Income Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2013		Jan. 25, 2012		Jan. 27, 2013		Jan. 25, 2012
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation
Income from continuing operations attributable to H.J. Heinz Company	$ 308,214		$ 288,283		$ 889,096		$ 767,710
Allocation to participating securities	0	[1]	1,151	[1]	0	[1]	1,939	[1]
Preferred dividends	3		3		8		8
Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock	$ 308,211		$ 287,129		$ 889,088		$ 765,763
Average common shares outstanding-basic	320,745,000		320,159,000		320,523,000		320,850,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible preferred stock	91,000		102,000		91,000		96,000
Stock options, restricted stock and the global stock purchase plan	2,382,000		2,452,000		2,434,000		2,592,000
Average common shares outstanding-diluted	323,218,000		322,713,000		323,048,000		323,538,000
Income Per Common Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive stock options	700,000		700,000

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