Debt and Financing Arrangements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 27, 2011

Debt and Financing Arrangements (Tables) [Abstract]

Summary of long-term debt

	2011			2010
	(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial Paper (variable rate)	$	—		$	232,829
7.125% U.S. Dollar Notes due August 2039		625,569			624,531
8.0% Heinz Finance Preferred Stock due July 2013		350,000			350,000
5.35% U.S. Dollar Notes due July 2013		499,923			499,888
6.625% U.S. Dollar Notes due July 2011		749,982			749,878
6.00% U.S. Dollar Notes due March 2012		599,631			599,187
U.S. Dollar Remarketable Securities due December 2020		119,000			119,000
6.375% U.S. Dollar Debentures due July 2028		230,878			230,619
6.25% British Pound Notes due February 2030		206,590			188,928
6.75% U.S. Dollar Notes due March 2032		435,038			440,942
Japanese Yen Credit Agreement due October 2012 (variable rate)		182,571			159,524
Japanese Yen Credit Agreement due December 2013 (variable rate)		194,742			—
Other U.S. Dollar due May 2011—November 2034 (0.90—7.94)%		112,829			110,339
Other Non-U.S. Dollar due May 2011—May 2023 (3.50—11.25)%		67,964			61,558
		4,374,717			4,367,223
Hedge Accounting Adjustments (See Note 12)		150,543			207,096
Less portion due within one year		(1,447,132	)		(15,167	)
Total long-term debt	$	3,078,128		$	4,559,152
Weighted-average interest rate on long-term debt, including the impact of applicable interest rate swaps		4.23	%		4.45	%