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                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1

BIG V SUPERMARKETS, INC.
 
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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<CAPTION> 
                                                     52             52               52               52                 53        
                                                   WEEKS          WEEKS            WEEKS            Weeks              Weeks       
                                                   ENDED          ENDED            ENDED            Ended              ENDED       
                                                DECEMBER 26,   DECEMBER 27,     DECEMBER 28,     December 30,       December 31,   
                                                   1998           1997             1996             1995               1994        
                                                                           (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                                   

<S>                                             <C>            <C>              <C>              <C>                <C>  
Income (loss) from continuing
   operations before
   income taxes                                 $ 1,972         $(4,367)         $(6,467)         $(7,188)           $(8,931)
Add:
  Interest on indebtedness,
    including amortization
    of deferred debt costs                       23,911          24,839           24,637           27,588             25,176
  Portion of rents
    representative of the
    interest factor                               3,477           2,545            2,226            2,374              1,779
                                                -------         -------          -------          -------            -------
 
Income, as adjusted                              29,360          23,017           20,396           22,774             18,024
                                                -------         -------          -------          -------            -------
 
Fixed charges:
  Interest on indebtedness,
    including amortization
    of deferred debt costs                       23,911          24,839           24,637           27,588             25,176
  Portion of rents
    representative of the
    interest factor                               3,477           2,545            2,226            2,374              1,779
                                                -------         -------          -------          -------            -------
 
Fixed charges                                    27,388          27,384           26,863           29,962             26,955
                                                -------         -------          -------          -------            -------
 
Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges                                     1.1x            -                -                -                  -
                                                -------         -------          -------          -------            -------
 
Deficiency in
  earnings available to
   cover
  cover fixed charges                           $   -            $4,367           $6,467           $7,188             $8,931
                                                =======         =======          =======          =======            =======
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