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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-28</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-06-02</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217313</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KEITH GARNETT L JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SEABRIDGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 SPRINGFIELD AVE, STE 301</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUMMIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.935</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3042</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-06-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3042</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 2, 2004, the Issuer mistakenly included a transaction on a Form 4 filed on behalf of the Reporting Person, reporting the grant of a derivative sescurity, an option to purchase 3,042 shares of the Issuer's common stock, in connection with a transaction occuring proximate to that date that normally gives rise to such a grant. However, the grant was subject to approval of the compensation committee of the Board of Directors, which did not occur until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the committee held on October 6, 2004.

This filing is intended to amend the June 2, 2004 filing by removing the reference to the grant of the derivative security reported thereon.  A report on Form 4 was subsequently timely filed on October 8, 2004, reporting the grant to the Reporting Person of an option to purchase 3,042 shares of the Issuer's common stock, as approved by the compensation committee on October 6, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Warren E. Simpson, Attorney-in-Fact for Garnett L. Keith, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

