SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($) country warehouse	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of stores | warehouse		40
Number of countries | country		13
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		$ 767,072	$ 739,572
Depreciation and amortization		12,237	11,117
Operating income		33,166	38,379
Net income (loss)		22,490	24,869
Capital expenditures, net		23,503	18,004
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		627,311	535,621	$ 616,090
Goodwill		35,578	35,603	35,642
Total assets		1,222,828	1,117,870	1,177,514
United States Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		8,147	10,755
Depreciation and amortization		1,744	1,574
Operating income		3,739	7,597
Net income (loss)		82	3,658
Capital expenditures, net		1,004	2,337
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		70,352	20,372	70,353
Total assets		121,674	70,283	147,650
Central American Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		452,166	438,234
Depreciation and amortization		5,523	4,864
Operating income		31,942	33,504
Net income (loss)		26,796	26,227
Capital expenditures, net		11,370	10,756
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		304,434	278,721	296,915
Goodwill		31,014	31,072	31,118
Total assets		580,523	542,238	544,683
Caribbean Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		214,642	207,022
Depreciation and amortization		2,677	2,458
Operating income		11,470	12,214
Net income (loss)		10,317	10,861
Capital expenditures, net		10,297	4,438
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		130,896	110,939	122,616
Goodwill		4,564	4,531	4,524
Total assets		$ 334,279	321,235	303,234
Colombia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of stores | warehouse		7
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		$ 92,117	83,561
Depreciation and amortization		2,293	2,221
Operating income		2,145	913
Net income (loss)		1,425	(28)
Capital expenditures, net		832	473
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		121,629	125,589	126,206
Total assets		186,352	184,114	$ 181,947
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers	[1]	(341,533)	(319,370)
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		(340,128)	(317,662)
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		(1,207)	(1,698)
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from external customers		(198)	(10)
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Operating income	[1]	(16,130)	(15,849)
Net income (loss)	[1]	$ (16,130)	$ (15,849)

[1] The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.