Income Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2012		Oct. 26, 2011		Oct. 28, 2012		Oct. 26, 2011
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation
Income from continuing operations attributable to H.J. Heinz Company	$ 290,122		$ 237,277		$ 569,475		$ 464,006
Allocation to participating securities	0	[1]	428	[1]	0	[1]	788	[1]
Preferred dividends	2		2		5		5
Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock	$ 290,120		$ 236,847		$ 569,470		$ 463,213
Average common shares outstanding-basic	320,492,000		320,876,000		320,415,000		321,158,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible preferred stock	92,000		100,000		92,000		97,000
Stock options, restricted stock and the global stock purchase plan	2,474,000		2,585,000		2,462,000		2,655,000
Average common shares outstanding-diluted	323,058,000		323,561,000		322,969,000		323,910,000
Income Per Common Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive stock options	800,000		600,000

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