Basis of presentation (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) Center period state store	Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($) period	Feb. 02, 2018 USD ($) period
Fiscal year, number of weeks | period	52	52	52
Number of stores through which entity sells general merchandise on a retail basis | store	16,278
Number of states which entity covers | state	44
Cash and cash equivalents
Maximum original maturity period at time of purchase of liquid investments classified as cash equivalents	3 months
Payments due from processors for electronic tender transactions classified as cash and cash equivalents | $	$ 101.9	$ 99.5
Merchandise inventories
Excess of current cost over LIFO cost | $	110.7	103.7
LIFO provision | $	$ 7.0	$ 25.2	$ (2.2)
Non Refrigerated Merchandise Distribution Centers
Number of distribution centers owned	13
Number of distribution centers leased	4
Cold Storage And Distribution Facilities
Number of distribution centers owned	1
Number of distribution centers leased	4