ACQUISITIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Jul. 30, 2011	Oct. 29, 2011 Wholesale	Oct. 30, 2010 Wholesale	Oct. 29, 2011 Wholesale UNFI Canada	Oct. 29, 2011 Other Y M	Oct. 30, 2010 Other	Aug. 01, 2009 Other entity	Oct. 29, 2011 Whole Foods Distribution Wholesale	Oct. 30, 2010 Whole Foods Distribution Wholesale	Oct. 29, 2011 SunOpta Distribution Group ("SDG") Wholesale	Oct. 30, 2010 SunOpta Distribution Group ("SDG") Wholesale
Acquisitions
Net sales	$ 1,217,428,000	$ 1,052,967,000		$ 1,203,082,000	$ 1,039,775,000		$ 42,468,000	$ 44,373,000		$ 25,400,000	$ 14,700,000	$ 52,700,000	$ 44,700,000
Increase to intangible assets in recognition of ongoing contingent consideration payments							100,000
Ongoing contingent consideration payments in the form of royalties as a percentage of net sales, low end of range (as a percent)							2.00%
Ongoing contingent consideration payments in the form of royalties as a percentage of net sales, high end of range (as a percent)							4.00%
Number of branded product companies acquired for which ongoing contingent consideration payments in the form of royalties are recognized (in entities)									2
Number of branded product companies included in other segment (in entities)									3
Period over which contingent consideration payments are required in the form of earn-outs (in years)							5
Number of trailing months (in months)							12
Contingent consideration paid								100,000
Adjustment to goodwill recorded to reduce the account receivable due to working capital adjustment													300,000
Adjustments to unfavorable lease liability recorded within other liabilities based on updated valuation information													700,000
Increase (decrease) in goodwill													1,000,000
Assets	$ 1,580,597,000	$ 1,393,662,000	$ 1,400,988,000	$ 1,443,440,000	$ 1,267,577,000	$ 90,600,000	$ 150,877,000	$ 137,882,000