Income Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2013	Jan. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 25, 2012	Oct. 26, 2011	Jul. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2013	Apr. 29, 2012	Apr. 27, 2011
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation
Income from continuing operations attributable to H.J. Heinz Company	$ 198,519	$ 308,214	$ 294,705	$ 286,177	$ 206,664	$ 288,283	$ 244,934	$ 234,493	$ 1,087,615	$ 974,374	$ 1,029,067
Allocation to participating securities									0	1,991	1,816
Preferred dividends									8	9	12
Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock - basic									$ 1,087,607	$ 972,374	$ 1,027,239
Average common shares outstanding-basic									320,662,000	320,686,000	320,118,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible preferred stock									92,000	104,000	105,000
Stock options, restricted stock and the global stock purchase plan									2,418,000	2,531,000	2,819,000
Average common shares outstanding-diluted									323,172,000	323,321,000	323,042,000
Anti-dilutive stock options									300,000	800,000	2,400,000