Retirement Plans (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	$ 184,754	$ 176,220	$ 135,643
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	2,666	2,207
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Unit trust funds [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Equities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	2,003	1,589
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Fixed income securities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Property [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	663	618
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	178,308	170,220
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Unit trust funds [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	100,161	131,650
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Equities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	56,163	19,356
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Fixed income securities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	21,984	19,214
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Property [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	3,780	3,793
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Unit trust funds [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Equities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	614	607
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Fixed income securities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Property [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	3,166	3,186
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Unit trust funds [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	100,161	131,650
Equities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	58,780	21,552
Fixed income securities [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	21,984	19,214
Property [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	3,166	3,186
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by investment categories
Total assets measured at fair value	$ 663	$ 618

Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.