PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

NOTE J PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Net periodic benefit cost for pension and other post-retirement benefit plans consists of the following:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	July 31, 2011			July 25, 2010			July 31, 2011			July 25, 2010
Service cost	$	6,052		$	5,404		$	18,155		$	16,187
Interest cost	12,570			11,957			37,711			35,545
Expected return on plan assets	(15,747		)	(13,521		)	(47,242		)	(40,565		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(152		)	(149		)	(455		)	(447		)
Recognized actuarial loss	4,159			4,128			12,475			11,889
Settlement charge	—			—			—			1,267
Curtailment charge	—			—			—			55
Net periodic cost	$	6,882		$	7,819		$	20,644		$	23,931

	Post-retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	July 31, 2011			July 25, 2010		July 31, 2011			July 25, 2010
Service cost	$	543		$	590	$	1,628		$	1,778
Interest cost	4,683			4,998		14,049			15,124
Amortization of prior service cost	1,074			1,009		3,267			3,161
Recognized actuarial (gain) loss	(1		)	628		(3		)	1,794
Net periodic cost	$	6,299		$	7,225	$	18,941		$	21,857

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company made discretionary contributions of $23.6 million to fund its pension plans, compared to discretionary contributions of $20.2 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2010.  In the second quarter of fiscal year 2010, coincident with the Company’s decision to close its Turlock, California facility, it also commenced the process to terminate the defined benefit pension plan for the employees at that facility.  The fiscal 2010 settlement and curtailment charges noted above related to that plan termination.