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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-08-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001331300</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SALES WAYNE C</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, CEO &amp; Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>447155.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-08-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>447155.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>447155.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>447155.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-08-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>447155.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>447155.0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The performance stock units represent a contingent right to receive shares of SUPERVALU common stock on the second anniversary of the grant date based on achievement of the performance criteria set forth in the award agreement.  The number of performance stock units set forth above reflects the target number of shares of common stock subject to the award.  The actual number of shares of common stock to be issued to the holder upon vesting of the performance stock units will be determined one year from the date of grant and can range from 0% to 300% of the target number of shares listed above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of SUPERVALU common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted stock units will be converted into shares of SUPERVALU common stock on the second anniversary of the grant date, unless such units were vested and converted earlier upon a change of control of the company or upon the holder's separation from service, death or disability.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Todd N. Sheldon, Attorney in Fact For: Wayne C. Sales</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "edgardoc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 7045}]
X0306
4
2012-08-02
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001331300
SALES WAYNE C
11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD
EDEN PRAIRIE
MN
55344
1
1
0
0
President, CEO & Chairman
Performance Shares
0.0
2012-08-02
4
A
0
447155.0
0.0
A
2014-08-02
2014-08-02
Common Stock
447155.0
447155.0
D
Restricted Stock Units
0.0
2012-08-02
4
A
0
447155.0
0.0
A
2014-08-02
Common Stock
447155.0
447155.0
D
The performance stock units represent a contingent right to receive shares of SUPERVALU common stock on the second anniversary of the grant date based on achievement of the performance criteria set forth in the award agreement.  The number of performance stock units set forth above reflects the target number of shares of common stock subject to the award.  The actual number of shares of common stock to be issued to the holder upon vesting of the performance stock units will be determined one year from the date of grant and can range from 0% to 300% of the target number of shares listed above.
Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of SUPERVALU common stock.
The restricted stock units will be converted into shares of SUPERVALU common stock on the second anniversary of the grant date, unless such units were vested and converted earlier upon a change of control of the company or upon the holder's separation from service, death or disability.
By: Todd N. Sheldon, Attorney in Fact For: Wayne C. Sales
2012-08-03