<PAGE>

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                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY


                            THIRD AMENDMENT AGREEMENT


                          Dated as of January 15, 1997



                 Re:  Note Agreements Dated as of March 22, 1996

                                       and


                 $30,000,000 original principal amount of 7.13%
                        Senior Notes Due October 1, 2011


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<PAGE>

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                          (Not a part of the Agreement)

SECTION                              HEADING                                PAGE

SECTION 1.     AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING NOTE AGREEMENTS                         2

     Section 1.1.   General Reference Amendment.                              2
     Section 1.2.   Amendments to Section 1.1                                 2
     Section 1.3.   Amendments to Section 2                                   2
     Section 1.4.   Amendments to Section 5.1                                 6
     Section 1.5.   Amendment to Section 6.7                                  6
     Section 1.6.   Amendment to Section 6.8                                  6

SECTION 2.     AMENDMENT OF EXISTING NOTES                                    7

     Section 2.1.   Amendment of Existing Notes                               7

SECTION 3.     EXCHANGE OF NOTES                                              7

     Section 3.1.   Issuance of Notes                                         7
     Section 3.2.   Form and Registration                                     8
     Section 3.3.   Delivery of Notes                                         8
     Section 3.4.   Exchange Not Deemed Prepayment                            8

SECTION 4.     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS                 8

     Section 4.1.   Conditions Precedent                                      8

SECTION 5.     REPRESENTATIONS.                                               9

     Section 5.1.   Representations of the Company                            9

SECTION 6.     MISCELLANEOUS                                                  9

     Section 6.1.   Capitalized Terms                                         9
     Section 6.2.   Existing Note Agreements                                 10
     Section 6.3.   References                                               10
     Section 6.4.   Successors and Assigns                                   10
     Section 6.5.   Governing Law                                            10
     Section 6.6.   Expenses                                                 10
     Section 6.7.   Counterparts                                             11

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

Signature                                                                    11

                                       -4-

<PAGE>
                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY

                            THIRD AMENDMENT AGREEMENT

                                       Re:
                   Note Agreements Dated as of March 22, 1996,

                                       and

                 $30,000,000 original principal amount of 7.13%
                        Senior Notes Due October 1, 2011


                                                                     Dated as of
                                                                January 15, 1997
                                                          (the "EFFECTIVE DATE")

To Each of the Holders
of Notes listed in Schedule I
to the Note Agreements described below


Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to (i) the separate Note Agreements each dated as of
March 22, 1996 between NASH-FINCH COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and each of you, respectively (the "NOTEHOLDERS"), as amended by
that certain First Amendment dated as of November 15, 1996 and that certain
Second Amendment dated as of November 15, 1996 (as so amended, the "EXISTING
NOTE AGREEMENTS"), and (ii) the $30,000,000 original principal amount of 7.13%
Senior Notes due October 1, 2011 issued pursuant to the Existing Note Agreements
(the "EXISTING NOTES").  The Existing Note Agreements, as amended hereby, shall
be referred to as the "NOTE AGREEMENTS," and the Existing Notes, as amended
hereby, shall be referred to as the "NOTES."

     For good and valuable consideration, the Company requests the amendment of
certain provisions of the Existing Note Agreements and the Existing Notes as
hereinafter provided.

<PAGE>

     Upon your acceptance hereof and the satisfaction of all conditions
precedent hereto, this Third Amendment Agreement shall constitute a contract
between us amending the Existing Note Agreements and the Existing Notes, but
only in the respects hereinafter set forth:

SECTION 1.     AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING NOTE AGREEMENTS.

     SECTION 1.1.   GENERAL REFERENCE AMENDMENT.  From and after January 15,
1997, each reference in the Existing Note Agreements and the Existing Notes to
the "$30,000,000 7.13% Senior Notes Due October 1, 2011", is hereby amended to
refer to the "$30,000,000 First Amended and Restated 8.13% Senior Notes Due
October 1, 2006";

     SECTION 1.2.   AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1.1.  (a)  From and after January 15,
1997, Section 1.1 of the Existing Note Agreements is hereby amended to change
the references in such section from "7.13%" and "8.13" to "8.13%" and "9.13%",
respectively and to change the references in such section from "OCTOBER 1, 2011"
to "OCTOBER 1, 2006".

     (b)  Section 1.1 of the Existing Note Agreements is hereby amended by
inserting the following paragraph at the end thereof:

               Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
          contrary, in addition to the stated interest rate applicable
          to the Notes (including, without limitation, the interest
          rate applicable to overdue payments in respect of the
          Notes), the Notes shall bear additional interest at the rate
          of .50% per annum during any Interest Rate Event Period.

          SECTION 1.3.   AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 2.  (a) Section 2.1 of the
Existing Note Agreements is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

               SECTION 2.1.  REQUIRED PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENTS.  The
          Company agrees that it will prepay and apply, and there
          shall become due and payable an amount equal to the amounts
          set forth hereinbelow on October 1 in each year beginning
          October 1, 2000 up to and including October 1, 2005 (each
          such payment and the payment on October 1, 2006 being
          hereinafter referred to collectively as the "PRINCIPAL
          PAYMENT DATES") in respect of the aggregate principal
          indebtedness evidenced by the Notes.  The remaining unpaid
          principal amount of the Notes and accrued and unpaid
          interest thereon shall be due and payable on October 1,
          2006.

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

                    PRINCIPAL         PRINCIPAL
                   PAYMENT DATE         AMOUNT

                  October 1, 2000     $2,500,000
                  October 1, 2001     $4,000,000
                  October 1, 2002     $4,500,000
                  October 1, 2003     $4,500,000
                  October 1, 2004     $4,500,000
                  October 1, 2005     $5,000,000

               No premium shall be payable in connection with any
          required prepayment made pursuant to this SECTION 2.1.  Upon
          any repurchase of less than all of the outstanding Notes
          pursuant to SECTION 2.6, SECTION 2.7 or SECTION 6.13, the
          principal amount of each required principal prepayment of
          the Notes becoming due under this SECTION 2.1 on and after
          the date of such prepayment or purchase shall be reduced in
          the same proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount
          of the Notes is reduced as a result of such repurchase.

          (b)  Section 2 of the Existing Note Agreements is hereby amended to
insert the following new Section 2.7 at the end thereof:

               SECTION 2.7.  CHANGE IN CONTROL.  (a) NOTICE OF CHANGE
          IN CONTROL OR CONTROL EVENT.  The Company will, within 3
          days after any Change in Control or Control Event, give
          written notice of such Change in Control or Control Event to
          each holder of Notes UNLESS notice in respect of such Change
          in Control (or the Change in Control contemplated by such
          Control Event) shall have been given pursuant to
          subparagraph (b) of this SECTION 2.7.  If a Change in
          Control has occurred, such notice shall contain and
          constitute an offer to prepay Notes as described in
          subparagraph (c) of this SECTION 2.7 and shall be
          accompanied by the certificate described in subparagraph (g)
          of this SECTION 2.7.

               (b)  CONDITION TO COMPANY ACTION.  The Company will not
          take any action that consummates or finalizes a Change in
          Control unless (i) at least 45 days prior to such action it
          shall have given to each holder of Notes written notice
          containing and constituting an offer to prepay Notes as
          described in subparagraph (c) of this SECTION 2.7, accompanied 
          by the certificate described in

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

          subparagraph (g) of this SECTION 2.7, and  (ii) contemporaneously 
          with such action, it prepays all Notes required to be prepaid in 
          accordance with this SECTION 2.7.

               (c)  OFFER TO PREPAY NOTES.  The offer to prepay Notes
          contemplated by subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this SECTION
          2.7 shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and
          subject to this SECTION 2.7, all, but not less than all, of
          the Notes held by each holder (in this case only, "HOLDER"
          in respect of any Note registered in the name of a nominee
          for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial
          owner) on a date specified in such offer (the "PROPOSED
          PREPAYMENT DATE").  If such Proposed Prepayment Date is in
          connection with an offer contemplated by subparagraph (a) of
          this SECTION 2.7, such date shall be not less than 30 days
          and not more than 45 days after the date of such offer (if
          the Proposed Prepayment Date shall not be specified in such
          offer, the Proposed Prepayment Date shall be the 45th day
          after the date of such offer).

               (d)  ACCEPTANCE.  A holder of Notes may accept the
          offer to prepay made pursuant to this SECTION 2.7 by causing
          a notice of such acceptance to be delivered to the Company
          at least 5 days prior to the Proposed Prepayment Date.  A
          failure by a holder of Notes to respond to an offer to
          prepay made pursuant to this SECTION 2.7 shall be deemed to
          constitute an acceptance of such offer by such holder.

               (e)  PREPAYMENT.  Prepayment of the Notes to be prepaid
          pursuant to this SECTION 2.7 shall be at 100% of the
          principal amount of such Notes, plus the Make Whole Premium
          determined for the date of prepayment with respect to such
          principal amount, together with interest on such Notes
          accrued to the date of prepayment.  On the business day
          preceding the date of prepayment, the Company shall deliver
          to each holder of Notes being prepaid a statement showing
          the Make Whole Premium due in connection with such
          prepayment and setting forth the details of the computation
          of such amount.  The prepayment shall be made on the
          Proposed Prepayment Date except as provided in subparagraph
          (f) of this SECTION 2.7.

               (f)  DEFERRAL PENDING CHANGE IN CONTROL.  The
          obligation of the Company to prepay Notes pursuant to the
          offers required by subparagraph (b) and accepted in
          accordance with

                                       -8-

<PAGE>

          subparagraph (d) of this SECTION 2.7 is subject to the occurrence 
          of the Change in Control in respect of which such offers and 
          acceptances shall have been made.  In the event that such Change in 
          Control does not occur on the Proposed Prepayment Date in respect 
          thereof, the prepayment shall be deferred until and shall be made 
          on the date on which such Change in Control occurs.  The Company 
          shall keep each holder of Notes reasonably and timely informed of 
          (i) any such deferral of the date of prepayment, (ii) the date on 
          which such Change in Control and the prepayment are expected to 
          occur, and (iii) any determination by the Company that efforts to 
          effect such Change in Control have ceased or been abandoned (in 
          which case the offers and acceptances made pursuant to this SECTION 
          2.7 in respect of such Change in Control shall be deemed rescinded).

               (g)  OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE.  Each offer to prepay the
          Notes pursuant to this SECTION 2.7 shall be accompanied by a
          certificate, executed by a senior financial officer of the
          Company and dated the date of such offer, specifying:
          (i) the Proposed Prepayment Date; (ii) that such offer is
          made pursuant to this SECTION 2.7; (iii) the principal
          amount of each Note offered to be prepaid; (iv) the
          estimated Make Whole Premium due in connection with such
          prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were
          the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of
          such computation; (v) the interest that would be due on each
          Note offered to be prepaid, accrued to the Proposed
          Prepayment Date; (vi) that the conditions of this SECTION
          2.7 have been fulfilled; and (vii) in reasonable detail, the
          nature and date or proposed date of the Change in Control.

               (h)  "CHANGE IN CONTROL" DEFINED.  "CHANGE IN CONTROL"
          means any of the following events or circumstances:

               if any person (as such term is used in section
               13(d) and section 14(d)(2) of the Securities
               Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE
               ACT") or related persons constituting a group (as
               such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange
               Act), become the "beneficial owners" (as such term
               is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),

                                       -9-

<PAGE>

               directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the
               total voting power of all classes then outstanding
               of the Company's voting stock.

               (i)  "CONTROL EVENT" DEFINED.  "CONTROL EVENT" means:

                    (i)  the execution by the Company or any of
               its Subsidiaries or Affiliates of any agreement or
               letter of intent with respect to any proposed
               transaction or event or series of transactions or
               events which, individually or in the aggregate,
               may reasonably be expected to result in a Change
               in Control,

                    (ii) the execution of any written agreement
               which, when fully performed by the parties
               thereto, would result in a Change in Control, or

                    (iii) the making of any written offer by
               any person (as such term is used in section 13(d)
               and section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) or
               related persons constituting a group (as such term
               is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) to
               the holders of the common stock of the Company,
               which offer, if accepted by the requisite number
               of holders, would result in a Change in Control.

               SECTION 1.4.   AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 5.1.  Section 5.1 of the
Existing Note Agreements is hereby amended as follows:  (a) by inserting the
following definition in alphabetical order:

               "INTEREST RATE EVENT PERIOD" shall mean any period
          during which the Company fails to have outstanding unsecured
          long-term Indebtedness which has a then current rating of
          BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation.

          (b)  by amending the definition of "Make Whole Premium" so that the
reference to "7.13%" contained therein shall read "8.13%" as and after the
effective date hereof.

                                       -10-

<PAGE>

          SECTION 1.5.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 6.7.  Section 6.7 of the Existing
Note Agreements is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

          SECTION 6.7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY.  The Company will not, at any
     time, permit Stockholders' Equity to be less than the sum of (a)
     $170,000,000, plus (b) an aggregate amount equal to 25% of its Consolidated
     Net Income (but, in each case, only if a positive number) for each
     completed fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year ended January 3, 1998.

     SECTION 1.6.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 6.8.  Section 6.8(a) of the Existing
Note Agreements is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

          SECTION 6.8.  INCURRENCE OF DEBT.  (a) Neither the Company nor any
     Subsidiary will create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise incur or
     become liable in respect of any Debt, except:

          (1)  the Notes;

          (2)  Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding as of the
     date of this Agreement and reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of
     the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 30, 1995;

          (3)  additional unsecured Debt of the Company; PROVIDED that at the
     time of issuance thereof and after giving effect thereto and to the
     application of the proceeds thereof Debt of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP
     shall not, during any fiscal year set forth below, exceed the percent of
     Total Capitalization set forth opposite such period:
                    
                    
                                        PERCENTAGE OF DEBT TO
                  FISCAL YEAR           TOTAL CAPITALIZATION
                    1996                        70%
                    1997                        70%
                    1998                       67.5%
                    1999                        65%
                    2000 and thereafter         60%

                                       -11-

<PAGE>

          (4)  additional Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by
     Liens permitted by and incurred within the limitations of SECTION
     6.9(a)(8), SECTION 6.9(a)(9) or SECTION 6.9(a)(10); PROVIDED that at the
     time of issuance thereof and after giving effect thereto and to the
     application of the proceeds thereof Debt of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP
     shall not, during any fiscal year set forth below, exceed the percent of
     Total Capitalization set forth opposite such period:
                    
                    
                    
 
                                          PERCENTAGE OF
                                          DEBT TO TOTAL
                   FISCAL YEAR            CAPITALIZATION
                    1996                        70%
                    1997                        70%
                    1998                       67.5%
                    1999                        65%
                    2000 and thereafter         60%

          (5)  Debt of a Subsidiary to the Company or to a Wholly-Owned
     Subsidiary.

SECTION 2.     AMENDMENT OF EXISTING NOTES.

     SECTION 2.1.   AMENDMENT OF EXISTING NOTES.  The Existing Notes shall be
and are hereby amended to be in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

SECTION 3.     EXCHANGE OF NOTES.

     SECTION 3.1.   ISSUANCE OF NOTES.  The Company agrees to issue and deliver
on the Effective Date of this Third Amendment Agreement the new Notes in the
form of Exhibit A hereto to the Noteholders in exchange for their outstanding
Existing Notes.  The Noteholders agree to surrender their Existing Notes to the
Company in exchange for the new Notes, and the Existing Notes shall be canceled
by the Company and shall be void.  The Company shall pay any stamp tax or
governmental charge imposed upon such exchange (including, without limitation,
any income or similar tax that is imposed upon the gain, if any, that is
realized by such Noteholder in connection with the exchange).  Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, the Notes shall bear interest at the
rate of 7.13% per annum for the period from October 1, 1996 to and including
January 14, 1997.

                                       -12-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 3.2.   FORM AND REGISTRATION.  Each Note shall be in the form of a
single registered Note, shall be registered in the name of the Noteholder
surrendering such Existing Note as reflected on the books and records of the
Company, shall be issued for the same principal amount (after giving effect to
all prepayments of Notes prior to January 15, 1997) as the outstanding principal
amount of the Existing Note surrendered in exchange therefor, and shall be dated
October 1, 1996.  

     SECTION 3.3.   DELIVERY OF NOTES.  The Company shall deliver the Notes in
proper form at the offices of Chapman and Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60603, to be held by such firm for delivery against surrender
by the Noteholders in exchange therefor of the Existing Notes.

     SECTION 3.4.   EXCHANGE NOT DEEMED PREPAYMENT.  Each of the Noteholders and
the Company agrees that the amendments affected pursuant to this Third Amendment
Agreement and the exchange of Notes for Existing Notes pursuant to this Third
Amendment Agreement shall not be deemed a prepayment, redemption or repurchase
of the Existing Notes for any purpose, including Section 2 or Section 6.13 of
the Note Agreements.

SECTION 4.     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.

     SECTION 4.1.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.  Each Noteholder's agreements set
forth in Section 1 of this Third Amendment Agreement are effective subject to
the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

          (a)  Each Noteholder shall have received this Third Amendment
     Agreement, duly executed by the Company.

          (b)  The holders of 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the
     Notes shall have consented to this Third Amendment Agreement as evidenced
     by their execution hereof.

          (c)  The Company shall have provided to the holders of the Notes an
     opinion of Jon J. Solberg, Esq., counsel to the Company, substantially in
     the form  Exhibit B hereto and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory
     to the holders of the Notes.

          (d)  The fees and disbursements of special counsel to the holders of
     the Notes incurred through the Closing Date shall have been satisfied by
     the Company.

SECTION 5.     REPRESENTATIONS.

                                       -13-

<PAGE>


     SECTION 5.1.   REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company hereby
represents and warrants that as of the date of execution and delivery of this
Third Amendment Agreement and as of the Effective Date:

          (a)  The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
     in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

          (b)  The Company has the requisite power to own its property and to
     carry on its business as now being conducted.

          (c)  The Company is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign
     corporation, authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the
     failure to do so would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
     adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or other), assets,
     operations, properties or prospects of the Company.

          (d)  This Third Amendment Agreement and the Note Agreements and Notes
     (as amended hereby) are within the corporate powers of the Company and have
     been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
     Company and constitute (or, in the case of this Third Amendment Agreement,
     when executed and delivered by holders of 100% of the outstanding principal
     amount of the Notes will constitute) legal, valid and binding obligations
     of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

          (e)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Third Amendment
     Agreement by the Company does not and will not result in a violation of or
     default under (A) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the
     Company, (B) any agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it
     is bound or to which the Company or any of its properties is subject, (C)
     any order, writ, injunction or decree binding on the Company, or (D) any
     statute, regulation, rule or other law applicable to the Company.

          (f)  No material authorization, consent, approval, exemption or action
     by or notice to or filing with any court or administrative or governmental
     body is required in connection with the execution and delivery of this
     Third Amendment Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated hereby.

SECTION 6.     MISCELLANEOUS.

     SECTION 6.1.   CAPITALIZED TERMS.  The capitalized terms used in this Third
Amendment Agreement shall have the respective meanings specified in the Existing
Note Agreements unless otherwise herein defined or the context hereof shall
otherwise require.

                                       -14-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 6.2.   EXISTING NOTE AGREEMENTS.  Except as amended herein, all
terms and provisions of the Existing Note Agreements are hereby ratified,
confirmed and approved in all respects.

     SECTION 6.3.   REFERENCES.  Any and all notices, requests, certificates and
other instruments, including the Notes, may refer to the "Note Agreements," or
the "Note Agreements each dated as of November 15, 1993" without making specific
reference to this Third Amendment Agreement, but nevertheless all such
references shall be deemed to include this Third Amendment Agreement unless the
context shall otherwise require.  

     SECTION 6.4.   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Third Amendment Agreement and
all covenants herein contained shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereunder.  All covenants
made by the Company and the Noteholders herein shall survive the closing and the
delivery of this Third Amendment Agreement.

     SECTION 6.5.   GOVERNING LAW.  This Third Amendment Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with Minnesota law.

     SECTION 6.6.   EXPENSES.  The Company will pay and/or reimburse all
reasonable expenses of the Noteholders in connection with the negotiation,
preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment and the transactions
contemplated hereby, in accordance with SECTION 9.4 of the Note Agreements.

                                       -15-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 6.7.   COUNTERPARTS.  This Third Amendment Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting
an original but all together only one instrument.

                                             NASH-FINCH COMPANY

                                             
                                             By:
                                                Its 
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                   ---

                                       -16-

<PAGE>

     This foregoing Third Amendment Agreement is hereby accepted and agreed to
as of the Effective Date and the undersigned hereby confirms that on January 15,
1997 and as of the date of execution and delivery hereof immediately prior to
the exchange of Notes provided for herein it held Notes of the Company as
indicated on Schedule I hereto.

                                             THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE
                                                COMPANY
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             By:
                                                Its

                                             INDEPENDENT LIFE AND ACCIDENT
                                                 INSURANCE COMPANY
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             By:
                                                Its


                                       -17-

<PAGE>

                                             NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE
                                                 INSURANCE COMPANY
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             By:

                                       -18-

<PAGE>

                                             NORTHERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             By:
                                                Its
                                             

                                       -19-

<PAGE>
                               NASH-FINCH COMPANY


        First Amended and Restated 8.13% Senior Note Due October 1, 2006

                             PPN: _________________

No. R-                                                           October 1, 1996

$
     NASH-FINCH COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to

                  or registered assigns the principal amount of               
                                                     DOLLARS ($       ) on 
October 1, 2006 together with interest on the principal amount from time to 
time remaining unpaid hereon at the rate of 7.13% per annum from and after 
the date hereof through and including January 14, 1997 and at the rate of 
8.13% per annum from the date hereof until maturity (computed on the basis of 
a 360-day year of 12 consecutive 30-day months) in installments payable on 
April 1, 1997 and on the first day of each April and October thereafter to 
and including the date of maturity hereof.  The Company further promises to 
pay interest on each overdue installment of principal, premium, if any, and 
(to the extent legally enforceable) upon each overdue installment of interest 
at the rate of 9.13% per annum in each case from and after the maturity of 
each such installment, whether by acceleration or otherwise, until paid.  
Subject only to SECTION 2.5 of the Note Agreements hereinafter referred to, 
both the principal hereof, premium, if any, and interest hereon are payable 
at the principal office of the Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in coin or 
currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment shall 
be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

     This Note is one of the First Amended and Restated 8.13% Senior Notes due
October 1, 2006 of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000
issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the terms and provisions of
separate and several Note Agreements each dated as of March 22, 1996
(collectively, the "NOTE AGREEMENTS") entered into by the Company with the
institutional investors named in Schedule I thereto as amended by that certain
First Amendment dated as of November 15, 1996, as amended by that certain Second
Amendment dated as of November 15, 1996 and as amended by that certain Third
Amendment Agreement dated as of January 15, 1997.  This Note and the holder
hereof are entitled equally and ratably with the holders of all other Notes
outstanding under the Note Agreements to all the benefits 


                              EXHIBIT A
                  (to Third Amendment Agreement)

<PAGE>

provided for thereby or referred to therein, to which Note Agreements 
reference is hereby made for the statement thereof.  This Note amends and 
restates in its entirety that certain 7.13% Senior Note Number R-___, in the 
original principal amount of $__________ issued by the Company on ____ and 
registered in the name of __________________.

     This Note and the other Notes outstanding under the Note Agreements may be
declared due prior to their expressed maturity date and certain prepayments are
required to be made thereon by the Company, all in the events, on the terms and
in the manner and amounts as provided in the Note Agreements.

     The Notes are not subject to prepayment or redemption at the option of the
Company prior to their expressed maturity dates except on the terms and
conditions and in the amounts and with the premium, if any, set forth in the
Note Agreements.

     Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in addition to
the stated interest rate applicable to the Notes (including, without limitation,
the interest rate applicable to overdue payments in respect of the Notes), the
Notes shall bear additional interest at the rate of .50% per annum during any
Interest Rate Event Period (as defined in the Note Agreements).

                                     A-21

<PAGE>

     This Note is registered on the books of the Company and is transferable
only by surrender thereof at the principal office of the Company duly endorsed
or accompanied by a written statement of transfer duly executed by the
registered holder of this Note or his attorney duly authorized in writing. 
Payment of or on account of principal, premium, if any, and interest on this
Note shall be made only to or upon the order in writing of the registered
holder.

                                             NASH-FINCH COMPANY
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             By 
                                                Its


                                       A-22

<PAGE>

                         DESCRIPTION OF CLOSING OPINION
                            OF COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

     The closing opinion of counsel for the Company called for by SECTION 4.1(c)
of the Third Amendment Agreement, shall be dated the Effective Date and
addressed to the Noteholders, shall be satisfactory in scope and form to the
Noteholders and shall be to the effect that:

          1.   The Company is a corporation that is duly organized, validly
     existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
     incorporation, has the requisite power and the authority to execute and
     perform the Note Agreements, as amended, and to issue the Notes, as
     amended, and has the full requisite power and the authority to conduct the
     activities in which it is now engaged.

          2.   Each Note Agreement, as amended, has been duly authorized by all
     necessary action on the part of the Company, has been duly executed and
     delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
     contract of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject
     to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting
     creditors' rights generally, and general principles of equity (regardless
     of whether the application of such principles is considered in a proceeding
     in equity or at law).

          3.   The Notes, as amended, have been duly authorized by all necessary
     action on the part of the Company, have been duly executed and delivered by
     the Company  and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
     Company  enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,
     insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting creditors'
     rights generally, and general principles of equity (regardless of whether
     the application of such principles is considered in a proceeding in equity
     or at law).

     The opinion of Jon J. Solberg, Esq. shall cover such other matters relating
to the Third Amendment Agreement as the holders of the Notes may reasonably
request.  With respect to matters of fact on which such opinion is based, such
counsel shall be entitled to rely on appropriate certificates of public
officials and officers of the Company.

                                  EXHIBIT B
                       (to Third Amendment Agreement)

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE I

The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company                 $17,000,000
                                                            7.13% Senior Notes

Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company             $3,000,000
                                                            7.13% Senior Notes

Var & Co. (as nominee of Northwestern National              $4,000,000
  Life Insurance Company)                                   7.13% Senior Notes

Var & Co. (as nominee of Northern Life                      $6,000,000
  Insurance Company                                         7.13% Senior Notes


                                   Schedule I