CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 24, 2015	Jul. 26, 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 94,762	$ 77,352
Merchandise inventories	46,248us-gaap_InventoryNet	44,694us-gaap_InventoryNet
Patronage dividend receivable	5,207vlgea_PatronageDividendReceivable1	12,923vlgea_PatronageDividendReceivable1
Deferred tax assets	13,167	12,077
Other current assets	16,135us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent	15,740us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Total current assets	175,519us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	162,786us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Property, equipment and fixtures, net	205,126us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	206,720us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Notes receivable from Wakefern	41,421us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesNoncurrent	40,598us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
Investment in Wakefern	25,750	25,012
Goodwill	12,057us-gaap_Goodwill	12,057us-gaap_Goodwill
Other assets	7,939us-gaap_OtherAssets	10,239us-gaap_OtherAssets
Total assets	467,812us-gaap_Assets	457,412us-gaap_Assets
Current liabilities
Capital and financing lease obligations	448us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	231us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Notes payable to Wakefern	456	667
Accounts payable to Wakefern	65,221	66,004
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	18,351	15,859
Accrued wages and benefits	16,995	18,856
Income taxes payable	48,091us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	44,387us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent
Total current liabilities	149,562us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	146,004us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term Debt
Capital and financing lease obligations	43,939	44,168
Notes payable to Wakefern	942	1,074
Total long-term debt	44,881us-gaap_LongTermDebt	45,242us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Pension liabilities	25,277	23,876
Other liabilities	8,755us-gaap_OtherLiabilities	9,154us-gaap_OtherLiabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock, no par value: Authorized 10,000 shares, none issued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue
Retained earnings	207,937	203,722
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(12,082)	(12,465)
Total shareholders’ equity	239,337us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	233,136us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	467,812	457,412
Common Class A [Member]
Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock	48,648	47,056
Less treasury stock, Class A, at cost: 453 shares at January 24, 2015 and 454 shares at July 26, 2014	(5,874)	(5,885)
Common Class B [Member]
Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock	$ 708	$ 708

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant