Acquisitions Textuals.

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Business acquisition purchase price allocation intangible assets excluding goodwill.

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The amount of indemnification assets (amounts to be reimbursed if and when certain assumed liabilities are paid) recognized at the acquisition date of a business combination.

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- Definition

Fair value, as of the acquisition date, of potential payments under the contingent consideration arrangement including cash and shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph g(1)

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 29, 30, 41, 42, 64

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 65
-Subparagraph a, b

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- Definition

Amount of cash paid to acquire the entity.

+ References

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The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph d

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- Definition

Amount of direct costs of the business combination including legal, accounting, and other costs incurred to consummate the business acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph d

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 24

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to an identifiable intangible asset that will be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph e

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- Definition

The amount of cash and cash equivalents acquired in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph e

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to marketable securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph e

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph a

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- Definition

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52
-Subparagraph c

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph d

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to an identifiable intangible asset that will not be amortized. Does not include goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph e

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52
-Subparagraph b

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- Definition

The amount of liability arising from an inherited contingency (as defined) which has been recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 12, 13, 14, 20, A107

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph i

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The useful life of all finite-lived intangible assets. This may be stated as a fixed number (for example, 10 years) if all assets have the same useful life, or it can be stated in a range (for example, six to eight years) if there is a range of useful lives in the asset group.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 12, 13, 14

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- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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The consolidating entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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- Definition

The amount of debt that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 32

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The cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph b

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Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2010	Apr. 29, 2009	Apr. 01, 2011 Coniexpress S.A. Industrias Alimenticias [Member]	Apr. 27, 2011 Coniexpress S.A. Industrias Alimenticias [Member] Customer-related assets [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Coniexpress S.A. Industrias Alimenticias [Member] Customer-related assets [Member]	Apr. 27, 2011 Foodstar Holding Pte [Member]	Nov. 02, 2010 Foodstar Holding Pte [Member]	Jan. 27, 2010 Arthur's Fresh Company [Member]	Oct. 29, 2008 Benedicta [Member]	Jan. 28, 2009 Golden Circle Limited [Member]	Jan. 28, 2009 La Bonne Cuisine [Member]	Apr. 29, 2009 Papillon [Member]	Apr. 27, 2011 Heinz UFE Ltd [Member]	Apr. 28, 2010 Heinz UFE Ltd [Member]	Apr. 28, 2010 Cairo Food Industries [Member]	Apr. 29, 2009 Cairo Food Industries [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Cash paid for acquisition				$ 493,500,000				$ 165,400,000	$ 11,000,000	$ 116,000,000		$ 28,000,000	$ 6,000,000
Acquisition including acquired cash				10,600,000				30,000,000
Acquisition including short-term investment				60,100,000
Purchase price for acquisition											211,000,000
Debt assumed in acquisition											68,000,000
Acquisition of remaining interest in subsidiary			49.00%												21.00%		49.00%
Payments to acquire additional interest in subsidiaries	6,338,000	62,064,000	0											6,300,000		62,100,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownerhsip interest by Parent				80.00%											79.00%		51.00%
Preliminary allocations of the purchase price resulted in goodwill				300,200,000				77,300,000
Estimate of the acquisition date fair value								44,500,000
Business acquisition purchase price allocation intangible assets total excluding goodwill				161,900,000				70,700,000
Assets related to trademarks and recipes which are not subject to amortization				142,000,000				42,400,000
Business acquisition purchase price allocation intangible assets which are subject to amortization						19,900,000		28,300,000
Business acquisition purchase price allocation intangible assets which are subject to amortization, useful life					15		31
Business acquisition, idemnification asset				26,300,000
Business acquisition, contingent liability				52,600,000
Pre-tax cost incurred related to acquisition				$ 11,300,000