Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2012	Jul. 27, 2011
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income	$ 264,678	$ 234,959
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(308,406)	(25,745)
Reclassification of net pension and postretirement benefit losses to net income	13,701	13,920
Net deferred gains on derivatives from periodic revaluations	6,212	15,737
Net deferred (gains) on derivatives reclassified to earnings	(9,105)	(11,742)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income	(32,920)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	161	(216)
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income	5,806	6,427
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges	(4,087)	(9,698)
Net hedging gains/losses reclassified into earnings	(5,777)	(8,651)
H.J. Heinz Company [Member]
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income	258,027
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(295,375)
Reclassification of net pension and postretirement benefit losses to net income	13,654
Net deferred gains on derivatives from periodic revaluations	6,180
Net deferred (gains) on derivatives reclassified to earnings	(9,102)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income	(26,616)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	161	(216)
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income	5,806	6,427
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges	(4,076)	(9,711)
Net hedging gains/losses reclassified into earnings	(5,776)	(8,683)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income	6,651
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(13,031)
Reclassification of net pension and postretirement benefit losses to net income	47
Net deferred gains on derivatives from periodic revaluations	32
Net deferred (gains) on derivatives reclassified to earnings	(3)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income	(6,304)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income	0	0
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges	(11)	13
Net hedging gains/losses reclassified into earnings	$ (1)	$ 32