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                           Marsh: News Releases



Contact:        
Jodi Marsh
Marsh Supermarkets Inc.
(317) 594-2640

Barry Doss
Engledow Group
(317) 924-2444
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                             March 2, 2000


              MARSH SUPERMARKETS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF
              McNAMARA AND ENFLORA (FLORAL/RETAIL) STORES

INDIANAPOLIS -Marsh Supermarkets Inc. announces the acquisition of McNamara 
Florist and Enflora, Flowers for Business.  Both McNamara and Enflora had 
previously been owned by the Engledow Group. 

"We are very pleased to bring these strong, established brands under the 
Marsh umbrella," said Don E. Marsh, Chairman and CEO of Marsh Supermarkets 
Inc. "They represent a perfect fit for expanding Marsh in the Indianapolis 
floral market beyond our grocery operations."

The three McNamara stores - located in Broad Ripple, Clearwater and Carmel - 
and the Enflora Design Gallery store in downtown Indianapolis will continue 
to operate under their respective names.  McNamara and Enflora will continue 
to operate out of their design center in Carmel, Indiana, and the operations 
will be unaffected by the change in ownership. 

"McNamara was acquired by the Engledow Group in 1989 and Enflora was formed 
the following year.  Both have been valued members of our family" said Ed 
Engledow, President of the Engledow Group.  "In the 68 years since our 
founding, we have never made a major business decision such as this that 
wasn't based on our sincere belief that it was in the best interest of our 
clients and our employees."  

"Now, as we focus on our interior plant leasing, exterior landscaping and 
grounds maintenance, and special events businesses, we are excited about 
the new possibilities for both companies," Engledow added. "The commitment 
that Marsh has pledged to the on-going operations of Enflora and McNamara 
is a wonderful opportunity for both organizations to grow and realize even 
greater success."

Toomie Farris, general manager of Engledow Group's floral business, will 
continue to lead these operations as President and Chief Operating Officer 
of McNamara and Enflora.  "Marsh Supermarkets' strategy of adding distinctive 
specialty businesses - such as Crystal Catering and now McNamara and Enflora - 
to their corporate umbrella makes this transition a natural fit," he said.  
"It will be good for the employees and customers of both floral operations." 

The Engledow Group was founded in central Indiana in 1932 as a family-owned 
and operated company.  Today, the second and third generations of the 
Engledow family oversee the business, which consists of Engledow Interior - 
Plants for Business, Engledow Exterior - Landscapes for Business, and 
Engledow Events - Special Occasions for Business.

Marsh Supermarkets, one of the largest regional grocery chains in the United 
States, owns and operates 70 Marsh Supermarkets, 22 LoBill Foods stores, 
1 Savin*$, and 181 Village Pantry convenience stores in central Indiana 
and western Ohio. The company also operates Convenience Store Distributing 
Company (CSDC), a wholesale food and grocery merchandise company that 
services 1,300 stores in a nine-state area and Crystal Food Service (SM Reg.), 
which provides catering, cafeteria management and vending in Indiana. 

Marsh Supermarkets is a publicly held company which employs 14,000 people 
through its various divisions, principally in a two-state area. Marsh common 
stock is traded on the NASDAQ (MARSA and MARSB).

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