Segment Reporting (Details) - Major segments of the business (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	4 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 05, 2013	Oct. 06, 2012	Oct. 05, 2013	Oct. 06, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,563,428	$ 1,511,090	$ 3,862,421	$ 3,685,177
Segment profit	9,714	22,955	27,271	(81,276)
Military [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue
Military [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment profit	3,063	10,322	11,722	29,366
Military [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	665,508	712,093	1,735,080	1,772,622
Food Distribution [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	126,236	126,050	313,736	249,713
Food Distribution [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment profit	8,206	11,191	17,227	19,046
Food Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	656,359	556,808	1,528,840	1,431,153
Retail [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue
Retail [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment profit	2,090	7,725	9,185	10,776
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	241,561	242,189	598,501	481,402
Elimination [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	(126,236)	(126,050)	(313,736)	(249,713)
Elimination [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment profit
Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment profit	$ 13,359	$ 29,238	$ 38,134	$ 59,188