Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 03, 2012 Y	Feb. 26, 2011	Feb. 27, 2010
Defined Contribution Plans
Employer match of employee contributions upto 3% of pretax annual compensation to 401 (k) defined contribution plan (as a percent)	100.00%
Percentage of participant's pretax annual compensation matched 100% by employer	3.00%
Employer match of employee contributions of additional 2% of pretax annual compensation to 401 (k) defined contribution plan (as a percent)	50.00%
Percentage of participant's pretax annual compensation matched 50% by employer	2.00%
Total expense recognized for 401(k) defined contribution plans	$ 57,036	$ 58,035	$ 59,531
Vesting period (in years)	5
Expense recognized for supplemental retirement defined contribution plan	4,582	9,433	10,989
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension expense
Net actuarial loss	(3,839)
Prior service cost	240
Asset allocations
Equity securities (as a percent)	60.00%	58.00%
Fixed income securities (as a percent)	40.00%	42.00%
Total (as a percent)	100.00%	100.00%
Target allocation of plan assets
U.S. equities (as a percent)	45.00%
International equities (as a percent)	15.00%
U.S. fixed income (as a percent)	40.00%
Total (as a percent)	100.00%
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Net periodic pension expense
Service cost	2,988	2,972	2,603
Interest cost	6,501	6,124	6,032
Expected return on plan assets	(6,192)	(4,819)	(2,637)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost	639	861	861
Amortization of unrecognized net loss (gain)	2,435	2,114	3,037
Net pension expense (income)	6,371	7,252	9,896
Other changes recognized in other comprehensive loss:
Unrecognized net (gain) loss arising during period	24,664	279	(4,339)
Prior service cost arising during period	(275)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs	(639)	(861)	(860)
Amortization of unrecognized net (loss) gain	(2,435)	(2,114)	(3,037)
Net amount recognized in other comprehensive loss	21,315	(2,696)	(8,236)
Net amount recognized in pension expense and other comprehensive loss	27,686	4,556	1,660
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at end of prior year	115,499	103,876
Service cost	2,988	2,972	2,603
Interest cost	6,501	6,124	6,032
Distributions	(6,957)	(6,353)
Change due to change in assumptions	23,574	7,357
Change due to Plan amendments	(275)
Actuarial (gain) loss	980	1,523
Benefit obligation at end of year	142,310	115,499	103,876
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	94,195	73,676
Employer contributions	14,878	13,451	2,681
Actual return on plan assets	7,507	14,858
Distribution (including expenses paid by the plan)	(8,384)	(7,790)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	108,196	94,195	73,676
Funded status	(34,114)	(21,304)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets consisted of:
Accrued pension liability	(34,114)	(21,304)
Net amount recognized	(34,114)	(21,304)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Net actuarial (loss) gain	(50,168)	(28,029)
Prior service cost	(787)	(1,700)
Amount recognized	(50,955)	(29,729)
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension expense
Accumulated benefit obligation	142,117	114,845
Significant actuarial assumptions used for all defined benefit plans to determine the benefit obligation
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.50%	5.50%	6.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost
Discount rate (as a percent)	5.50%	6.00%	7.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (as a percent)	7.75%	7.75%	7.75%
Target allocation of plan assets
Expected employer contribution during next fiscal year	11,500
Nonqualified Executive Retirement Plan
Net periodic pension expense
Service cost	21	72	54
Interest cost	771	847	1,130
Amortization of unrecognized net loss (gain)	(582)	(926)	651
Net pension expense (income)	210	(7)	1,835
Other changes recognized in other comprehensive loss:
Unrecognized net (gain) loss arising during period	595	593	(1,572)
Amortization of unrecognized net (loss) gain	582	925	(651)
Net amount recognized in other comprehensive loss	1,177	1,518	(2,223)
Net amount recognized in pension expense and other comprehensive loss	1,387	1,511	(388)
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at end of prior year	14,822	14,878
Service cost	21	72	54
Interest cost	771	847	1,130
Distributions	(1,700)	(1,568)
Change due to change in assumptions	823	426
Actuarial (gain) loss	(228)	167
Benefit obligation at end of year	14,509	14,822	14,878
Change in plan assets:
Employer contributions	1,700	1,568
Distribution (including expenses paid by the plan)	(1,700)	(1,568)
Funded status	(14,509)	(14,822)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets consisted of:
Accrued pension liability	(14,509)	(14,822)
Net amount recognized	(14,509)	(14,822)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Net actuarial (loss) gain		1,177
Amount recognized		1,177
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension expense
Accumulated benefit obligation	14,509	14,731
Significant actuarial assumptions used for all defined benefit plans to determine the benefit obligation
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.50%	5.50%	6.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost
Discount rate (as a percent)	5.50%	6.00%	7.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Target allocation of plan assets
Expected employer contribution during next fiscal year	$ 1,662
Defined benefit plans, annual benefit payment period (in years)	15
Number of highest annual base salaries of participants used to calculate annual benefit payment	3
Number of fiscal years prior to date of event giving rise to benefit payment in which annual base salaries may be included in annual benefit payment calculation	10