benefit plan.

(3)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely for the
     purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee, based on the
     average between the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common
     Stock on June 19, 2001 on the Nasdaq National Market System.


<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                              INFORMATION REQUIRED
                          IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

     Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration
Statement is filed solely to register an additional 250,000 shares of common
stock, par value $1.66-2/3 per share, of Nash Finch Company reserved for
issuance under the Nash Finch Company 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan").

     On October 31, 2000, the Board of Directors of Nash Finch Company
approved an increase in the number of shares of its common stock reserved for
issuance under the Plan of 250,000 shares, to a total of 450,000 shares. This
increase was effective as of January 1, 2001 and was made subject to approval
by the stockholders of Nash Finch Company, which approval was obtained on May
15, 2001.

     Pursuant to Instruction E, the contents of Nash Finch Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-81441, including without
limitation periodic reports that Nash Finch Company filed, or will file,
after the filing of such Form S-8 to maintain current information about Nash
Finch Company are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT
 NO.        DESCRIPTION
-------     -----------
<S>         <C>
5.1         Opinion and Consent 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 2 of this Registration Statement).


</TABLE>



                                        1


<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
June 22, 2001.

                                     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 June 22, 2001 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 and Corporate Controller
----------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)
LeAnne M. Stewart

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

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

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


                                        2

<PAGE>


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

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

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

/s/ William R. Voss            Director
----------------------
William R. Voss



</TABLE>



                                        3

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  NO.                    ITEM                 METHOD OF FILING
------                   ----                 ----------------
<S>    <C>                              <C>
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 2 of this Registration
                                        Statement.


</TABLE>



                                        4
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a2052440zs-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9618}]
{"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": "333-63754", "film-number": "1666607"}, "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 June 25, 2001
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

                     U.S. 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
            (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)

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

              NASH FINCH COMPANY 1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE 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 BE    AMOUNT TO BE        PROPOSED MAXIMUM            PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
       REGISTERED(1)          REGISTERED(2)   OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT(3)  AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE  REGISTRATION FEE

 =========================== ================ ========================== ========================= =================
Common Stock, par value         250,000               $20.19                   $5,047,500            $1,261.88
 $1.66-2/3 per share
 =========================== ================ ========================== ========================= =================
(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 employee benefit plan.

(3)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely for the
     purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee, based on the
     average between the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common
     Stock on June 19, 2001 on the Nasdaq National Market System.
PART II

                              INFORMATION REQUIRED
                          IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

     Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration
Statement is filed solely to register an additional 250,000 shares of common
stock, par value $1.66-2/3 per share, of Nash Finch Company reserved for
issuance under the Nash Finch Company 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan").

     On October 31, 2000, the Board of Directors of Nash Finch Company
approved an increase in the number of shares of its common stock reserved for
issuance under the Plan of 250,000 shares, to a total of 450,000 shares. This
increase was effective as of January 1, 2001 and was made subject to approval
by the stockholders of Nash Finch Company, which approval was obtained on May
15, 2001.

     Pursuant to Instruction E, the contents of Nash Finch Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-81441, including without
limitation periodic reports that Nash Finch Company filed, or will file,
after the filing of such Form S-8 to maintain current information about Nash
Finch Company are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
 NO.        DESCRIPTION
-------     -----------
5.1         Opinion and Consent 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 2 of this Registration Statement).
1
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
June 22, 2001.

                                     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 June 22, 2001 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 and Corporate Controller
----------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)
LeAnne M. Stewart

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

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

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

                                        2
/s/ Allister P. Graham         Director
----------------------
Allister P. Graham

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

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

/s/ William R. Voss            Director
----------------------
William R. Voss
3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
NO.                    ITEM                 METHOD OF FILING
------                   ----                 ----------------
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 2 of this Registration
                                        Statement.
4