Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details)			3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 24, 2017 segment	Jan. 23, 2017 segment	Apr. 28, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Jan. 27, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Oct. 28, 2016 $ / shares	Jul. 29, 2016 $ / shares	Apr. 29, 2016 USD ($) facility $ / shares	Jan. 22, 2016 $ / shares	Oct. 23, 2015 $ / shares	Jul. 24, 2015 $ / shares	Apr. 28, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Apr. 29, 2016 USD ($) facility lease_renewal $ / shares shares	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments | segment	1	2
Promotional expenses											$ 84,748,000	$ 79,302,000	$ 56,618,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts			$ 269,000				$ 421,000				269,000	421,000
Accounts receivable reduction											8,055,000	4,916,000
Accretion income											1,133,000	2,082,000	1,859,000
Inventory raw materials and supplies			6,037,000				5,911,000				6,037,000	5,911,000
Inventory finished goods			11,173,000				11,182,000				11,173,000	11,182,000
Depreciation											23,875,000	20,887,000	18,207,000
Current assets held for sale			3,334,000				48,707,000				3,334,000	48,707,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets			19,673,000				19,829,000				19,673,000	19,829,000
Accrued non-income taxes			3,353,000				890,000				3,353,000	890,000
Self-insurance reserves			$ 10,692,000				$ 11,288,000				10,692,000	11,288,000
Advertising expense											$ 9,006,000	$ 6,658,000	$ 3,607,000
Stock options to purchase | shares											215,889	207,538	124,766
Cash dividends per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 0.34	$ 0.34	$ 0.34	$ 0.34	$ 0.34	$ 0.34	$ 0.31	$ 0.31	$ 1.36	$ 1.30	$ 1.24
Number of restaurants sold | facility							2					2
Term of leaseback												20 years
Number of renewal options | lease_renewal												2
Renewal term												10 years
Annual rent escalator (as a percent)												2.00%
Deferred gain on sale leaseback transactions			$ 2,192,000				$ 2,432,000				$ 2,192,000	$ 2,432,000
Rental expense from continuing operations											$ 4,117,000	2,202,000
BEF Foods Noncompetition Agreements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated economic life											5 years
Building and Improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life											5 years
Building and Improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life											25 years
Machinery and Equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life											3 years
Machinery and Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life											10 years
Capitalized Internal Labor Costs
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation											$ 605,000	1,557,000	$ 2,118,000
ERP System
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life					10 years					10 years
Mimi's Café
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Sale note receivable											$ 30,000,000
Sale interest rate											1.50%
Sale note receivable term											7 years
Receipt of payment on note receivable				$ 7,000,000
Impairments				$ 15,256,000
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale | Former Production Facility, Richardson Texas
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Current assets held for sale			$ 3,334,000				3,334,000				$ 3,334,000	3,334,000
Other Operating Expenses
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Shipping and handling costs											16,125,000	14,850,000	17,025,000
Interest Income | Mimi's Café
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accretion income											$ 1,133,000	2,082,000	$ 1,859,000
Total revenue | Customer Concentration Risk | Wal-mart
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Percent of total revenue											20.00%
Total revenue | Customer Concentration Risk | Kroger
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Percent of total revenue											14.00%
Lima Facility
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Deferred gain on sale leaseback transactions							$ 2,305,000					$ 2,305,000