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                                                                    Exhibit 12.1
BIG V SUPERMARKETS, INC.

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COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       52                 52                 53                 52                 52
                                     Weeks              Weeks              Weeks              Weeks              Weeks
                                     Ended              Ended              Ended              Ended              Ended
                                     December 28,      December 30,       December 31,       December 25,     December 25,
                                      1996               1995               1994               1993               1992
                                                                 (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                 <C>                <C>                 <C>               <C>              <C> 
(Loss) income  from
   continuing operations
  before income taxes               $  (6,467)         $  (7,188)          $  (8,931)        $  (11,216)       $    2,406  
                                                                                                                              
Add:                                                                                                                          
  Interest on indebtedness,                                                                                                   
    including amortization                                                                                                    
    of deferred debt costs             24,636             27,588              25,176             20,409            20,003   
  Portion of rents                                                                                                            
    representative of the                                                                                                     
    interest factor                     2,226              2,374               1,779              1,301             1,009     
                                    ---------          ---------           ---------         ----------        ----------
Income, as adjusted                 $  20,395          $  22,774           $  18,024         $   10,494        $   23,418        
                                    =========          =========           =========         ==========        ==========
Fixed charges:                                                                                                                
  Interest on indebtedness,                                                                                                   
    including amortization                                                                                                 
    of deferred debt costs          $  24,636          $  27,588           $  25,176         $   20,409        $   20,003   
  Portion of rents                                                                                                            
    representative of the                                                                                                     
    interest factor                     2,226              2,374               1,779              1,301             1,009     
                                    ---------          ---------           ---------         ----------        ----------  
                                                                                                                              
                                    
Fixed charges                       $  26,862          $  29,962           $  26,955         $   21,710        $   21,012     
                                    =========          =========           =========         ==========        ==========      
                                      
                                                                                                                              
Ratio of earnings to                     -                  -                   -                  -               1.1x       
  fixed charges                     ---------          ---------           ---------         ----------        ----------     
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
Deficiency in earnings                                                                                                        
  available to cover               
  fixed charges                     $   6,467          $   7,188           $   8,931         $   11,216        $    -          
                                    =========          =========           =========         ==========        ==========      
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