Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 08, 2012		Jul. 10, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 45,174		$ 57,947
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	74,210		74,342
Deferred finance cost amortization	2,068		1,954
Deferred income taxes	(2,314)		(7,771)
Share-based compensation expense	5,001		6,755
Pension and postretirement expense	26,853		18,343
Gains on cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance	(8,781)		(8,287)
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants	(18,933)	[1]	(38,940)	[1]
Gains on the acquisition of franchised-operated restaurants	0		(426)
Losses on the disposition of property and equipment, net	3,762		6,084
Impairment charges	2,765		1,684
Change in assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts and other receivables	(2,891)		(14,198)
Inventories	1,934		(754)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(12,346)		2,453
Accounts payable	(5,395)		(3,071)
Accrued liabilities	13,210		4,950
Pension and postretirement benefit contributions	(9,998)		(3,522)
Other	(2,737)		(5,527)
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities	111,582		92,016
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(56,205)		(99,485)
Purchases of assets held for sale and leaseback	(31,565)		(17,442)
Proceeds from the sale of assets held for sale and leaseback	18,457		25,753
Proceeds from the sale of company-operated restaurants	29,253	[1]	76,915	[1]
Collections on notes receivable	10,198		20,014
Disbursements for loans to franchisees	(3,976)		(7,582)
Acquisitions of franchise-operated restaurants	(48,262)		(22,077)
Other	315		2,170
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	(81,785)		(21,734)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	444,380		543,000
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facility	(445,104)		(453,000)
Principal repayments on debt	(15,933)		(8,549)
Debt issuance costs	(741)		(989)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	7,096		4,260
Repurchases of common stock	(6,901)		(138,050)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements	525		883
Change in book overdraft	(13,728)		(16,418)
Cash flows used in financing activities	(30,406)		(68,863)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(609)		1,419
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	11,424		10,607
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 10,815		$ 12,026

[1] Amounts in 2012 include additional proceeds of $0.2 million in the quarter and $2.3 million year-to-date recognized upon the extension of the underlying franchise and lease agreements related to restaurants sold in a prior year.Franchise