Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 27, 2012		Jul. 29, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	$ 79,929	[1]	$ 29,548	[1]
Deferred compensation plan assets	30,421	[2]	29,665	[2]
Total assets at fair value	110,350		59,213
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 5)	38,702		51,604
Total liabilities at fair value	38,702		51,604
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	79,929	[1]	29,548	[1]
Deferred compensation plan assets	30,421	[2]	29,665	[2]
Total assets at fair value	110,350		59,213
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 5)	0		0
Total liabilities at fair value	0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	0	[1]	0	[1]
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total assets at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 5)	38,702		51,604
Total liabilities at fair value	38,702		51,604
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	0	[1]	0	[1]
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total assets at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 5)	0		0
Total liabilities at fair value	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Consists of money market fund investments.

[2] Represents plan assets invested in mutual funds established under a Rabbi Trust for the Company's non-qualified savings plan and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as other assets.