COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
May 19, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012 item
Pension Benefits
Commitments and Contingencies
Expected contribution in 2012	$ 75
UFCW Consolidated Pension Plan
Commitments and Contingencies
Accrual related to the UFCW consolidated pension plan	311	311
Number of multi-employer pension funds before consolidation		4
Number of multi-employer pension plans after the consolidation		1
Ralphs Grocery Company and Subsidiaries tax litigation
Commitments and Contingencies
Maximum period of filing the appeal (in days)	90
Estimated liability upon an adverse decision	$ 561

Maximum period over which appeal can be filed against the decision given by the court.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the number of multi-employer pension funds before being consoldiated into one multi-employer pension fund.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the number of multi-employer pension funds after the consolidation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount represents the Companys accrued contractual obligation related to the UFCW consolidated pension plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph g

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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