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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220067</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSON MARISSA T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7777 GATEWAY BLVD., MS UNWK11-206</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94560</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.795</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-09-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of an option, effective the date the person became a director, to purchase shares of common stock under Issuer's 2002 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.     </footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Warren E. Simpson, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Marissa T. Peterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-09-18
0
0000095521
SUPERVALU INC
SVU
0001220067
PETERSON MARISSA T
SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC.
7777 GATEWAY BLVD., MS UNWK11-206
NEWARK
CA
94560
1
0
0
0
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
24.795
2003-09-18
4
A
0
6000
0
A
2003-09-18
2013-09-18
Common Stock
6000
6000
D
Grant to reporting person of an option, effective the date the person became a director, to purchase shares of common stock under Issuer's 2002 Stock Plan (which includes tax withholding rights) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.
By: Warren E. Simpson, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Marissa T. Peterson
2003-09-18