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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


        Cautionary Statements for Purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions
                     of the Securities Litigation Reform Act


In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"), Shoppers Food Warehouse Corp. (the
"Company") is filing cautionary statements identifying important factors that
could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
projected in forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of the Company.
When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
29, 2000 and in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, in the Company's press releases, other communications, and in oral
statements made by or with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the
words or phrases "will likely result", "are expected to", "will continue", "is
anticipated", "estimate", "project", "believe" or similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act.
The following cautionary statements are for use as a reference to a readily
available written document in connection with forward-looking statements as
defined in the Act. These factors are in addition to any other cautionary
statements, written or oral, which may be made or referred to in connection with
any such forward-looking statement.

Business Risks

The Company faces risks which may prevent the Company from maintaining or
increasing retail sales and earnings including: competition from other retail
chains, supercenters, non-traditional competitors, and emerging alternative
formats; operating risks of certain strategically important retail operations;
the potential disruption from labor disputes; and adverse impact from the entry
of other retail chains, supercenters and non-traditional or emerging competitors
into markets where the Company has a retail concentration.

Risks of Expansion

The Company intends to continue to grow its business in part through new store
openings. Expansion is subject to a number of risks, including the adequacy of
the Company's capital resources; the location of suitable store sites and the
negotiation of acceptable lease terms; ability to hire, train and integrate
employees; and possible costs and other risks of integrating or adapting
operational systems.

Liquidity

Management expects that the Company will continue to replenish operating assets
and reduce aggregate debt with internally generated funds. If capital spending
significantly exceeds anticipated capital needs, additional funding could be
required from other sources.

Litigation

While the Company believes that it is currently not subject to any material
litigation, the costs and other effects of legal and administrative cases and
proceedings and settlements are impossible to predict with certainty. The
current environment for litigation involving retail stores operators may
increase the risk of litigation being commenced against the Company. The Company
would incur the costs of defending any such litigation whether or not any claim
had merit.

The foregoing should not be construed as exhaustive and the Company disclaims
any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the
occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.