Employee and Retiree Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 25, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]

Postretirement health care and deferred compensation benefits are as follows:

(In thousands)	August 25, 2012			August 27, 2011
Postretirement health care benefit cost	$	45,132		$	41,370
Non-qualified deferred compensation	23,630			24,622
Executive share option plan liability	7,798			9,286
SERP benefit liability	3,342			3,086
Executive deferred compensation	102			93
Total postretirement health care and deferred compensation benefits	80,004			78,457
Less current portion	(4,869		)	(3,965		)
Long-term postretirement health care and deferred compensation benefits	$	75,135		$	74,492

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

Changes in our postretirement health care liability are as follows:

(In thousands)	August 25, 2012			August 27, 2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	41,370		$	40,327
Interest cost	1,849			1,905
Service cost	539			608
Net benefits paid	(1,213		)	(1,228		)
Actuarial loss	7,185			(242		)
Plan amendment	(4,598		)	—
Balance at end of year	$	45,132		$	41,370

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

Net periodic postretirement benefit income for the past three fiscal years consisted of the following components:

	Year Ended
(In thousands)	August 25, 2012			August 27, 2011			August 28, 2010
Interest cost	$	1,849		$	1,905		$	1,979
Service cost	539			608			555
Amortization of prior service benefit	(4,592		)	(4,199		)	(4,199		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	1,029			1,095			875
Net periodic postretirement benefit income	$	(1,175	)	$	(591	)	$	(790	)

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not yet Recognized [Table Text Block]

Amounts not yet recognized in net periodic benefit cost and included in accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes) are as follows:

(In thousands)	August 25, 2012			August 27, 2011
Prior service credit	$	(17,808	)	$	(17,801	)
Net actuarial loss	22,075			15,918
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	4,267		$	(1,883	)

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]

Expected future benefit payments for postretirement health care for the next ten yearsare as follows:

(In thousands)		Amount
Year:	2013	$	1,249
	2014	1,457
	2015	1,645
	2016	1,806
	2017	1,967
	2018 - 2022	11,936
	Total	$	20,060

Investment in Life Insurance [Table Text Block]

To assist in funding the deferred compensation and SERP liabilities, we have invested in COLI policies. The cash surrender value of these policies is presented as investment in life insurance in the accompanying balance sheets and consists of the following:

(In thousands)	August 25, 2012			August 27, 2011
Cash value	$	53,948		$	53,650
Borrowings	(30,821		)	(29,981		)
Investment in life insurance	$	23,127		$	23,669