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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-07-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214546</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HERRING J ANDREW</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>EVP RE Market Dev &amp; Legal</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-07-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to purchase shares of common stock under the Issuer's 2012 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Vesting occurs at 33% in three equal annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the Grant Date.  The extra share, if applicable, will vest on the first anniversary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Todd N. Sheldon, Attorney in Fact for J. Andrew Herring</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4200}]
X0306
4
2012-07-17
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001214546
HERRING J ANDREW
11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD
EDEN PRAIRIE
MN
55344
0
1
0
0
EVP RE Market Dev & Legal
Non-Qualified Stock Option
2.28
2012-07-17
4
A
0
125000
0
A
2022-07-17
Common Stock
125000
125000
D
Grant to reporting person of option to purchase shares of common stock under the Issuer's 2012 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3).
Vesting occurs at 33% in three equal annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the Grant Date.  The extra share, if applicable, will vest on the first anniversary.
Todd N. Sheldon, Attorney in Fact for J. Andrew Herring
2012-07-19