Supplementary Cash Flow Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2013	Mar. 03, 2012	Feb. 26, 2011
Supplementary Cash Flow Data
Cash paid for interest (net of capitalized amounts of $399, $315 and $509, respectively)	$ 482,145	$ 528,894	$ 464,456
Capitalized amount of interest	399	315	509
Cash (refund) payments for income taxes, net	(776)	4,913	4,907
Equipment financed under capital leases	7,906	7,052	4,622
Equipment received for noncash consideration	3,285	3,616	3,476
Preferred stock dividends paid in additional shares	10,528	9,919	9,346
Accrued capital expenditures	45,456	45,454	37,557
Gross borrowings from revolver	1,117,000	2,654,000	1,511,000
Gross repayments to revolver	$ 588,000	$ 2,546,000	$ 1,563,000