DEBT OBLIGATIONS (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012 D unit	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2012 Commercial paper	Jan. 28, 2012 UFCW Consolidated Pension Plan	Jan. 28, 2012 Amended and extended unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on January 25, 2017 denominator numerator	Jan. 25, 2012 Amended and extended unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on January 25, 2017	Jan. 28, 2012 Amended and extended unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on January 25, 2017 LIBOR plus a market rate spread based on the company's leverage ratio	Jan. 28, 2012 Amended and extended unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on January 25, 2017 Bank of America prime rate	Jan. 28, 2012 Amended and extended unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on January 25, 2017 Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5 percent	Jan. 28, 2012 Amended and extended unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on January 25, 2017 One-month LIBOR plus 1.0 percent plus a market rate spread based on the company's leverage ratio
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 2,000
Additional borrowing capacity					500
Debt instrument variable basis rate							LIBOR plus a market rate spread based on the company's leverage ratio	Bank of America prime rate	Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5 percent	One-month LIBOR plus 1.0 percent plus a market rate spread based on the company's leverage ratio
Interest rate margin (as a percent)									0.50%	1.00%
Maximum leverage ratio, numerator					3.50
Maximum leverage ratio, denominator					1.00
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, numerator					1.70
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, denominator					1.00
Maximum amount excluded from expense related to the commitment to fund the UFCW consolidated pension plan				1,000
Total debt	7,743	7,434	370
Line of credit agreement
Number of uncommitted money market lines	2
Money market lines aggregate amount	75
Outstanding letters of credit	261
Reduction in funds available under letter of credit agreement	19
Minimum number of days notice required prior to the date of redemption	5
Redemption event	50.00%
Aggregate annual maturities and scheduled payments of long-term debt, as of year-end 2011, and for the years subsequent to 2011
2012	1,275
2013	1,514
2014	374
2015	517
2016	463
Thereafter	3,600
Total debt	$ 7,743	$ 7,434	$ 370