CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2017 USD ($)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income including noncontrolling interests	$ (284,883)	$ 165,670	$ 130,155
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	65,800	0	0
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(350,683)	165,670	130,155
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	246,825	87,631	86,051
Share-based compensation	25,551	25,783	25,675
Loss on disposal of assets	2,859	2,820	943
Gain associated with disposal of investment	0	(699)	(6,106)
Closed property and other restructuring charges	26,875	0	640
Goodwill and asset impairments	292,770	11,242	0
Net pension and other postretirement benefit income	(34,553)	0	0
Deferred income tax benefit	(60,798)	(14,819)	(1,891)
LIFO charge	24,120	0	0
Change in accounting estimate	0	(20,909)	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,749	12,006	5,728
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,903	0	0
Excess tax deficit from share-based payment arrangements	0	0	1,320
Non-cash interest expense	12,751	275	175
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquired businesses
Accounts receivable	52,735	(67,283)	(38,757)
Inventories	177,094	(108,795)	(6,929)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(43,167)	4,473	(6,383)
Accounts payable	(40,149)	3,961	82,772
Accrued expenses, other liabilities and other	(169,760)	7,682	(62)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	175,122	109,038	273,331
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	109,408	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	284,530	109,038	273,331
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(207,817)	(44,608)	(56,112)
Purchases of acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	(2,292,435)	(39)	(9,207)
Proceeds from dispositions of assets	173,747	283	168
Proceeds from disposal of investments	0	756	9,192
Payments for long-term investment	(110)	(3,397)	(2,000)
Payment of company owned life insurance premiums	(170)	0	(2,000)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(2,326,785)	(47,005)	(59,959)
Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations	67,998	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,258,787)	(47,005)	(59,959)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	1,926,642	0	0
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit line	3,971,504	556,061	215,662
Proceeds from issuance of other loans	22,358	0	0
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit line	(3,101,679)	(569,671)	(418,693)
Repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(779,909)	(12,128)	(11,546)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(24,231)	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock and exercise of stock options	23,975	975	274
Payment of employee restricted stock tax withholdings	(2,727)	(4,563)	(1,313)
Excess tax deficit from share-based payment arrangements	0	0	(1,320)
Payments for debt issuance costs	(62,600)	0	(180)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations	1,997,564	(53,557)	(217,116)
Net cash used in by financing activities of discontinued operations	(1,212)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,996,352	(53,557)	(217,116)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH	(143)	(575)	565
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	21,952	7,901	(3,179)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	23,315	15,414	18,593
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	45,267	23,315	15,414
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,917)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	42,350	23,315	15,414
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	183,042	16,471	17,115
Cash paid for federal and state income taxes, net of refunds	$ 77,676	$ 64,042	$ 78,984