CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2014	Apr. 27, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 56,380	$ 47,182	$ 88,908
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	616	(659)	45
Gain on sale of investments	(300)	(3,170)	(519)
Gain on deconsolidation of VIE	0	0	(1,125)
Write-down of long-lived assets	1,149	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(216)	3,198	(42,146)
Restructuring	8,071	2,715	281
Provision for doubtful accounts	(2,651)	1,005	4,196
Depreciation and amortization	23,182	23,140	23,486
Stock-based compensation expense	8,739	11,458	5,718
Pension plan contributions	0	(23,480)	(5,798)
Change in receivables	3,337	7,139	(6,182)
Change in inventories	(9,444)	391	(7,414)
Change in other assets	(2,958)	(5,407)	3,318
Change in accounts payable	1,704	(6,088)	7,470
Change in other liabilities	3,223	11,016	12,610
Net cash provided by operating activities	90,832	68,440	82,848
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from disposal of assets	2,233	4,455	372
Proceeds from sale of business	6,844	0	0
Capital expenditures	(33,730)	(25,912)	(15,663)
Purchases of investments	(54,233)	(49,589)	(7,944)
Proceeds from sales of investments	34,557	18,662	8,649
Cash effects on deconsolidation of VIE	0	0	(971)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(801)	(15,832)	0
Change in restricted cash	114	(9,825)	(2,861)
Other	0	0	(676)
Net cash used for investing activities	(45,016)	(78,041)	(19,094)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments on debt	(579)	(2,511)	(25,936)
Payments for debt issuance costs	0	0	(568)
Stock issued for stock and employee benefit plans	3,565	2,901	4,943
Excess tax benefit on stock option exercises	12,935	2,563	223
Purchases of common stock	(32,097)	(10,333)	(5,179)
Dividends paid	(10,514)	(4,236)	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(26,690)	(11,616)	(26,517)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(550)	(68)	(129)
Change in cash and equivalents	18,576	(21,285)	37,108
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	131,085	152,370	115,262
Cash and equivalents at end of period	149,661	131,085	152,370
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities [Abstract]
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable	$ 5,303	$ 0	$ 0