Income Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2012		Jul. 27, 2011
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation
Income from continuing operations attributable to H.J. Heinz Company	$ 279,353		$ 226,729
Allocation to participating securities	0	[1]	360	[1]
Preferred dividends	3		3
Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock	$ 279,350		$ 226,366
Average common shares outstanding-basic	320,293,000		321,411,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible preferred stock	92,000		101,000
Stock options, restricted stock and the global stock purchase plan	2,458,000		2,734,000
Average common shares outstanding-diluted	322,843,000		324,246,000
Income Per Common Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive stock options	500,000		200,000

[1] Represents unvested share-based payment awards that contain certain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid).