SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 25, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 25, 2010
SEGMENT REPORTING
Number of reportable business segments			5
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	$ 1,910,592	$ 1,730,451	$ 5,791,191	$ 5,157,680
Intersegment Sales	0	0	0	0
Net sales	1,910,592	1,730,451	5,791,191	5,157,680
Segment Operating Profit	148,283	145,325	577,684	476,657
Net interest and investment expense (income)	5,484	6,183	16,837	17,452
General corporate expense	2,944	5,705	26,165	25,459
Noncontrolling interest	1,483	994	3,815	2,729
Earnings before income taxes	141,338	134,431	538,497	436,475
Precept Foods, LLC
Operating profit and other financial information
Ownership percentage held by entity in joint venture (as a percent)			50.01%
Total
Operating profit and other financial information
Intersegment Sales	36,394	32,535	103,071	84,706
Grocery Products
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	245,368	235,034	782,540	753,343
Intersegment Sales	0	0	0	0
Net sales	245,368	235,034	782,540	753,343
Segment Operating Profit	30,428	25,596	118,038	112,788
Refrigerated Foods
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	1,045,874	950,075	3,097,200	2,735,847
Intersegment Sales	4,313	2,346	9,765	6,156
Net sales	1,050,187	952,421	3,106,965	2,742,003
Segment Operating Profit	56,820	64,539	223,204	190,250
Jennie-O Turkey Store
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	327,809	295,862	1,058,279	908,364
Intersegment Sales	32,059	30,151	93,202	78,458
Net sales	359,868	326,013	1,151,481	986,822
Segment Operating Profit	34,851	30,664	155,379	96,100
Specialty Foods
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	207,025	187,065	603,371	570,941
Intersegment Sales	22	38	104	92
Net sales	207,047	187,103	603,475	571,033
Segment Operating Profit	18,141	19,703	54,583	60,841
All Other.
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	84,516	62,415	249,801	189,185
Intersegment Sales	0	0	0	0
Net sales	84,516	62,415	249,801	189,185
Segment Operating Profit	8,043	4,823	26,480	16,678
Intersegment elimination
Operating profit and other financial information
Intersegment Sales	(36,394)	(32,535)	(103,071)	(84,706)
Net sales	$ (36,394)	$ (32,535)	$ (103,071)	$ (84,706)

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The number of reportable segments of the entity.

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The net result for the period of deducting segment operating expenses from segment operating revenues, including the income (loss) from equity method investments.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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The portion of net Income or Loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (if any) deducted in order to derive the portion attributable to the parent.

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Amount of revenue from external customers for the reportable segment. Such disclosure is presented if the amount is: (a) included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

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Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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