Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Nov. 29, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Statement of Registrant The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of SUPERVALU INC. (“SUPERVALU” or the “Company”) for the third quarters and year-to-date periods ended November 29, 2014 and November 30, 2013 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments that are of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial condition and results of operations for such periods. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 22, 2014. The results of operations for the third quarter and year-to-date period ended November 29, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of February 22, 2014 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of that date. Accounting Policies The summary of significant accounting policies is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 22, 2014. Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in February. During fiscal 2015, the Company’s first quarter consists of 16 weeks, the second and third quarters both consist of 12 weeks, the fourth quarter consists of 13 weeks and the fiscal year ending February 28, 2015 consists of 53 weeks. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s banking arrangements allow the Company to fund outstanding checks when presented to the financial institution for payment. The Company funds all intraday bank balance overdrafts during the same business day. Checks outstanding in excess of bank balances create book overdrafts, which are recorded in Accounts payable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are reflected as an operating activity in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As of November 29, 2014 and February 22, 2014, the Company had net book overdrafts of $157 and $134, respectively. Inventories, Net Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Substantially all of the Company’s inventories consist of finished goods and a substantial portion of the Company’s inventories have a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) reserve applied. Interim LIFO calculations are based on the Company’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs, as the actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method is computed at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. If the first-in, first-out method had been used, Inventories, net would have been higher by approximately $209 at November 29, 2014 and $202 at February 22, 2014. The Company recorded a LIFO charge of $3 and LIFO credit of $1 for the third quarters ended November 29, 2014 and November 30, 2013, respectively. The Company recorded a LIFO charge of $7 and a LIFO credit of $2 for the year-to-date periods ended November 29, 2014 and November 30, 2013, respectively. Revisions In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company revised the presentation of noncontrolling interests as reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Noncontrolling interests primarily include minority ownership interests in entities operating certain stores under the Cub Foods banner within Retail Food. Pursuant to the terms of the ownership agreements, the Company is required to distribute cash flows generated by these entities on a proportionate basis based on ownership interest. Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests were previously presented within Selling and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and have been revised to a separate presentation in Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests were previously presented in Other long-term liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and have been revised as a component of Stockholders’ deficit. Distributions to noncontrolling interests were previously presented as a reduction of cash flows from operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and have been revised as distributions to noncontrolling interests within financing activities. In addition, the Company revised the presentation of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was previously presented in Net sales and has been revised to a separate presentation in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. The revisions did not impact Net earnings attributable to SUPERVALU INC. or net earnings per share for any period. Management has determined that the presentation changes are not material to any period reported. Prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current period presentation. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance under accounting standard update (“ASU”) 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, A Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward (“NOL”) or tax credit carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. This ASU requires entities to assess whether to net the unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset as of the reporting date. The Company adopted ASU 2013-11 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, which resulted in a reclassification of $1 of unrecognized tax benefits and other credits against deferred tax assets. In April 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance under ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. Under this ASU, disposals classified as discontinued operations must represent a strategic shift that is expected to have a major effect on operations and financial results. The ASU no longer precludes presentation as discontinued operations if there is significant continuing involvement after disposal. Certain disclosures for disposals of individually significant components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations presentation are also required. This ASU is effective prospectively for disposals that have not been reported in previously issued financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2014-08 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In May 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance under ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 supersedes existing revenue recognition requirements and provides a new comprehensive revenue recognition model requiring entities to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU will be adopted by the Company during the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Adoption is allowed by either the full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating which approach it will apply and the potential adoption impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Statement of Registrant

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of SUPERVALU INC. (“SUPERVALU” or the “Company”) for the third quarters and year-to-date periods ended November 29, 2014 and November 30, 2013 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments that are of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial condition and results of operations for such periods. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 22, 2014. The results of operations for the third quarter and year-to-date period ended November 29, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of February 22, 2014 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of that date.

Accounting Policies

The summary of significant accounting policies is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 22, 2014.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in February. During fiscal 2015, the Company’s first quarter consists of 16 weeks, the second and third quarters both consist of 12 weeks, the fourth quarter consists of 13 weeks and the fiscal year ending February 28, 2015 consists of 53 weeks.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s banking arrangements allow the Company to fund outstanding checks when presented to the financial institution for payment. The Company funds all intraday bank balance overdrafts during the same business day. Checks outstanding in excess of bank balances create book overdrafts, which are recorded in Accounts payable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are reflected as an operating activity in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As of November 29, 2014 and February 22, 2014, the Company had net book overdrafts of $157 and $134, respectively.

Inventories, Net

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Substantially all of the Company’s inventories consist of finished goods and a substantial portion of the Company’s inventories have a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) reserve applied. Interim LIFO calculations are based on the Company’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs, as the actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method is computed at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. If the first-in, first-out method had been used, Inventories, net would have been higher by approximately $209 at November 29, 2014 and $202 at February 22, 2014. The Company recorded a LIFO charge of $3 and LIFO credit of $1 for the third quarters ended November 29, 2014 and November 30, 2013, respectively. The Company recorded a LIFO charge of $7 and a LIFO credit of $2 for the year-to-date periods ended November 29, 2014 and November 30, 2013, respectively.

Revisions

In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company revised the presentation of noncontrolling interests as reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Noncontrolling interests primarily include minority ownership interests in entities operating certain stores under the Cub Foods banner within Retail Food. Pursuant to the terms of the ownership agreements, the Company is required to distribute cash flows generated by these entities on a proportionate basis based on ownership interest. Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests were previously presented within Selling and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and have been revised to a separate presentation in Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests were previously presented in Other long-term liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and have been revised as a component of Stockholders’ deficit. Distributions to noncontrolling interests were previously presented as a reduction of cash flows from operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and have been revised as distributions to noncontrolling interests within financing activities.

In addition, the Company revised the presentation of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was previously presented in Net sales and has been revised to a separate presentation in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. The revisions did not impact Net earnings attributable to SUPERVALU INC. or net earnings per share for any period. Management has determined that the presentation changes are not material to any period reported. Prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current period presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance under accounting standard update (“ASU”) 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, A Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward (“NOL”) or tax credit carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. This ASU requires entities to assess whether to net the unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset as of the reporting date. The Company adopted ASU 2013-11 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, which resulted in a reclassification of $1 of unrecognized tax benefits and other credits against deferred tax assets.

In April 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance under ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. Under this ASU, disposals classified as discontinued operations must represent a strategic shift that is expected to have a major effect on operations and financial results. The ASU no longer precludes presentation as discontinued operations if there is significant continuing involvement after disposal. Certain disclosures for disposals of individually significant components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations presentation are also required. This ASU is effective prospectively for disposals that have not been reported in previously issued financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2014-08 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance under ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 supersedes existing revenue recognition requirements and provides a new comprehensive revenue recognition model requiring entities to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU will be adopted by the Company during the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Adoption is allowed by either the full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating which approach it will apply and the potential adoption impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.