<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-02-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERVALU INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217660</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUNCAN SAM K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDEN PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55344</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500000.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-02-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500000.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500000.0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to purchase common stock in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Vesting occurs in three equal annual installments on each anniversary of the Grant Date, with accelerated vesting if the Company's stock price (i) at least doubles the exercise price of the Grant, and (ii) stays at or above such doubled stock price level for at least 20 consecutive trading days.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Jeffrey J. Steinle, Attorney in Fact For: Sammy Kaye Duncan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-02-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-02-04
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001217660
DUNCAN SAM K
11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD
EDEN PRAIRIE
MN
55344
0
1
0
0
President & CEO
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
3.88
2013-02-04
4
A
0
1500000.0
0.0
A
2023-02-04
Common Stock
1500000.0
1500000.0
D
Grant to reporting person of option to purchase common stock in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.
Vesting occurs in three equal annual installments on each anniversary of the Grant Date, with accelerated vesting if the Company's stock price (i) at least doubles the exercise price of the Grant, and (ii) stays at or above such doubled stock price level for at least 20 consecutive trading days.
By: Jeffrey J. Steinle, Attorney in Fact For: Sammy Kaye Duncan
2013-02-06