Condenced Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 25, 2012	Apr. 27, 2011
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 848,911	$ 724,311	[1]
Trade receivables, net	893,799	1,039,064	[1]
Other receivables, net	216,944	225,968	[1]
Inventories:
Finished goods and work-in-process	1,190,473	1,165,069	[1]
Packaging material and ingredients	325,883	286,477	[1]
Total inventories	1,516,356	1,451,546	[1]
Prepaid expenses	175,387	159,521	[1]
Other current assets	66,762	153,132	[1]
Total current assets	3,718,159	3,753,542	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	5,179,993	5,224,715	[1]
Less accumulated depreciation	2,771,285	2,719,632	[1]
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,408,708	2,505,083	[1]
Goodwill	3,148,253	3,298,441	[1]
Trademarks, net	1,080,689	1,156,221	[1]
Other intangibles, net	407,595	442,563	[1]
Other non-current assets	1,198,098	1,074,795	[1]
Total other non-current assets	5,834,635	5,972,020	[1]
Total assets	11,961,502	12,230,645	[1]
Current Liabilities:
Short-term debt	31,361	87,800	[1]
Portion of long-term debt due within one year	815,475	1,447,132	[1]
Trade payables	1,096,690	1,337,620	[1]
Other payables	139,115	162,047	[1]
Accrued marketing	285,378	313,389	[1]
Other accrued liabilities	617,233	715,147	[1]
Income taxes	127,510	98,325	[1]
Total current liabilities	3,112,762	4,161,460	[1]
Long-term debt	4,177,902	3,078,128	[1]
Deferred income taxes	912,912	897,179	[1]
Non-pension postretirement benefits	213,369	216,172	[1]
Other non-current liabilities	529,023	570,571	[1]
Total long-term liabilities	5,833,206	4,762,050	[1]
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	111,643	124,669	[1]
Equity:
Capital stock	107,835	107,843	[1]
Additional capital	587,598	629,367	[1]
Retained earnings	7,547,021	7,264,678	[1]
Sum of capital stock, additional capital and retained earnings	8,242,454	8,001,888	[1]
Less:
Treasury stock at cost (111,205 shares at January 25, 2012 and 109,818 shares at April 27, 2011)	4,681,943	4,593,362	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	710,260	299,564	[1]
Total H. J. Heinz Company shareholders' equity	2,850,251	3,108,962	[1]
Noncontrolling interest	53,640	73,504	[1]
Total equity	2,903,891	3,182,466	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	$ 11,961,502	$ 12,230,645	[1]

[1] The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.