Selected Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Mar. 24, 2012

Sep. 24, 2011

Selected Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using a weighted average method for propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas, and a standard cost basis for appliances, which approximates average cost. Inventories consist of the following:

	As of
	March 24, 2012		September 24, 2011
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$	65,879	$	64,601
Appliances and related parts		1,408		1,306
	$	67,287	$	65,907

Inventories consist of the following:

	As of
	September 24,		September 25,
	2011		2010
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$	64,601	$	59,836
Appliances and related parts		1,306		1,211
	$	65,907	$	61,047

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

	As of
	September 24,		September 25,
	2011		2010
Land and improvements	$	27,904	$	28,250
Buildings and improvements		82,639		80,072
Transportation equipment		19,067		22,959
Storage facilities		79,525		78,176
Equipment, primarily tanks and cylinders		485,859		481,423
Computer systems		47,718		44,705
Construction in progress		2,704		5,290
		745,416		740,875
Less: accumulated depreciation		407,291		390,455
	$	338,125	$	350,420