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BENEFIT PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 01, 2026
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
BENEFIT PLANS
NOTE 13—BENEFIT PLANS

The Company’s employees who participate are covered by various contributory and non-contributory pension, 401(k) plans, and other health and welfare benefits. The Company’s primary defined benefit pension plans are the SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan and certain supplemental executive retirement plans. All of these plans are closed to new participants. Service crediting in the SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan ended for all participants as of December 31, 2007, and pay increases were reflected in the amount of benefits accrued in this plan until December 31, 2012. Approximately 56% of the 11,341 union employees participate in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under collective bargaining agreements. The remaining either participate in plans sponsored by the Company or are not currently eligible to participate in a retirement plan. In addition to sponsoring both defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, the Company provides healthcare and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees under postretirement benefit plans. The Company also provides certain health and welfare benefits, including short-term and long-term disability benefits, to inactive disabled employees prior to retirement. The terms of the postretirement benefit plans vary based on employment history, age and date of retirement. For many retirees, the Company provides a fixed dollar contribution and retirees pay contributions to fund the remaining cost.

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

For the defined benefit pension plans, the accumulated benefit obligation is equal to the projected benefit obligation. The benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets and funded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following:
20262025
(in millions)Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
Changes in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$1,418 $10 $1,505 $11 
Actuarial gain(42)(1)(50)(1)
Benefits paid(108)(1)(107)(1)
Interest cost67 1 70 1 
Benefit obligation at end of year1,335 9 1,418 10 
Changes in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year1,476 — 1,534 — 
Actual return on plan assets45 — 48 — 
Benefits paid(108)(1)(107)(1)
Employer contributions1 1 1 1 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year1,414 — 1,476 — 
Funded (unfunded) status at end of year$79 $(9)$58 $(10)

The actuarial gain on projected pension benefit obligations in fiscal 2026 was primarily the result of a 44-basis point increase in the discount rate on the SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan. The actuarial gain on projected pension benefit obligations in fiscal 2025 was primarily the result of a 28-basis point increase in the discount rate on the SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan.
The funded status of our pension benefits contains plans with individually funded and underfunded statuses. Our other postretirement benefits consist of one plan as shown above. The following table provides the funded status of individual projected pension benefit plan obligations and the fair value of plan assets for these plans:
(in millions)SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan
Other Pension Plan
Total Pension Benefits
August 1, 2026:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year$1,414 $— $1,414 
Benefit obligation at end of year(1,330)(5)(1,335)
Funded (unfunded) status at end of year$84 $(5)$79 
SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan
Other Pension Plan
Total Pension Benefits
August 2, 2025:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year$1,476 $— $1,476 
Benefit obligation at end of year(1,413)(5)(1,418)
Funded (unfunded) status at end of year$63 $(5)$58 

Net periodic benefit (income) cost and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized consist of the following:
202620252024
(in millions)Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsOther Postretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
Net Periodic Benefit (Income) Cost
Expected return on plan assets$(90)$— $(92)$— $(92)$— 
Interest cost67 1 70 1 74 1 
Amortization of prior service cost— — — 2 — 3 
Amortization of net actuarial gain— (1)— (1)— (1)
Net periodic benefit (income) cost(23)— (22)2 (18)3 
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefits Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net actuarial loss (gain)3 (1)(6)(1)3 — 
Amortization of prior service cost— — — (2)— (3)
Amortization of net actuarial loss— 1 — 1 — 1 
Total expense (benefit) recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss)3 — (6)(2)3 (2)
Total (benefit) expense recognized in net periodic benefit (income) cost and Other comprehensive income (loss)$(20)$— $(28)$— $(15)$1 

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 1, 2026 and August 2, 2025 consist of the following:
August 1, 2026August 2, 2025
(in millions)Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
Other long-term assets$85 $— $63 $— 
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations(5)(8)(5)(9)
Accrued compensation and benefits(1)(1)— (1)
Total$79 $(9)$58 $(10)
Benefit Plan Assumptions

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit (income) cost consisted of the following:
202620252024
Benefit obligation assumptions:
Discount rate
5.81% - 5.88%
5.37% - 5.43%
5.09% - 5.12%
Net periodic benefit (income) cost assumptions:
Discount rate
5.37% - 5.43%
5.09% - 5.12%
5.01% - 5.03%
Rate of compensation increase— — — 
Expected return on plan assets(1)
6.25 %
6.25%
6.25%
Interest credit 5.00 %5.00 %5.00 %
(1)    Expected return on plan assets is estimated by utilizing forward-looking, long-term return, risk and correlation assumptions developed and updated annually by the Company. These assumptions are weighted by the actual or target allocation to each underlying asset class represented in the pension plan master trust. The Company also assesses the expected long-term return on plan assets assumption by comparison to long-term historical performance on an asset class basis to ensure the assumption is reasonable. Long-term trends are also evaluated relative to market factors such as inflation, interest rates, and fiscal and monetary policies in order to assess the capital market assumptions.

The Company reviews and selects the discount rate to be used in connection with measuring its pension and other postretirement benefit obligations annually. In determining the discount rate, the Company uses the yield on corporate bonds (rated AA or better) that coincides with the cash flows of the plans’ estimated benefit payouts. The model uses a yield curve approach to discount each cash flow of the liability stream at an interest rate specifically applicable to the timing of each respective cash flow. The model totals the present values of all cash flows and calculates the equivalent weighted average discount rate by imputing the singular interest rate that equates the total present value with the stream of future cash flows. This resulting weighted average discount rate is then used in evaluating the final discount rate to be used.

For those retirees whose health plans provide for variable employer contributions, the assumed healthcare cost trend rate used in measuring the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation before age 65 was 8.10% as of August 1, 2026. The assumed healthcare cost trend rate for retirees before age 65 will decrease each year through fiscal 2035, until it reaches the ultimate trend rate of 4.50%. For those retirees whose health plans provide for variable employer contributions, the assumed healthcare cost trend rate used in measuring the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation after age 65 was 6.40% as of August 1, 2026.

Pension Plan Assets

Pension plan assets are held in a master trust and invested in separately managed accounts and commingled investment vehicles holding fixed income securities, domestic equity securities, private equity securities, international equity securities and real estate securities. The Company employs a liability hedging approach, targeting a level of risk commensurate with keeping pace with the long-term cost of funding plan liabilities. Risk is managed through diversification across asset classes, multiple investment manager portfolios and both general and portfolio-specific investment guidelines. Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of the plan liabilities, plan funded status and the Company’s financial condition. This asset allocation policy mix is reviewed annually and actual versus target allocations are monitored regularly and rebalanced on an as-needed basis. Plan assets are invested using a combination of active and passive investment strategies. Passive, or “indexed” strategies, attempt to mimic rather than exceed the investment performance of a market benchmark. The plan’s active investment strategies employ multiple investment management firms. Managers within each asset class cover a range of investment styles and approaches and are combined in a way that controls for capitalization, and style biases (equities) and interest rate exposures (fixed income) versus benchmark indices. Monitoring activities to evaluate performance against targets and measure investment risk take place on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies and quarterly investment portfolio reviews.
The asset allocation targets and the actual allocation of pension plan assets are as follows:
Asset CategoryTarget20262025
Fixed income85.0 %84.8 %84.9 %
Domestic equity6.9 %5.2 %6.9 %
Private equity2.0 %2.0 %2.5 %
International equity4.1 %6.5 %4.1 %
Real estate2.0 %1.5 %1.6 %
Total100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for investments measured at fair value:

Common stock - Valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the individual securities are traded.

Common collective trusts - Investments in common/collective trust funds are stated at net asset value (“NAV”) as determined by the issuer of the common/collective trust funds and is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. The majority of the common/collective trust funds have a readily determinable fair value and are classified as Level 2. Other investments in common/collective trust funds determine NAV on a less frequent basis and/or have redemption restrictions. For these investments, NAV is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value.

Corporate bonds - Valued based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings. When quoted prices are not available for identical or similar bonds, the fair value is based upon an industry valuation model, which maximizes observable inputs.

Government securities - Certain government securities are valued using prices provided by independent pricing services or other observable market inputs, including benchmark yields and matrix pricing methodologies.

Mortgage backed securities - Valued based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings. When quoted prices are not available for identical or similar securities, the fair value is based upon an industry valuation model, which maximizes observable inputs.

Private equity and real estate partnerships - Valued based on NAV provided by the investment manager, updated for any subsequent partnership interests’ cash flows or expected changes in fair value. The NAV is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value.

Other - Consists primarily of U.S. Treasury securities valued at the closing price reported in active markets for identical securities, options, futures, and money market investments priced at $1 per unit.

The valuation methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes our valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement.
The fair value of assets held in the master trust for defined benefit pension plans as of August 1, 2026, by asset category, consisted of the following:
(in millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured at NAV as a Practical ExpedientTotal
Common stock$49 $— $— $— $49 
Common collective trusts— 513 — — 513 
Corporate bonds— 557 — — 557 
Government securities— 130 — — 130 
Mortgage-backed securities— 25 — — 25 
Private equity and real estate partnerships— — — 52 52 
Other86 2 — — 88 
Total plan assets at fair value$135 $1,227 $— $52 $1,414 

The fair value of assets held in the master trust for defined benefit pension plans as of August 2, 2025, by asset category, consisted of the following:
(in millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured at NAV as a Practical ExpedientTotal
Common stock$49 $— $— $— $49 
Common collective trusts— 523 — — 523 
Corporate bonds— 573 — — 573 
Government securities— 148 — — 148 
Mortgage-backed securities— 25 — — 25 
Private equity and real estate partnerships— — — 60 60 
Other94 4 — — 98 
Total plan assets at fair value$143 $1,273 $— $60 $1,476 

Contributions

No cash pension contributions were required to be made to the SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan under the minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”) in fiscal 2026. The Company expects to contribute approximately $1 million to its other defined benefit pension plans and $1 million to its postretirement benefit plans in fiscal 2027.

The Company funds its defined benefit pension plans based on the minimum contribution required under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and other applicable laws, as determined by our external actuarial consultant, and additional contributions made at its discretion. The Company may accelerate contributions or undertake contributions in excess of the minimum requirements from time to time subject to the availability of cash in excess of operating and financing needs or other factors as may be applicable. The Company assesses the relative attractiveness of the use of cash considering such factors as expected return on assets, discount rates, cost of debt, reducing or eliminating required Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation variable rate premiums or the ability to achieve exemption from participant notices of underfunding.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The estimated future benefit payments to be made from our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal YearPension Benefits
Other Postretirement Benefits
2027$115 $1 
2028115 1 
2029115 1 
2030114 1 
2031113 1 
Years 2032-2036539 4 

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company sponsors a defined contribution and profit sharing plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees may contribute a portion of their eligible compensation to the plan on a pre-tax or after-tax Roth basis. The Company matches a portion of certain employee contributions by contributing cash into the investment options selected by the employees. The total amount contributed by the Company to the plan is determined by plan provisions or at the Company’s discretion. Total employer contribution expenses for this plan were $29 million, $31 million and $30 million for fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Post-Employment Benefits

The Company recognizes an obligation for benefits provided to former or inactive employees. The Company is self-insured for certain disability plan programs, which comprise the primary benefits paid to inactive employees prior to retirement.

As of August 1, 2026 there was $3 million of Accrued compensation and benefits and $1 million of Other long-term liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of August 2, 2025 there was $3 million of Accrued compensation and benefits and $1 million of Other long-term liabilities.

Multiemployer Pension Plans

The Company contributes to various multiemployer pension plans under collective bargaining agreements, primarily defined benefit pension plans. These multiemployer plans generally provide retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. The benefits are paid from assets held in trust for that purpose. Plan trustees are typically responsible for determining the level of benefits to be provided to participants as well as the investment of the assets and plan administration. Trustees are appointed in equal number by employers and the unions that are parties to the relevant collective bargaining agreements.

Expense is recognized in connection with these plans as contributions are funded, in accordance with GAAP. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from the risks associated with single-employer plans in the following respects:

•Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer are held in trust and may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
•If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.
•If the Company chose to stop participating in some multiemployer plans, or to make market exits or closures or otherwise have participation in the plan drop below certain levels, it may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
The Company’s participation in these plans is outlined in the table below. The EIN-Pension Plan Number column provides the Employer Identification Number (“EIN”) and the three-digit plan number, if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent Pension Protection Act (“PPA”) zone status relates to the plans’ most recent fiscal year-end for which information is available. The zone status is based on information that we received from the plan or that the plan otherwise makes available and is annually certified by each plan’s actuary. Among other factors, deep red zone status or critical and declining plans are generally less than 65% funded and are projected to become insolvent within 15 to 20 years, red zone status plans are generally less than 65% funded and are considered in critical status, yellow zone status plans are less than 80% funded and are considered in endangered or seriously endangered status, and green zone plans are at least 80% funded. The FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented column indicates plans for which a funding improvement plan (“FIP”) or a rehabilitation plan (“RP”) is either pending or has been implemented by the trustees of each plan. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) established the Special Financial Assistance (“SFA”) Program to permit financially troubled multiemployer plans to apply to receive a cash payment intended to keep plans solvent and able to pay benefits through 2051. As of August 1, 2026, three plans to which the Company contributes have received SFA.

Certain plans have been aggregated in the All Other Multiemployer Pension Plans line in the following table, as the contributions to each of these plans are not individually material. The collective bargaining agreements specify the contribution rates per unit to these plans and do not specify a minimum dollar amount.

At the date the financial statements were issued, Form 5500 for these plans were generally not available for the plan years ending in 2025.

The following table contains information about the Company’s significant multiemployer plans from which the Company has not withdrawn (in millions):
Pension Protection Act Zone StatusContributions
Pension FundEIN-Pension
Plan Number		Plan
Month/Day
End Date		Most Recent AvailableFIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented202620252024
Surcharges Imposed(1)
Teamsters Retirement Pension Plan (f/k/a/ Minneapolis Food Distributing Industry Pension Plan)416047047-00112/31GreenNo$11 $11 $11 No
Minneapolis Retail Meat Cutters and Food Handlers Pension Plan410905139-0012/28RedImplemented10 10 11 No
Minneapolis Retail Meat Cutters and Food Handlers Variable Annuity Pension Plan832598425-00112/31NANA3 3 3 NA
Central States, Southeast & Southwest Areas Pension Plan366044243-00112/31RedImplemented3 5 5 No
UFCW Unions and Participating Employers Pension Fund526117495-00212/31 RedImplemented2 3 3 No
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan 916145047-00112/31GreenNo15 14 12 No
All Other Multiemployer Pension Plans(2)
1 2 2 
Total$45 $48 $47 
(1)    PPA surcharges are 5% or 10% of eligible contributions and may not apply to all collective bargaining agreements or total contributions to each plan.
(2)    All Other Multiemployer Pension Plans includes 3 plans, none of which are individually significant when considering contributions to the plan, severity of the underfunded status or other factors.
The following table describes the expiration of the Company’s collective bargaining agreements associated with the significant multiemployer plans in which we participate:
Most Significant Collective Bargaining Agreement
Pension FundRange of Collective Bargaining Agreement Expiration DatesTotal Collective Bargaining AgreementsExpiration Date
% of Associates under Collective Bargaining Agreement (1)
Over 5% Contributions 2025
Teamsters Retirement Pension Plan (f/k/a/ Minneapolis Food Distributing Industry Pension Plan)5/31/20301 5/31/2030100.0 %☒
Minneapolis Retail Meat Cutters and Food Handlers Pension Plan3/4/20281 3/4/2028100.0 %☒
Minneapolis Retail Meat Cutters and Food Handlers Variable Annuity Pension Plan3/4/20281 3/4/2028100.0 %☒
Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan5/31/2027 - 6/1/20304 5/31/202967.7 %☐
UFCW Unions and Participating Employers Pension Fund
7/11/2026(2)
2 
7/11/2026(2)
69.9 %☒
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan9/20/2026 - 1/17/203018 3/20/202743.8 %☐
(1)Company participating employees in the most significant collective bargaining agreement as a percent of all Company employees represented under the applicable collective bargaining agreements.
(2)These collective bargaining agreements have been extended.

As of August 1, 2026, accrued multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liabilities included in Other long-term liabilities and Accrued compensation and benefits were $68 million and $6 million, respectively, for 14 multiemployer plans. As of August 2, 2025 amounts included in Other long-term liabilities and Accrued compensation and benefits were $61 million and $6 million, respectively. Payments associated with these liabilities are required to be made over varying time periods, but principally over the next 20 years.

Multiemployer Benefit Plans Other than Pensions

The Company also makes contributions to multiemployer health and welfare plans in amounts set forth in the related collective bargaining agreements. These plans provide medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and other ancillary benefits to active employees and retirees as determined by the trustees of each plan. The vast majority of the Company’s contributions benefit active employees and as such, may not constitute contributions to a postretirement benefit plan. With respect to most multiemployer health and welfare plans to which the Company contributes, contribution amounts to postretirement benefit plans are not able to be separated from contribution amounts paid to benefit active employees.

The Company contributed $104 million, $90 million and $88 million in fiscal 2026, fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, respectively, to multiemployer health and welfare plans. If healthcare provisions within these plans cannot be renegotiated in a manner that reduces the prospective healthcare cost as we intend, our Operating expenses could increase in the future.

Collective Bargaining Agreements

As of August 1, 2026, we had 23,431 full and part-time employees, 11,341 of whom were covered by 64 collective bargaining agreements, including existing agreements under negotiation. During fiscal 2026, eight collective bargaining agreements covering 1,956 employees were renegotiated, including five collective bargaining covering 1,244 employees that have tentative agreements in place, pending ratification. During fiscal 2026, four collective bargaining agreements covering 853 employees expired without their terms being renegotiated. Extensions are in place, and negotiations are expected to continue with the bargaining units representing the employees subject to those agreements. Additionally, seven new collective bargaining agreements covering 1,328 employees were negotiated. During fiscal 2027, 24 collective bargaining agreements covering 2,424 employees are scheduled to expire.