The aggregate fair value at grant date for restricted units awarded during the period.

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The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the deferred compensation arrangement.

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Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements. Represents currently earned compensation under compensation arrangements that is not actually paid until a later date.

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As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

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The weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, using a decimal to express in number of years.

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Equity-based compensation cost during the period with respect to the award, which will be recognized in income (as well as the total recognized tax benefit) or capitalized as part of the cost of an asset.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

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The weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect during the reporting period as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event specified in the contractual agreement of the plan.

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

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The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Description of pertinent provisions of equity-based compensation awards that have actual or potential impact upon the company's financial statements.

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Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2010	Jun. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2010	Sep. 25, 2010
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total number of Common Units authorized for issuance under the Restricted Unit Plans	1,906,971		1,906,971
Restricted Unit Plans, terms of award			Unless otherwise stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Supervisors on or before the grant date, restricted units issued under the Restricted Unit Plans vest over time with 25 of the Common Units vesting on the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date and the remaining 50 of the Common Units vesting on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. The Restricted Unit Plans participants are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions or vote their respective restricted units until vested. Because each restricted unit represents a promise to issue a Common Unit at a future date, restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting.
Aggregate grant date fair value of restricted units awarded			$ 4,769
Units
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)			481,267
Awarded (in shares)			116,033
Forfeited (in shares)			(21,839)
Issued (in shares)			(105,432)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	470,029		470,029
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit
Outstanding, beginning of period (in dollars per share)			$ 29.67
Awarded (in dollars per share)			$ 41.10
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$ (34.56)		$ (34.56)
Issued (in dollars per share)			$ (27.52)
Outstanding, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 32.74		$ 32.74
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under the Restricted Unit Plans	6,437		6,437
Weighted-average period over which compensation cost associated with unvested awards is expected to be recognized (in years)			1.7
Compensation expense - Restricted Unit Plans (RUP)	737	1,136	3,136	3,153
Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted Unit Plans, terms of award			The Partnership has a non-qualified, unfunded long-term incentive plan for officers and key employees (the “LTIP”) which provides for payment, in the form of cash, of an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period. The level of compensation earned under the LTIP is based on the market performance of the Partnership's Common Units on the basis of total return to Unitholders (“TRU”) compared to the TRU of a predetermined peer group consisting solely of other master limited partnerships, approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Supervisors, over the same three-year performance period.
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit
Compensation expense - Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)	31	432	1,532	2,052
Liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) related to estimated future payments under the LTIP	$ 5,194		$ 5,194		$ 6,258