Debt and Financing Arrangements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 29, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments

Long-term debt was comprised of the following as of April 29, 2012 and April 27, 2011:

	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Commercial Paper (variable rate)	$	—		$	—
6.625% U.S. Dollar Notes due July 2011	—			749,982
6.00% U.S. Dollar Notes due March 2012	—			599,631
Other U.S. Dollar Debt due May 2012 — November 2034 (1.08%—7.89%)	43,164			112,829
Other Non-U.S. Dollar Debt due May 2012 — May 2023 (3.50%—11.25%)	64,060			67,964
Japanese Yen Credit Agreement due October 2012 (variable rate)	186,869			182,571
5.35% U.S. Dollar Notes due July 2013	499,958			499,923
8.0% Heinz Finance Preferred Stock due July 2013	350,000			350,000
Japanese Yen Credit Agreement due December 2013 (variable rate)	199,327			194,742
U.S. Dollar Private Placement Notes due May 2014 — May 2021 (2.11% - 4.23%)	500,000			—
U.S. Dollar Private Placement Notes due July 2016 — July 2018 (2.86% - 3.55%)	100,000			—
2.00% U.S. Dollar Notes due September 2016	299,913			—
1.50% U.S. Dollar Notes due March 2017	299,556			—
U.S. Dollar Remarketable Securities due December 2020	119,000			119,000
3.125% U.S. Dollar Notes due September 2021	395,268			—
2.85% U.S. Dollar Notes due March 2022	299,516			—
6.375% U.S. Dollar Debentures due July 2028	231,137			230,878
6.25% British Pound Notes due February 2030	202,158			206,590
6.75% U.S. Dollar Notes due March 2032	435,112			435,038
7.125% U.S. Dollar Notes due August 2039	626,747			625,569
	4,851,785			4,374,717
Hedge Accounting Adjustments (See Note 13)	128,444			150,543
Less portion due within one year	(200,248		)	(1,447,132		)
Total long-term debt	$	4,779,981		$	3,078,128
Weighted-average interest rate on long-term debt, including the impact of applicable interest rate swaps	4.28		%	4.23		%