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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214414</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AMES A GARY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 500 (M/S 55-985)</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEAVERTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97077-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4665</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2642.751</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Directors Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6140</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6140</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6140</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 11.174 shares acquired 9/17/07 at a price of $39.6067, 12.049 shares acquired on 12/17/07 at a price of $36.8882, and 16.185 shares acquired 3/17/08 at a price of $27.5882 pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Issuer's Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant to reporting person of an option to purchase shares of common stock under the Issuer's 2007 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Vesting of option occurs 100% on the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rachel V. Friedenberg, Attorney in Fact for Gary A. Ames</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-05-28
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001214414
AMES A GARY
PO BOX 500 (M/S 55-985)
14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE
BEAVERTON
OR
97077-0001
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
4665
D
Common Stock
2642.751
I
by Directors Trust
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
35
2008-05-28
4
A
0
6140
0
A
2015-05-28
Common Stock
6140
6140
D
Includes 11.174 shares acquired 9/17/07 at a price of $39.6067, 12.049 shares acquired on 12/17/07 at a price of $36.8882, and 16.185 shares acquired 3/17/08 at a price of $27.5882 pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Issuer's Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan.
Grant to reporting person of an option to purchase shares of common stock under the Issuer's 2007 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.
Vesting of option occurs 100% on the date of grant.
Rachel V. Friedenberg, Attorney in Fact for Gary A. Ames
2008-05-30