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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-10-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221486</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BESANKO BRUCE H</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 Chief Oper Officer and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-10-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1737.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>214534</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price per share was based on the fair market value of the Issuer's common stock on Friday October 21, 2016, which was the next preceding trading day of the scheduled vesting of the restricted stock award on Sunday, October 23, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Stuart McFarland, Attorney in Fact For: Bruce Besanko</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-10-23
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001221486
BESANKO BRUCE H
11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD
EDEN PRAIRIE
MN
55344
0
1
0
0
EVP Chief Oper Officer and CFO
Common Stock
2016-10-23
4
F
0
1737.0
4.5
D
214534
D
The price per share was based on the fair market value of the Issuer's common stock on Friday October 21, 2016, which was the next preceding trading day of the scheduled vesting of the restricted stock award on Sunday, October 23, 2016.
By: Stuart McFarland, Attorney in Fact For: Bruce Besanko
2016-10-24