AVANZA(R) Supermarkets Donate 40 Tons of Food in Denver and 10 Tons in Omaha

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nash-Finch Company (Nasdaq: NAFC), a Minneapolis-based food distributor, announced today the donation of 50 tons of food through its AVANZA stores in Denver-Greeley and Omaha. The donations to Catholic Charities took place at AVANZA stores on Thursday, December 5, 2008, in Denver and on Friday, December 6, 2008, in Omaha.

"AVANZA Supermarkets is committed to serving the communities where our customers live. We are delighted to be able to help those in need," said Alec Covington, CEO of Nash Finch Company, which owns the AVANZA stores. "It is crucial that we all continue working together to make sure that no one goes hungry in our neighborhoods, especially during the holiday season. We thank Catholic Charities for their continued work in the Omaha and Denver-Greeley areas and look forward to partnering with them again."

The donation of 40 tons of food in Denver, which filled two tractor trailers, is the largest single donation ever received by Catholic Charities of Denver and arrives at a critical time of year for charitable organizations across the nation. “Yesterday’s employed worker, who may have donated food to food banks herself in the past, is now unemployed and in need of help,” continued Beth Shepherd, supervisor of emergency assistance at Catholic Charities in Denver. “The number of people in need keeps increasing, and the food donations decreasing, making it harder for us to keep the shelves stocked. This wonderful gift from AVANZA arrives at just the right time.” Representatives from Catholic Charities were on hand at a brief ceremony to receive the significant donation from AVANZA.

AVANZA has partnered with Catholic Charities of Denver several times in the last four years. This single donation brings the total amount of food donated by AVANZA to more than 80 tons of food for people in need who live in the Metro Denver area.

In Omaha, the 10-ton food donation will feed hundreds of Omaha families and arrives at a critical time of year as Catholic Charities has seen a 30 percent increase in need at their food pantries. Catholic Charities provides assistance for the Omaha community through five community centers located in the southern, eastern and northern areas of Omaha. The donation by AVANZA is the largest single donation received by Catholic Charities of Omaha this year. Joining AVANZA and Catholic Charities representatives at the donation ceremony were Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes, Consul of Mexico.

“Many struggling families in our community come to Catholic Charities for help, and as the number of those people keeps increasing, and the food donations keep decreasing. It is making it harder for us to keep the shelves stocked,” said Shelley Schrader, senior director of community services at Catholic Charities Omaha, and head of all five community centers. “Hard times are forcing more and more families to ask for assistance, especially during the holidays. It is no longer only the poor and homeless seeking help as many middle-class families are also standing in line. The South Omaha community will benefit greatly from AVANZA’s generous gift.”

Nash Finch is a Fortune 1000 company and one of the leading food distribution companies in the United States. Nash Finch's core business, food distribution, serves independent retailers and military commissaries in 31 states, the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Azores and Egypt. The Company also owns and operates a base of retail stores, primarily supermarkets under the Econofoods(R), Family Thrift Center(R), AVANZA(R) and Sun Mart(R) trade names. Further information is available on the Company's website, www.nashfinch.com.