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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                 53                 52
                                       Weeks             Weeks              Weeks              Weeks              Weeks
                                       Ended             Ended              Ended              Ended              Ended
                                    December 27,      December 28,       December 30,       December 31,      December 25,
                                       1997              1996               1995               1994               1993
                                                                 (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                  <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Loss from continuing
   operations before
   income taxes                       $ (4,367)         $ (6,467)          $ (7,188)          $ (8,931)         $ (11,216)
Add:
  Interest on indebtedness,
    including amortization
    of deferred debt costs              24,839            24,637             27,588             25,176             20,409
  Portion of rents
    representative of the
    interest factor                      2,545             2,226              2,374              1,779              1,301 
                                      --------          --------            -------            -------            -------
Income, as adjusted                   $ 23,017          $ 20,396            $22,774            $18,024            $10,494  
                                      ========          ========            =======            =======            =======
Fixed charges:
  Interest on indebtedness,
    including amortization
    of deferred debt costs            $ 24,839          $ 24,637            $27,588            $25,176            $20,409
  Portion of rents
    representative of the
    interest factor                      2,545             2,226              2,374              1,779              1,301  
                                      --------          --------            -------            -------            -------
Fixed charges                         $ 27,384          $ 26,863            $29,962            $26,955            $21,710  
                                      ========          ========            =======            =======            =======
Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges                            --                --                 --                 --                 --       
                                      --------          --------            -------            -------            -------
Deficiency in earnings
  available to cover
  fixed charges                       $  4,367          $  6,467            $ 7,188            $ 8,931            $11,216 
                                      ========          ========            =======            =======            =======
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