Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$ 36,266,000	$ 22,548,000	$ 37,245,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	12,818,000	11,649,000	11,544,000
Amortization of capitalized financing costs	65,000	65,000	65,000
Stock-based compensation expense	2,078,000	2,245,000	2,439,000
Deferred income taxes	(2,807,000)	2,503,000	536,000
Pension plan settlement loss, net of cash contributed			620,000
Asset impairment charges	0	0	20,000
Loss on sale and disposition of property, plant and equipment	381,000	64,000	61,000
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies over premiums paid	(553,000)	(812,000)	(480,000)
Net changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(11,200,000)	7,105,000	(607,000)
Inventories	(12,304,000)	(10,667,000)	(5,177,000)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	28,234,000	(11,930,000)	9,009,000
Other changes	991,000	(1,930,000)	978,000
Total adjustments	17,703,000	(1,708,000)	19,008,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	53,969,000	20,840,000	56,253,000
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(18,449,000)	(20,575,000)	(12,977,000)
Proceeds from surrender of life insurance policies	165,000	100,000	140,000
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(355,000)	(405,000)	(375,000)
Acquisition of business	(3,300,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale			180,000
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			60,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(21,939,000)	(20,880,000)	(12,972,000)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	372,000	404,000	328,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(372,000)	(404,000)	(328,000)
Cash dividends paid	(21,333,000)	(26,011,000)	(20,859,000)
Cash received from exercise of stock options	2,081,000	107,000	5,065,000
Payment of employee tax withholdings related to net share transactions	(942,000)	(824,000)	(1,861,000)
Financing costs			(11,000)
Net cash used for financing activities	(20,194,000)	(26,728,000)	(17,666,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,836,000	(26,768,000)	25,615,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	32,105,000	58,873,000	33,258,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43,941,000	32,105,000	58,873,000
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Income taxes, net	7,777,000	9,300,000	19,184,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment in accounts payable	967,000	465,000	1,746,000
Restricted stock units and stock options surrendered for withholding taxes payable	$ 942,000	$ 824,000	$ 1,861,000