Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2020	Sep. 28, 2019	Sep. 29, 2018
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$ 19,009,000	$ 5,598,000	$ 36,266,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,255,000	13,553,000	12,818,000
Amortization of capitalized financing costs	66,000	65,000	65,000
Stock-based compensation expense	2,028,000	2,057,000	2,078,000
Deferred income taxes	(424,000)	1,798,000	(2,807,000)
Asset impairment charges	343,000	0	0
Loss (gain) on sale and disposition of property, plant and equipment	(1,114,000)	(1,688,000)	381,000
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies over premiums paid	(243,000)	(187,000)	(553,000)
Gain from life insurance proceeds	(200,000)	0	0
Net changes in assets and liabilities (net of assets and liabilities acquired):
Accounts receivable, net	(5,806,000)	7,302,000	(11,200,000)
Inventories	5,060,000	23,306,000	(12,304,000)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	20,159,000	(42,592,000)	28,234,000
Other changes	3,091,000	(2,604,000)	991,000
Total adjustments	37,215,000	1,010,000	17,703,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	56,224,000	6,608,000	53,969,000
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Acquisition of business	(18,356,000)	0	(3,300,000)
Capital expenditures	(7,114,000)	(10,512,000)	(18,449,000)
Proceeds from property insurance	0	1,192,000	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	40,000	19,000	0
Proceeds from surrender of life insurance policies	260,000	67,000	165,000
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(390,000)	(322,000)	(355,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	2,186,000	0	0
Proceeds from life insurance claims	200,000	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(23,174,000)	(9,556,000)	(21,939,000)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	322,000	44,333,000	372,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(322,000)	(44,333,000)	(372,000)
Cash dividends paid	(2,313,000)	(2,310,000)	(21,333,000)
Cash received from exercise of stock options	0	0	2,081,000
Payment of employee tax withholdings related to net share transactions	(230,000)	(239,000)	(942,000)
Financing costs	0	(263,000)	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(2,543,000)	(2,812,000)	(20,194,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	30,507,000	(5,760,000)	11,836,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	38,181,000	43,941,000	32,105,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	68,688,000	38,181,000	43,941,000
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Interest	0	49,000	0
Income taxes, net	1,919,000	1,743,000	7,777,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment in accounts payable	769,000	377,000	967,000
Restricted stock units and stock options surrendered for withholding taxes payable	230,000	239,000	942,000
Payable related to holdback for business acquired	$ 1,000,000	$ 0	$ 0