Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Percent To Sales) (Unaudited)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Sep. 10, 2011	Sep. 11, 2010	Sep. 10, 2011	Sep. 11, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Cost of sales	77.80%	77.70%	77.80%	77.60%
Gross profit	22.20%	22.30%	22.20%	22.40%
Selling and administrative expenses	19.70%	20.00%	19.60%	19.90%
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges		18.50%		7.90%
Operating earnings (loss)	2.60%	(16.10%)	2.50%	(5.40%)
Interest expense, net	1.40%	1.50%	1.40%	1.50%
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1.10%	(17.60%)	1.10%	(6.90%)
Income tax provision (benefit)	0.40%	(0.70%)	0.40%	0.00%
Net earnings (loss)	0.70%	(17.00%)	0.70%	(6.90%)

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

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

Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges.

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

Gross profit as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

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

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

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

Income tax provision as a percent of consolidated net sales.

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

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

Name:	svu_InterestExpenseNetPercentToNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	svu
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

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration