-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VAtZU1nrCD+P2r46PbDnmKKNh7GLLeb+LIpCfYk4Yyq0dfPYrclicLPOHfw9lYWp
 ht+shTIL1C57dLBxC40Syw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001301360-04-000001.txt : 20040824
<SEC-HEADER>0001301360-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040824
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040824141052
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001301360-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040824
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040824
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040824

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Provenzano Michael A Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001301360

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10815
		FILM NUMBER:		04993714

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		323-264-5200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5200 SHEILA STREET
		CITY:			COMMERCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90040

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNIFIED WESTERN GROCERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000320431
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & GENERAL LINE [5141]
		IRS NUMBER:				950615250
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5200 SHEILA STREET
		CITY:			COMMERCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3232645200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5200 SHEILA STREET
		CITY:			COMMERCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90040
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000320431</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNIFIED WESTERN GROCERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>none</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301360</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Provenzano Michael A Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 SHEILA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COMMERCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90040</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>246</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>163.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7025</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Pro &amp; Son's, Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>253</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>165.86</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7278</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Pro &amp; Son's, Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">P4</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael A Provenzano</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----