Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2011	Jan. 06, 2012
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 03, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000043300
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-25
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		53,852,470