Quarterly Results (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Apr. 27, 2011	Jan. 26, 2011	Oct. 27, 2010	Jul. 28, 2010	Apr. 28, 2010	Jan. 27, 2010	Oct. 28, 2009	Jul. 29, 2009	Apr. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2010	Apr. 29, 2009
Quarterly Financial Information
Sales	$ 2,888,790,000	$ 2,722,350,000	$ 2,614,623,000	$ 2,480,825,000	$ 2,724,810,000	$ 2,681,702,000	$ 2,646,785,000	$ 2,441,686,000	$ 10,706,588,000	$ 10,494,983,000	$ 10,011,331,000
Gross profit	1,049,643,000	1,028,293,000	966,627,000	907,977,000	963,482,000	1,005,266,000	953,255,000	872,303,000	3,952,540,000	3,794,306,000	3,569,256,000
Income from continuing operations attributable to H.J. Heinz Company common shareholders, net of tax	223,863,000	273,785,000	251,435,000	240,427,000	192,574,000	264,115,000	243,076,000	214,724,000	989,510,000	914,489,000	929,511,000
Net income attributable to H. J. Heinz Company	223,863,000	273,785,000	251,435,000	240,427,000	192,366,000	228,527,000	231,435,000	212,564,000	989,510,000	864,892,000	923,072,000
Net income from continuing operations - diluted, per share	$ 0.69	$ 0.84	$ 0.78	$ 0.75	$ 0.6	$ 0.83	$ 0.76	$ 0.68	$ 3.06	$ 2.87	$ 2.91
Net income from continuing operations - basic, per share	$ 0.7	$ 0.85	$ 0.78	$ 0.76	$ 0.61	$ 0.83	$ 0.77	$ 0.68	$ 3.09	$ 2.89	$ 2.95
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 0.42	$ 0.42	$ 0.42	$ 0.42	$ 1.80	$ 1.68	$ 1.66
Quarterly Results (Textuals) [Abstract]
Acquisition of remaining interest in subsidiary											49.00%
Workforce reductions and asset write-offs related to a factory closure, charges pre-tax								15,700,000
Workforce reductions and asset write-offs related to a factory closure, charges after-tax								11,600,000
Targeted workforce reductions, asset write-offs related to two factory closures and exit of UK formula business, charges pre-tax					21,900,000
Targeted workforce reductions, asset write-offs related to two factory closures and exit of UK formula business, charges after-tax					16,200,000
Gain on disposal of property in the Netherlands, pre-tax					15,000,000
Gain on disposal of property in the Netherlands, after-tax					$ 11,100,000

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