Segment Information - Total Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	$ 4,901,327	$ 4,868,409
Operating segments
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	4,147,733	4,054,443
Corporate/Manufacturing
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	753,594	813,966
Consumer Products Group | Operating segments
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	2,650,476	2,542,942
Holland & Barrett International | Operating segments
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	948,965	944,825
Puritan's Pride | Operating segments
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	506,351	514,795
Vitamin World | Operating segments
Total assets by segment
Consolidated assets	$ 41,941	$ 51,881