Note 9 - Operations Information by Reporting Segment (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 29, 2018
Sales	$ 326,701,000	$ 306,239,000	$ 874,615,000	$ 837,550,000
Depreciation and amortization	12,323,000	11,429,000	35,960,000	34,568,000
Operating income	39,042,000	34,869,000	85,895,000	79,638,000
Capital expenditures	15,785,000	17,063,000	42,136,000	43,344,000
Assets	995,690,000	914,232,000	995,690,000	914,232,000	$ 932,013,000
Food Service [Member]
Sales	198,571,000	191,701,000	567,886,000	553,430,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,973,000	6,237,000	19,911,000	19,376,000
Operating income	21,154,000	19,663,000	59,195,000	54,098,000
Capital expenditures	8,665,000	10,172,000	23,346,000	25,872,000
Assets	752,117,000	672,861,000	752,117,000	672,861,000
Retail Supermarket [Member]
Sales	36,552,000	38,532,000	87,776,000	89,692,000
Depreciation and amortization	335,000	332,000	990,000	980,000
Operating income	3,651,000	3,203,000	7,739,000	8,295,000
Capital expenditures	597,000	273,000	1,730,000	376,000
Assets	24,349,000	24,215,000	24,349,000	24,215,000
Frozen Beverages [Member]
Sales	91,578,000	76,006,000	218,953,000	194,428,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,015,000	4,860,000	15,059,000	14,212,000
Operating income	14,237,000	12,003,000	18,961,000	17,245,000
Capital expenditures	6,523,000	6,618,000	17,060,000	17,096,000
Assets	219,224,000	217,156,000	219,224,000	217,156,000
Soft Pretzels [Member] | Food Service [Member]
Sales	55,867,000	53,880,000	154,670,000	151,649,000
Soft Pretzels [Member] | Retail Supermarket [Member]
Sales	7,294,000	7,332,000	28,309,000	27,925,000
Frozen Juices and Ices [Member] | Food Service [Member]
Sales	13,862,000	12,825,000	30,336,000	29,448,000
Frozen Juices and Ices [Member] | Retail Supermarket [Member]
Sales	26,515,000	28,785,000	52,179,000	53,950,000
Churros [Member] | Food Service [Member]
Sales	18,888,000	16,739,000	49,793,000	46,603,000
Handhelds [Member] | Food Service [Member]
Sales	8,550,000	9,974,000	25,339,000	30,667,000
Handhelds [Member] | Retail Supermarket [Member]
Sales	3,063,000	2,960,000	8,110,000	8,749,000
Bakery [Member] | Food Service [Member]
Sales	95,299,000	93,082,000	288,172,000	278,828,000
Other Products [Member] | Food Service [Member]
Sales	6,105,000	5,201,000	19,576,000	16,235,000
Other Products [Member] | Retail Supermarket [Member]
Sales	642,000	733,000	1,341,000	1,715,000
Other Products [Member] | Frozen Beverages [Member]
Sales	317,000	326,000	811,000	839,000
Coupon Redemtion [Member] | Retail Supermarket [Member]
Sales	(962,000)	(1,278,000)	(2,163,000)	(2,647,000)
Beverage [Member] | Frozen Beverages [Member]
Sales	56,937,000	49,131,000	121,976,000	115,401,000
Repair and Maintenance Service [Member] | Frozen Beverages [Member]
Sales	22,514,000	19,693,000	62,291,000	58,005,000
Machine Sales [Member] | Frozen Beverages [Member]
Sales	$ 11,810	$ 6,856	$ 33,875	$ 20,183