CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	May 03, 2020	Apr. 28, 2019	Apr. 29, 2018
cash flows from operating activities:
net (loss) income	$ (28,667,000)	$ 5,458,000	$ 20,877,000
adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
depreciation	7,827,000	8,117,000	7,672,000
amortization	647,000	780,000	351,000
asset impairments	33,914,000	0	0
reversal of contingent consideration associated with discontinued operation	(6,081,000)
loss on disposal of discontinued operation	1,606,000
stock-based compensation	614,000	130,000	2,212,000
deferred income taxes	(1,694,000)	2,027,000	(2,482,000)
gain on sale of property, plant, and equipment	(238,000)	(1,452,000)
loss from investment in unconsolidated joint venture	125,000	114,000	266,000
realized loss on sale of short-term investments (available for sale)	10,000	94,000
foreign currency exchange loss (gain)	109,000	(17,000)	66,000
changes in assets, liabilities and, net of effects acquisition and disposal of business:
accounts receivable	(1,994,000)	2,339,000	(299,000)
inventories	(837,000)	3,841,000	(24,000)
other current assets	342,000	41,000	226,000
other assets	(48,000)	(65,000)	(81,000)
accounts payable-trade	499,000	(3,427,000)	(4,028,000)
accrued expenses and deferred compensation	(1,017,000)	(1,492,000)	(1,562,000)
deferred revenue	103,000	(410,000)	(94,000)
accrued restructuring costs	(124,000)	124,000
income taxes	(126,000)	(2,329,000)	4,373,000
net cash provided by operating activities	4,970,000	13,873,000	27,473,000
cash flows from investing activities:
net cash paid for acquisition of assets		(12,096,000)	(4,541,000)
capital expenditures	(4,585,000)	(3,261,000)	(8,005,000)
proceeds from the sale of equipment	672,000	1,894,000	6,000
proceeds from long-term note receivable associated with discontinued operation	1,523,000
investment in unconsolidated joint venture	(220,000)	(120,000)	(661,000)
proceeds from the sale of short-term investments (available for sale)	6,606,000	2,458,000
proceeds from the sale of short-term investments (held to maturity)	6,100,000	25,680,000
purchase of short-term investments (available for sale)	(7,555,000)	(10,000)	(49,000)
purchase of short-term and long-term investments (held-to-maturity)	(7,465,000)
proceeds from the sale of long-term investments (rabbi trust)		1,233,000	57,000
purchase of long-term investments (rabbi trust)	(788,000)	(1,011,000)	(1,902,000)
proceeds from life insurance policy		394,000
payments on life insurance policy			(18,000)
net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(5,712,000)	15,161,000	(15,113,000)
cash flows from financing activities:
proceeds from lines of credit	30,765,000	12,000,000	19,000,000
payments associated with lines of credit		(12,000,000)	(19,000,000)
proceeds from Paycheck Protection Program loan	7,606,000
payments on vendor-financed capital expenditures		(1,412,000)	(3,750,000)
proceeds from subordinated loan payable associated with the noncontrolling interest of discontinued operation	250,000	675,000
cash paid for acquisition of business	(1,532,000)
dividends paid	(5,075,000)	(4,732,000)	(6,843,000)
repurchases of common stock	(1,680,000)	(3,323,000)
common stock surrendered for withholding taxes payable	(51,000)	(1,319,000)	(1,530,000)
capital contribution associated with the noncontrolling interest of discontinued operation	360,000
payments for debt issuance costs		(50,000)
proceeds from common stock issued			111,000
net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	30,643,000	(10,161,000)	(12,012,000)
effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(119,000)	(93,000)	85,000
increase in cash and cash equivalents	29,782,000	18,780,000	433,000
cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	40,008,000	21,228,000	20,795,000
cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 69,790,000	$ 40,008,000	$ 21,228,000