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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001571710</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Van Buskirk Mark L</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  Merch  Marketing &amp; Retail</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>34130.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34130</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>78211.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>78211</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78211</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of restricted stock to reporting person pursuant to the Issuer's 2012 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant to reporting person of option to purchase shares of common stock under Issuer's 2012 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Vesting occurs and the option becomes exercisable as to 34% of the shares on the first anniversary, 33% of the shares on the second anniversary and 33% of the shares on the third anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Stuart McFarland, Attorney in Fact For: Mark L Van Buskirk</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-04-30
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001571710
Van Buskirk Mark L
11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD
EDEN PRAIRIE
MN
55344
0
1
0
0
EVP  Merch  Marketing & Retail
Common Stock
2015-04-30
4
A
0
34130.0
0.0
A
34130
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
8.79
2015-04-30
4
A
0
78211.0
0.0
A
2025-04-30
Common Stock
78211
78211
D
Award of restricted stock to reporting person pursuant to the Issuer's 2012 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.
Grant to reporting person of option to purchase shares of common stock under Issuer's 2012 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.
Vesting occurs and the option becomes exercisable as to 34% of the shares on the first anniversary, 33% of the shares on the second anniversary and 33% of the shares on the third anniversary of the grant date.
By: Stuart McFarland, Attorney in Fact For: Mark L Van Buskirk
2015-05-01