<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001387131-22-004520.txt : 20220401
<SEC-HEADER>0001387131-22-004520.hdr.sgml : 20220401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220401170308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001387131-22-004520
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220401

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SpartanNash Co
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000877422
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & GENERAL LINE [5141]
		IRS NUMBER:				380593940
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31127
		FILM NUMBER:		22799224

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 76TH ST SW
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 8700
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49518
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6168782000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 76TH ST SW
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 8700
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49518

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SPARTAN STORES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sptn-defa14a_040122.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ADDITIONAL DEFINITIVE PROXY
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<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; width: 100%"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 2pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

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<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 4pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>SCHEDULE 14A </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0">Filed by the Registrant &#9746;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant &#9744;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0">Check the appropriate box:</P>

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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Preliminary Proxy Statement</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Definitive Proxy Statement</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Definitive Additional Materials</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9746;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Soliciting Material Pursuant to &sect;240.14a-12</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 22pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0.25in 0 0; text-align: center"><B>SpartanNash Company</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 8pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other
Than the Registrant) </B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; width: 95%; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">No fee required</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and&nbsp;0-11</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On
April 1, 2022, SpartanNash Company (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) published a communication to the Company&#8217;s Associates from Tony B.
Sarsam, the Company&#8217;s President and Chief Executive Officer. A copy of that communication can be found below.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>Annual Shareholder Meeting Update: April 1, 2022&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">A couple of weeks ago, two activist investment firms announced that they
had nominated candidates to the SpartanNash Board of Directors. I want to be transparent on these dealings and make sure you understand
what&#8217;s happening and what to expect moving forward.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">As a public company, we have a responsibility to be the best possible stewards
of our business and create value for our shareholders. To help our shareholders understand our business and the strategy we are executing,
we communicate transparently about our financial performance and other developments. We also regularly engage with shareholders to answer
their questions and listen to their ideas for how we can improve SpartanNash.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Meanwhile, there is a growing population of what are commonly referred
to as activist investors who purchase a stake in public companies with the specific intent to influence how those companies are managed
and to make changes at the Board level. This is what the two investment firms are interested in doing at SpartanNash.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>So, why are they focused on SpartanNash, and why now?</B> What&#8217;s
happening at SpartanNash is common. Many Fortune 500 companies face these kinds of activists. In fact, there are other major grocery companies
facing a similar situation at this very moment. With the SpartanNash Annual Meeting of Shareholders coming up, their intent is to try
to get new members of the Board of Directors elected.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Our point of view, which we shared in a press release on March 18, is that
our current Board is best positioned to work with our Executive Leadership Team in helping build a stronger SpartanNash that continues
to benefit our shareholders as well as our Associates, customers and communities. We have the right plan in place, and thanks to your
hard work, we are delivering on what we said we would do.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>Here&#8217;s what you can expect going
forward. </B>Later today, we will file what is known as a preliminary proxy statement for review by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the &#8220;SEC&#8221;). A proxy statement contains information regarding our company, our Board and our Annual Meeting
of Shareholders. Once the SEC clears our proxy statement, we will be entering what is known as the official &#8220;solicitation
period.&#8221; The solicitation period is like a campaign for any other election, where each side advocates for their nominees to be
elected to the SpartanNash Board of Directors. During this period, both SpartanNash and the two activist investors will be
communicating with shareholders through press releases, mailings, presentations and in-person meetings about why shareholders should
vote for certain nominees.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Based on the communication we have seen thus far from these two firms,
we strongly disagree with their views about SpartanNash and question whether they are acting in the best interest of all shareholders.
And again, we are confident that our current strategy is the best path forward for the long-term. At every stage of this campaign, we
will articulate our strategy and vision for SpartanNash. When these firms make inaccurate or misleading statements, you can expect a robust
and intelligent defense of this fine company in our communications.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">I am confident in our team&#8217;s ability to deliver on our Master Action
Plan and create enduring value for our shareholders and other stakeholders. To do this, it&#8217;s important that we stay focused on taking
care of our customers and carrying out our strategy because it is working&#8230;and it is the best path to continue enhancing our performance.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Please know that we will stay in regular communication with you on any
new developments or updates associated with the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Of course, if you ever have questions about media
coverage you see or about communications we make as a company, we are here to help answer those questions.</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="text-align: justify; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>People First</B> is about building a company where we are proud of the
work we do and can each grow and support our families. The company wins when we invest in people&#8230;and when the company wins, our
shareholders win. I could not be prouder of this team, and I believe our future is bright. You, our Associates, are the heart and soul
of <B><I>Our Winning Recipe</I>&#8482;</B>.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>Important Additional Information and Where to Find
It</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">The Company intends to file a proxy statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A,
an accompanying WHITE proxy card and other relevant documents with the SEC in connection with such solicitation of proxies from the Company&#8217;s
shareholders for the Company&#8217;s 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. <B>SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ
THE COMPANY&#8217;S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE
SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.</B> Investors and shareholders
may obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement, an accompanying WHITE proxy card, any amendments or supplements to the definitive
proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SEC&#8217;s website at www.sec.gov. Copies will
also be available at no charge by clicking the &#8220;SEC Filings&#8221; link in the &#8220;Investor Relations&#8221; section of our website,
www.spartannash.com, or by contacting SpartanNashIR@icrinc.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically
filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>Certain Information Regarding Participants to the
Solicitation</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">The Company, its directors and certain of its executive
officers are participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company&#8217;s shareholders in connection with matters to be considered
at the Company&#8217;s 2022&nbsp;annual meeting of shareholders. Information regarding the direct and indirect interests, by security
holdings or otherwise, of the Company&#8217;s directors and executive officers in the Company is included in the Company&#8217;s Proxy
Statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A for its 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2021, the Company&#8217;s
Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended January&nbsp;2, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 2, 2022, and in the Company&#8217;s
Current Reports on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the SEC from time to time. Changes to the direct or indirect interests of the Company&#8217;s
directors and executive officers are set forth in SEC filings on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form&nbsp;3 or Statements
of Change in Ownership on Form&nbsp;4. These documents are available free of charge as described above. Updated information regarding
the identities of potential participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, in the Company will
be set forth in the Company&#8217;s Proxy Statement for its 2022 annual meeting of shareholders and other relevant documents to be filed
with the SEC, if and when they become available.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>
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