Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 01, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 3,401,160,000	$ 3,336,094,000	$ 3,345,560,000	$ 3,422,612,000	$ 3,291,898,000	$ 3,285,713,000	$ 3,220,260,000	$ 3,284,506,000	$ 13,505,426,000	$ 13,082,377,000	$ 12,419,064,000
Operating income									582,227,000	548,211,000	477,496,000
Interest and Other Financing Costs, net									(401,757,000)	(426,262,000)	(444,510,000)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes									180,470,000	121,949,000	32,986,000
Depreciation and amortization									529,213,000	510,516,000	502,892,000
Capital Expenditures and Client Contract Investments and Other									373,400,000	300,200,000	292,900,000
Assets	10,476,322,000				10,509,552,000				10,476,322,000	10,509,552,000
Property and Equipment, net	1,000,579,000				1,004,690,000				1,000,579,000	1,004,690,000
Food and Support Services - North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									9,413,200,000	9,019,000,000	8,654,700,000
Operating income									425,600,000	400,500,000	350,600,000
Depreciation and amortization									364,700,000	341,900,000	334,300,000
Capital Expenditures and Client Contract Investments and Other									281,000,000	207,900,000	212,800,000
Assets	7,120,800,000				7,234,200,000				7,120,800,000	7,234,200,000
Food and Support Services - International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									2,729,500,000	2,723,300,000	2,437,700,000
Operating income									89,900,000	79,900,000	75,300,000
Depreciation and amortization									61,000,000	62,600,000	60,200,000
Capital Expenditures and Client Contract Investments and Other									51,900,000	58,600,000	46,800,000
Assets	1,527,700,000				1,524,800,000				1,527,700,000	1,524,800,000
Uniform and Career Apparel
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									1,362,700,000	1,340,100,000	1,326,700,000
Operating income									118,100,000	117,300,000	102,700,000
Depreciation and amortization									102,600,000	105,100,000	107,500,000
Capital Expenditures and Client Contract Investments and Other									40,500,000	33,300,000	33,300,000
Assets	1,681,700,000				1,672,800,000				1,681,700,000	1,672,800,000
Total Segment Operating Income Excluding Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									633,600,000	597,700,000	528,600,000
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									(51,400,000)	(49,500,000)	(51,100,000)
Depreciation and amortization									900,000	900,000	900,000
Capital Expenditures and Client Contract Investments and Other									0	400,000	0
Assets	146,100,000				77,800,000				146,100,000	77,800,000
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									9,729,600,000	9,369,600,000	9,078,200,000
Property and Equipment, net	814,400,000				818,400,000				814,400,000	818,400,000
Foreign
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									3,775,800,000	3,712,800,000	3,340,900,000
Property and Equipment, net	$ 186,200,000				$ 186,300,000				$ 186,200,000	$ 186,300,000