Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Percent To Sales) (Unaudited)	3 Months Ended
Jun. 18, 2011	Jun. 19, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	100.00%	100.00%
Cost of sales	77.90%	77.50%
Gross profit	22.10%	22.50%
Selling and administrative expenses	19.60%	19.90%
Operating earnings	2.50%	2.60%
Interest expense	1.40%	1.50%
Earnings before income taxes	1.10%	1.10%
Income tax provision	0.50%	0.50%
Net earnings	0.70%	0.60%

Cost of goods and services sold as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

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Gross profit as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_GrossProfitPercentToNetSales
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Operating earnings (loss) as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsPercentNetToSales
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Income tax provision as a percent of consolidated net sales.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Interest expense, net as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_InterestExpenseNetPercentToNetSales
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Net earnings (loss) as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_NetIncomeLossPercentToNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	svu
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Operating income (loss) as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_OperatingIncomeLossPercentToNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	svu
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Sales revenue, net as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_SalesRevenueNetPercentToNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	svu
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

Name:	svu_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensePercentToNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	svu
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration