CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 04, 2017	Feb. 27, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 4,053	$ 165,465	$ 2,109,173
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	568,231	509,212	416,628
Lease termination and impairment charges	55,294	48,423	41,945
LIFO (credit) charge	(6,620)	11,163	(18,857)
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net	(4,024)	3,303	(3,799)
Stock-based compensation expense	23,482	37,948	23,390
Loss on debt retirements, net		33,205	18,512
Changes in deferred taxes	35,038	79,488	(1,726,487)
Excess tax benefit on stock options and restricted stock	(543)	(22,884)	(41,563)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(166,765)	291,659	(25,902)
Inventories	(133,543)	181,958	129,985
Accounts payable	29,528	(21,187)	(169,952)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(178,268)	(320,351)	(104,114)
Net cash provided by operating activities	225,863	997,402	648,959
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(424,289)	(541,347)	(426,828)
Intangible assets acquired	(56,822)	(128,648)	(112,558)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(1,778,377)	(69,793)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions		36,732
Proceeds from dispositions of assets and investments	16,852	9,782	15,494
Net cash used in investing activities	(464,259)	(2,401,858)	(593,685)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		1,800,000	1,152,293
Net proceeds from revolver	330,000	375,000	1,325,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(21,239)	(672,717)	(2,595,709)
Change in zero balance cash accounts	43,080	(62,878)	1,081
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	6,951	11,376	24,117
Financing fees paid for early debt redemption		(26,003)	(13,841)
Excess tax benefit on stock options and restricted stock	543	22,884	41,563
Deferred financing costs paid		(34,634)	(20,285)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	359,335	1,413,028	(85,781)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	120,939	8,572	(30,507)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	124,471	115,899	146,406
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 245,410	$ 124,471	$ 115,899