CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010
Revenues
Propane	$ 843,648	$ 929,492	$ 885,459
Fuel oil and refined fuels	114,288	139,572	135,059
Natural gas and electricity	67,419	84,721	77,587
All other	38,103	36,767	38,589
Total revenue	1,063,458	1,190,552	1,136,694
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold	599,059	678,719	598,451
Operating	298,772	279,329	289,567
General and administrative	59,020	51,648	61,656
Acquisition-related costs	17,916	0	0
Severance charge	0	2,000	0
Pension settlement charge	0	0	2,818
Depreciation and amortization	45,790	35,628	30,834
Total expenses	1,020,557	1,047,324	983,326
Operating income	42,901	143,228	153,368
Loss on debt extinguishment	(2,249)	0	(9,473)
Interest income	10	16	61
Interest expense	(38,643)	(27,394)	(27,458)
Income before provision for income taxes	2,019	115,850	116,498
Provision for income taxes	137	884	1,182
Net income	$ 1,882	$ 114,966	$ 115,316
Income per Common Unit - basic (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.05	$ 3.24	$ 3.26
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic (in units)	38,848	35,525	35,374
Income per Common Unit - diluted (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.05	$ 3.22	$ 3.24
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted (in units)	38,990	35,723	35,613