Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

(dollars in thousands)
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2016,	2016		2015		2014
December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014	(53 weeks)		(52 weeks)		(52 weeks)
Sales	$	3,563,145	$	3,424,414	$	3,317,174

Mars Super Market [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

	5 Mars Super Market Stores
(dollars in thousands)	August 1, 2016
Inventories	$	1,267
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses		248
Property and equipment		7,305
Goodwill		13,255
Intangibles - favorable leasehold interest, net		2,495
Total fair value of assets acquired	$	24,570

Food Lion, LLC [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

	38 Food Lion, LLC Stores
(dollars in thousands)	Sept. 11 - Oct. 30, 2016
Assets	$
Current:
Accounts receivable, net		146
Inventories		7,614
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,044
Total current assets		8,804
Property and equipment, net		60,735
Intangibles - favorable leasehold interest		4,583
Total assets		74,122
Liabilities
Current:
Accrued expenses		(428)
Total current liabilities		(428)
Other - unfavorable leasehold interest		(3,738)
Deferred tax liability		(16,663)
Total liabilities		(20,829)
Total fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed	$	53,293
Gain on bargain purchase	$	23,879

Nell's Family Market [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

	Nell's Family Market Store
(dollars in thousands)	October 30, 2016
Assets	$
Current:
Inventories		401
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		39
Total current assets		440
Property and equipment, net		8,625
Goodwill		3,913
Intangible and other assets, net		23
Total assets		13,001
Liabilities
Current:
Accrued expenses		(3)
Total current liabilities		(3)
Total fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed	$	12,998