CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 25, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 86,984	$ 80,963	$ 71,971
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	(224)	384	(499)
Gain on sale of investments	(471)	(436)	(214)
Deferred income tax expense	569	4,581	1,030
Provision for doubtful accounts	(291)	(660)	(2,290)
Depreciation and amortization	29,131	26,517	22,283
Stock-based compensation expense	8,864	8,292	6,780
Pension plan contributions	(2,300)	(7,000)
Change in receivables	(7,850)	10,730	(2,595)
Change in inventories	12,517	(14,621)	(7,644)
Change in other assets	(1,211)	4,148	4,154
Change in accounts payable	4,541	(1,007)	(5,206)
Change in other liabilities	15,915	470	(1,019)
Net cash provided by operating activities	146,174	112,361	86,751
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from disposals of assets	761	3,054	9,061
Capital expenditures	(20,304)	(24,684)	(70,319)
Purchases of investments	(29,763)	(21,009)	(40,327)
Proceeds from sales of investments	19,954	28,721	33,750
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(35,878)	(23,311)	(1,774)
Change in restricted cash	(23)	659	2,936
Net cash used for investing activities	(65,253)	(36,570)	(66,673)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments on debt	(288)	(508)	(7,571)
Payments for debt issuance costs			(208)
Stock issued for stock and employee benefit plans	3,566	420	1,397
Excess tax benefit on stock option exercises	1,737	1,264	1,592
Purchases of common stock	(35,957)	(44,082)	(51,853)
Dividends paid	(20,655)	(18,141)	(14,513)
Net cash used for financing activities	(51,597)	(61,047)	(71,156)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	178	(688)	(281)
Change in cash and equivalents	29,502	14,056	(51,359)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	112,358	98,302	149,661
Cash and equivalents at end of period	141,860	$ 112,358	98,302
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable	$ 1,795		$ 500