Employees' Stock Incentive Plans and Management Incentive Plans 5 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Apr. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2010	Apr. 29, 2009
Unvested Stock Options
Beginning Balance, Number of Options	3,621,000
Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 5.36
Number of stock option shares granted	1,733,135	1,768,000	1,551,000
Options granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 5.36	$ 4.71	$ 5.75
Options vested, Number of Options	(1,282,000)
Options vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 5.64
Options forfeited, Number of Options	48,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Of Stock Options Forfeited During Period	$ 5.19
Ending Balance, Number of Options	4,024,000	3,621,000
Ending Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 5.27	$ 5.36
Nonvested Stock Options [Member]
Employees Stock Incentive Plans And Management Incentive Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation costs	$ 7.7	$ 8.1
Weighted average period of recognition for unrecognized compensation costs	1.5

Employees' Stock Incentive Plans and Management Incentive Plans.

Name:	hnz_EmployeesStockIncentivePlansAndManagementIncentivePlansTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Stock Options Vested in Period.

+ Details

Name:	hnz_NumberOfStockOptionsVestedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Unvested Stock Options.

+ Details

Name:	hnz_NumberOfUnvestedStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Unvested Stock Options.

+ Details

Name:	hnz_ShareBasedCompensationUnvestedStockOptionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average grant date fair value per share of stock options forfeited during period.

+ Details

Name:	hnz_WeightedAverageGrantDateFairValuePerShareOfStockOptionsForfeitedDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share) of Stock Options vested During the Period.

+ Details

Name:	hnz_WeightedAverageGrantDateFairValuePerShareOfStockOptionsVestedDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share) of Unvested Stock Options.

+ Details

Name:	hnz_WeightedAverageGrantDateFairValuePerShareOfUnvestedStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	hnz
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

As of the balance-sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of share-based awards made to employees under share-based compensation plans that have yet to vest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph h

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average period over which unrecognized share-based compensation costs are expected to be reported.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph h

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationCostsOnNonvestedAwardsWeightedAveragePeriodOfRecognition
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(f)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The quantity of shares issuable on stock options awarded under the plan during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(d)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph c(1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration