Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2013	Mar. 03, 2012	Feb. 26, 2011
Defined Contribution Plans
Employer match of employee contributions up to 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	$ 56,480	$ 57,036	$ 58,035
Vesting period	5 years
Expense recognized for supplemental retirement defined contribution plan	7,469	4,582	9,433
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension expense
Net actuarial loss	4,810
Prior service cost	240
Asset allocations
Total (as a percent)	100.00%	100.00%
Target allocation of plan assets
Total (as a percent)	100.00%
Equity Securities
Asset allocations
Total (as a percent)	60.00%	60.00%
U.S. equities
Target allocation of plan assets
Total (as a percent)	45.00%
International equity
Target allocation of plan assets
Total (as a percent)	15.00%
Fixed Income
Asset allocations
Total (as a percent)	40.00%	40.00%
Target allocation of plan assets
Total (as a percent)	40.00%
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Net periodic pension expense
Service cost	2,908	2,988	2,972
Interest cost	6,128	6,501	6,124
Expected return on plan assets	(6,719)	(6,192)	(4,819)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost	240	639	861
Amortization of unrecognized net loss (gain)	3,926	2,435	2,114
Net pension expense (income)	6,483	6,371	7,252
Other changes recognized in other comprehensive loss:
Unrecognized net (gain) loss arising during period	12,901	24,664	279
Prior service cost arising during period		(275)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs	(240)	(639)	(861)
Amortization of unrecognized net (loss) gain	(3,926)	(2,435)	(2,114)
Net amount recognized in other comprehensive loss	8,735	21,315	(2,696)
Net amount recognized in pension expense and other comprehensive loss	15,218	27,686	4,556
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at end of prior year	142,310	115,499
Service cost	2,908	2,988	2,972
Interest cost	6,128	6,501	6,124
Distributions	(6,644)	(6,957)
Change due to change in assumptions	13,979	23,574
Change due to Plan amendments		(275)
Actuarial (gain) loss	(159)	980
Benefit obligation at end of year	158,522	142,310	115,499
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	108,196	94,195
Employer contributions	5,583	14,878	13,451
Actual return on plan assets	9,067	7,507
Distribution (including expenses paid by the plan)	(8,073)	(8,384)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	114,773	108,196	94,195
Funded status	(43,749)	(34,114)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets consisted of:
Accrued pension liability	(43,749)	(34,114)
Net amount recognized	(43,749)	(34,114)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Net actuarial loss	(59,143)	(50,168)
Prior service cost	(547)	(787)
Amount recognized	(59,690)	(50,955)
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension expense
Accumulated benefit obligation	158,368	142,117
Significant actuarial assumptions used for all defined benefit plans to determine the benefit obligation
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.00%	4.50%	5.50%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels (as a percent)	4.50%	5.00%	5.00%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost
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%
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 the remainder of fiscal 2014	833
Nonqualified Executive Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plans
Defined benefit plans, annual benefit payment period	15 years
Net periodic pension expense
Service cost		21	72
Interest cost	616	771	847
Amortization of unrecognized net loss (gain)	866	(582)	(926)
Net pension expense (income)	1,482	210	(7)
Other changes recognized in other comprehensive loss:
Unrecognized net (gain) loss arising during period	866	595	593
Amortization of unrecognized net (loss) gain	(866)	582	925
Net amount recognized in other comprehensive loss		1,177	1,518
Net amount recognized in pension expense and other comprehensive loss	1,482	1,387	1,511
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at end of prior year	14,509	14,822
Service cost		21	72
Interest cost	616	771	847
Distributions	(1,659)	(1,700)
Change due to change in assumptions	756	823
Actuarial (gain) loss	110	(228)
Benefit obligation at end of year	14,332	14,509	14,822
Change in plan assets:
Employer contributions	1,659	1,700
Distribution (including expenses paid by the plan)	(1,659)	(1,700)
Funded status	(14,331)	(14,509)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets consisted of:
Accrued pension liability	(14,331)	(14,509)
Net amount recognized	(14,331)	(14,509)
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension expense
Accumulated benefit obligation	14,331	14,509
Significant actuarial assumptions used for all defined benefit plans to determine the benefit obligation
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.00%	4.50%	5.50%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels (as a percent)		3.00%	3.00%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost
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%
Target allocation of plan assets
Expected employer contribution during the remainder of fiscal 2014	$ 1,654