ShopKo January Comps Up 3.2%

ShopKo Stores reported consolidated sales for the four weeks ended January 31, 2004 increased 3.2 percent to $199.3 million from $193.0 million during the same period last year. Consolidated comparable store sales
increased 3.2 percent.

Consolidated comparable store sales for the fiscal thirteen weeks and the
fiscal fifty-two weeks ended January 31, 2004 declined 0.5 percent and
1.6 percent, respectively.

           Sales Summary by Business Segment (dollars in millions)

    Retail Segments              Period Ended               % Change
    4 Weeks:                        1/31/04           Total**        Comp*

      ShopKo                         $150.6            3.6  %         3.6  %
      Pamida                           48.7            2.0            2.0
      Total Retail                   $199.3            3.2  %         3.2  %

    13 Weeks:
      ShopKo                         $725.6           (1.4) %        (1.4) %
      Pamida                          227.0            2.2            2.5
      Total Retail                   $952.6           (0.6) %        (0.5) %

    52 Weeks:
      ShopKo                       $2,383.5           (3.0) %        (3.0) %
      Pamida                          800.3            2.1            2.7
    Total Retail                   $3,183.8           (1.7) %        (1.6) %

*Comparable store sales represent sales of those stores open during both
fiscal years.

** Pamida division total sales variance reflects sales in the prior year
periods from nine locations, which have been closed and not replaced, and two
new Pamida locations opened in the month of September.

The company expects consolidated comparable store sales for the month of
February to be flat compared with last year.