Unified Grocers 10-Q 5 Feb 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Jan. 25, 2014	Jan. 25, 2014	Jan. 25, 2014	Jan. 25, 2014
		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class E
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'	'	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'	'	'
Document Period End Date	28-Dec-13	'	'	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'	'	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'UNIFIED GROCERS, INC.	'	'	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000320431	'	'	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-27	'	'	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'	'	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	136,150	424,328	15	214,925

Consolidated_Condensed_Balance

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$16,904	$8,974
Accounts and current portion of notes receivable, net of allowances of $3,628 and $3,558 at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively	192,119	185,874
Inventories	234,962	251,243
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,895	10,770
Deferred income taxes	5,558	5,558
Total current assets	457,438	462,419
Properties and equipment, net	170,001	171,730
Investments	83,736	92,139
Notes receivable, less current portion and net of allowances of $39 and $43 at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively	21,898	21,890
Goodwill	37,846	37,846
Other assets, net	133,511	127,358
Total Assets	904,430	913,382
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	195,081	220,031
Accrued liabilities	67,293	68,564
Current portion of notes payable	11,338	11,287
Members' deposits and estimated patronage dividends	12,080	11,692
Total current liabilities	285,792	311,574
Notes payable, less current portion	239,776	231,531
Long-term liabilities, other	190,532	183,842
Members' and Non-Members' deposits	6,642	5,789
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Retained earnings - allocated	59,543	56,909
Retained earnings - non-allocated	6,864	6,864
Total retained earnings	66,407	63,773
Receivable from sale of Class A Shares to Members	-181	-213
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-13,656	-12,280
Total shareholders' equity	181,688	180,646
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	904,430	913,382
Common stock Class A	'	'
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock	25,424	25,672
Common stock Class B	'	'
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock	78,554	78,554
Common stock Class E	'	'
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock	$25,140	$25,140

Consolidated_Condensed_Balance1

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Accounts and current portion of notes receivable, allowances	$3,628	$3,558
Notes receivable, less current portion allowances	$39	$43
Common stock Class A	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000	500,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	136,150	137,550
Common stock Class B	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	2,000,000	2,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	431,037	431,037
Common stock Class E	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	2,000,000	2,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	251,403	251,403

Consolidated_Condensed_Stateme

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Net sales (gross billings including vendor direct arrangements were $979,153 and $953,414 for the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively)	$954,719	$946,011
Cost of sales	879,362	869,780
Distribution, selling and administrative expenses	66,082	71,344
Operating income	9,275	4,887
Interest expense	-2,857	-3,191
Earnings before estimated patronage dividends and income taxes	6,418	1,696
Estimated patronage dividends	-2,388	-2,536
Earnings (loss) before income tax	4,030	-840
Income taxes	-1,241	753
Net earnings (loss)	$2,789	($87)

Consolidated_Condensed_Stateme1

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings (Loss) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Gross billings including vendor direct arrangements	$979,153	$953,414

Consolidated_Condensed_Stateme2

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Net earnings (loss)	$2,789	($87)
Other comprehensive earnings, net of income taxes:	'	'
Unrealized net holding loss on investments, net of income tax benefit of $267 and $568 for the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively	-515	-1,060
Defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans: Changes in unrecognized prior service costs (credits) during the period, and changes in unrecognized gains and losses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $(470) and $9,538 for the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively	-861	17,466
Comprehensive earnings	$1,413	$16,319

Consolidated_Condensed_Stateme3

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Unrealized net holding loss on investments, net of income tax benefit	$267	$568
Defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans: Changes in unrecognized prior service costs (credits) during the period, and changes in unrecognized gains and losses, net of income tax (benefit) expense	($470)	$9,538

Consolidated_Condensed_Stateme4

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net earnings (loss)	$2,789	($87)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash (utilized) provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	6,653	6,303
Provision for doubtful accounts	281	133
Gain on sale of properties and equipment	'	-3
Gain on curtailment of other postretirement benefit plans	'	-2,685
Pension contributions	-1,806	-997
(Increase) decrease in assets:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-7,290	-5,293
Inventories	16,281	24,687
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,875	220
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	-25,253	-13,869
Accrued liabilities	-1,271	2,715
Long-term liabilities, other	1,820	2,613
Net cash (utilized) provided by operating activities	-4,921	13,737
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Purchases of properties and equipment	-1,476	-5,080
Purchases of securities and other investments	-12,069	-3,376
Proceeds from maturities or sales of securities and other investments	20,905	2,203
Origination of notes receivable	-415	-3,300
Collection of notes receivable	1,171	932
Proceeds from sales of properties and equipment	'	9
Increase in other assets	-4,309	-622
Net cash provided (utilized) by investing activities	3,807	-9,234
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Net borrowings under secured revolving credit agreements	10,100	700
Borrowings under notes payable	'	3,183
Repayments of notes payable	-1,804	-1,059
Payment of deferred financing fees	-122	-207
Increase in Members' deposits and estimated patronage dividends	388	319
Increase (decrease) in Members' and Non-Members' deposits	853	-90
Decrease in receivable from sale of Class A Shares to Members, net	32	123
Repurchase of shares from Members	-403	-3,798
Net cash provided (utilized) by financing activities	9,044	-829
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	7,930	3,674
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,974	11,169
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	16,904	14,843
Cash paid during the period for:	'	'
Interest	2,808	3,094
Income taxes	$100	$1

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Basis of Presentation	'
	1.     BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of Unified Grocers, Inc. and all its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Unified”). Inter-company transactions and accounts with subsidiaries have been eliminated. The interim financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations; nevertheless, management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2013 filed with the SEC. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.
	The consolidated condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are both of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The preparation of the consolidated condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. As a result, actual results could differ from those estimates.
	The Company’s banking arrangements allow the Company to fund outstanding checks when presented for payment to the financial institutions utilized by the Company for disbursements. This cash management practice frequently results in total issued checks exceeding the available cash balance at a single financial institution. The Company’s policy is to record its cash disbursement accounts with a cash book overdraft in accounts payable. At December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, the Company had book overdrafts of $58.6 million and $58.7 million, respectively, classified in accounts payable and included in cash provided by operating activities.
	Adjustment of Amounts Previously Stated.    Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s unaudited June 29, 2013 consolidated condensed financial statements, management concluded that its gross presentation of sales and cost of sales related to certain transactions involving vendor direct arrangements should be corrected to present such sales and cost of sales on a net basis to conform to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-45-45. These transactions are all reported within the Company’s Wholesale Distribution segment. As a result of such adjustment, net sales was reduced by $7.4 million (from $953.4 million to $946.0 million) for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2012. Cost of sales was also reduced by $7.4 million (from $877.2 million to $869.8 million) for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2012. This adjustment did not have any impact on the Company’s earnings before estimated patronage dividends and income taxes in the consolidated condensed statement of earnings (loss), consolidated condensed balance sheet or consolidated condensed statement of cash flows and was determined to be immaterial for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2012.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	2.     FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The Company evaluates the fair value of its assets and liabilities in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC Topic 820”) and ASC Topic 825, “Financial Instruments.”
	ASC Topic 820 establishes a hierarchy for evaluating assets and liabilities valued at fair value as follows:
		·		Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
		·		Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities other than quoted prices in Level 1, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
		·		Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.
	The Company records marketable securities at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 320, “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities.” These assets are held by the Company’s Insurance segment. The Company’s Wholesale Distribution segment holds insurance contracts and mutual funds valued at fair value in support of certain employee benefits. See Note 3 for further discussion on investments.
	The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:
	Cash and cash equivalents.    The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.
	Accounts receivable and current portion of notes receivable.    The carrying amount of accounts receivable approximates its fair value due to its short-term maturity. The carrying amount of notes receivable approximates its fair value based principally on the underlying interest rates and terms, maturities, collateral and credit status of the receivables and after consideration of recorded allowances.
	As of December 28, 2013, there were indicators of impairment related to certain receivables. The receivables were measured at fair value of assets available to repay the receivables, which approximates carrying value, on a non-recurring basis. The fair value was derived with fair value models utilizing unobservable inputs that fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will be able to recover the full amount of the receivables.
	Concentration of credit risk.    The Company’s largest customer, Smart & Final, Inc., a Non-Member customer, and the ten largest Member and Non-Member customers (including Smart & Final, Inc.) constituted approximately 14% and 48%, respectively, of total net sales for the thirteen week period ended December 28, 2013. The Company’s ten customers with the largest accounts receivable balances accounted for approximately 39% of total accounts receivable at both December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013. Management believes that receivables are well diversified, and the allowances for doubtful accounts are sufficient to absorb estimated losses.
	Investments.    Generally, the fair values for investments are readily determinable based on actively traded securities in the marketplace. Investments that are not actively traded are valued based upon inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar assets. Equity securities that do not have readily determinable fair values are accounted for using the cost or equity methods of accounting. The Company regularly evaluates securities carried at cost to determine whether there has been any diminution in value that is deemed to be other than temporary and adjusts the value accordingly.
	The following table represents the Company’s financial instruments recorded at fair value and the hierarchy of those assets as of December 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)
			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Money market funds		$	7,901	$	—	$	—	$	7,901
	Common equity securities			5,572		—		—		5,572
	Mutual funds			16,519		—		—		16,519
	Corporate securities			—		29,089		—		29,089
	Government securities			—		35,565		—		35,565
	Municipal securities			—		250		—		250
	Total		$	29,992	$	64,904	$	—	$	94,896
	The following table represents the Company’s financial instruments recorded at fair value and the hierarchy of those assets as of September 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)
			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Money market funds		$	1,646	$	—	$	—	$	1,646
	Common equity securities			10,524		—		—		10,524
	Mutual funds			15,471		—		—		15,471
	Corporate securities			—		32,558		—		32,558
	Government securities			—		35,553		—		35,553
	Municipal securities			—		254		—		254
	Total		$	27,641	$	68,365	$	—	$	96,006
	Money market funds are valued based on quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 inputs) and are included in cash and cash equivalents in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets. Common equity securities and mutual funds are valued by the Company based on information received from a third party. These assets are valued based on quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 inputs). As of December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively, $5.6 million and $10.5 million of common equity securities are included in investments and $16.5 million and $15.5 million of mutual funds are included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets. Corporate securities, consisting of high quality investment grade corporate bonds and exchange traded funds, and government and municipal securities, consisting of obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies, U.S. government treasury securities and U.S. state and municipal bonds, are held by two of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to fund loss reserves. These assets are valued by the Company based on information received from a third party pricing service. For assets traded in active markets, the assets are valued at quoted bond market prices (Level 1 inputs). For assets traded in inactive markets, the service’s pricing methodology uses observable inputs (such as bid/ask quotes) for identical or similar assets. Assets considered to be similar will have similar characteristics, such as: duration, volatility, prepayment speed, interest rates, yield curves, and/or risk profile and other market corroborated inputs (Level 2 inputs). The Company determines the classification of financial asset groups within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input into each group’s asset valuation. The financial instruments included in the preceding tables, other than money market funds and mutual funds discussed above, are included in investments in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013.
	The Company did not have any significant transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 during the thirteen week period ended December 28, 2013.
	Notes payable.    The fair values of borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facilities are estimated to approximate their carrying amounts due to the short maturities of those obligations. The fair values for other notes payable are based primarily on rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.
	The fair value of notes payable, excluding capital leases, was $245.5 million and $236.2 million compared to their carrying value of $251.1 million and $242.8 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively.
	The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the Company’s notes payable at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013 were based on estimates of market conditions, estimates using present value and risks existing at that time (Level 3 inputs). These values represent an approximation of possible value and may never actually be realized.

Investments

Investments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Investments	'
	3.     INVESTMENTS
	The amortized cost and fair value of investments are as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
	December 28, 2013	Amortized			Gross			Gross		Fair
		Cost			Unrealized			Unrealized		Value
					Gains			Losses
	Available for sale securities:
	Fixed maturity securities:
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	35,531		$	313		$	-279	$	35,565
	Municipal securities		245			5			—		250
	Corporate securities		29,203			349			-463		29,089
	Total fixed maturity securities		64,979			667			-742		64,904
	Equity securities		5,659			17			-104		5,572
	Total available for sale securities	$	70,638		$	684		$	-846		70,476
	Common stock, at cost										13,260
	Total investments									$	83,736
	(dollars in thousands)
	September 28, 2013	Amortized			Gross			Gross		Fair
		Cost			Unrealized			Unrealized		Value
					Gains			Losses
	Available for sale securities:
	Fixed maturity securities:
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	35,193		$	507		$	-147	$	35,553
	Municipal securities		245			9			—		254
	Corporate securities		32,695			350			-487		32,558
	Total fixed maturity securities		68,133			866			-634		68,365
	Equity securities		10,224			405			-105		10,524
	Total available for sale securities	$	78,357		$	1,271		$	-739		78,889
	Common stock, at cost										13,250
	Total investments									$	92,139
	During the interim period ended December 28, 2013 and the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013, the Company did not hold any trading or held-to-maturity securities.
	The Company’s insurance subsidiaries invest a significant portion of premiums received in fixed maturity securities and equity securities to fund loss reserves. As a result, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to both credit and interest rate risk. Management has established guidelines and practices to limit the amount of credit risk through limitation of non-investment grade securities. The Company assesses whether unrealized losses are other-than-temporary. The discussion and table that follow describe the Company’s securities that have unrealized losses.
	Unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in fixed maturity securities were caused by interest rate increases rather than credit quality. Unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in equity securities were caused by market conditions deemed temporary by the Company. Because the Company’s insurance subsidiaries do not intend to sell, nor do they have or anticipate having a regulatory requirement to sell, these investments until recovery of fair value, which may be upon maturity, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 28, 2013.
	The table below illustrates the length of time available for sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 Months						12 Months or Greater				Total
	Description of Securities	Fair			Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
		Value			Losses			Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	20,417		$	271		$	1,223	$	8	$	21,640	$	279
	Corporate debt securities		13,230			443			405		20		13,635		463
	Equity securities		4,080			104			—		—		4,080		104
	Total investments	$	37,727		$	818		$	1,628	$	28	$	39,355	$	846
	The table below illustrates the length of time available for sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 Months						12 Months or Greater				Total
	Description of Securities	Fair			Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
		Value			Losses			Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	14,454		$	139		$	735	$	8	$	15,189	$	147
	Corporate debt securities		17,004			484			206		3		17,210		487
	Equity securities		1,542			41			1,865		64		3,407		105
	Total investments	$	33,000		$	664		$	2,806	$	75	$	35,806	$	739
	Available for sale fixed maturity securities are due as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
	December 28, 2013	Amortized			Fair
		Cost			Value
	Due in one year or less	$	5,711		$	5,769
	Due after one year through five years		27,612			27,775
	Due after five years through ten years		11,150			10,939
	Due after ten years		20,506			20,421
		$	64,979		$	64,904
	Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities stated above because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Corporate mortgage-backed securities are shown as being due at their average expected maturity dates.
	Amounts reported as “due in one year or less” are included in long-term investments, as the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to maintain investments in support of regulatory deposit requirements. Hence, investments with maturities less than one year maintained in support of this long-term commitment are generally sold to repurchase investments with longer maturities. As these investments continue to support a long-term commitment obligation related to insurance reserves, the Company classifies such amounts as long-term. At December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, the long-term portion of the related insurance reserves of $42.6 million and $41.3 million, respectively, are included in long-term liabilities, other in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets.
	Investments carried at fair values of $50.9 million and $51.3 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013 (which include $0.5 million and zero recorded in cash and cash equivalents), respectively, are maintained in support of regulatory deposit requirements ($48.3 million in direct deposit of securities at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013) in compliance with statutory regulations. Investments with fair values of $7.7 million and $7.8 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013 (which include $0.3 million and $0.1 million recorded in cash and cash equivalents), respectively, are on deposit with regulatory authorities in compliance with statutory regulations. Investments with fair values of $2.1 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013 (which include $0.1 million recorded in cash and cash equivalents) are on deposit in compliance with collateral requirements on reinsurance arrangements.
	Net investment income, which is included in net sales, is summarized as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	December 28,			December 29,
	2013			2012
Fixed maturity securities	$	301		$	334
Equity securities		1,432			290
Cash and cash equivalents		—			—
		1,733			624
Less: investment expenses		(56	)		(67	)
	$	1,677		$	557
Equity investments held by the Company that do not have readily determinable fair values are accounted for using the cost or equity methods of accounting. The Company evaluated its equity investments for impairment as of December 28, 2013, and the Company did not consider any of these equity investments to be impaired.
The Company held investments in Western Family Holding Company (“Western Family”) common stock of $9.2 million at both December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013. Western Family is a private cooperative located in Oregon from which the Company purchases food and general merchandise products. The investment represents approximately an 18% ownership interest at both December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013. The Company’s ownership percentage in Western Family is based, in part, on the volume of purchases transacted with Western Family. The investment is accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
The Company’s wholly-owned finance subsidiary, Grocers Capital Company (“GCC”), has an investment in National Consumer Cooperative Bank (“NCB”), which operates as a cooperative and therefore its participants are required to own its Class B common stock. The investment in the Class B common stock of NCB, accounted for using the cost method of accounting, aggregated $4.1 million at both December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013. The Company did not recognize dividend income from NCB in the interim period ended December 28, 2013 or the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Segment Information	'
	4.     SEGMENT INFORMATION
	Unified is a retailer-owned, grocery wholesale cooperative serving supermarket, specialty and convenience store operators located primarily in the western United States and the Pacific Rim. The Company’s customers range in size from single store operators to regional supermarket chains. The Company sells a wide variety of products typically found in supermarkets. The Company’s customers include its owners (“Members”) and non-owners (“Non-Members”). The Company sells products through Unified or through its specialty food subsidiary and international sales subsidiary. The Company reports all product sales in its Wholesale Distribution segment. The Company also provides support services, including insurance and financing, to its customers through the Wholesale Distribution segment and through separate subsidiaries. Insurance activities are reported in Unified’s Insurance segment while finance activities are grouped within Unified’s All Other business activities. The availability of specific products and services may vary by geographic region.
	Management identifies segments based on the information monitored by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to manage the business and, accordingly, has identified the following two reportable segments:
		·		The Wholesale Distribution segment includes the results of operations from the sale of groceries and general merchandise products to both Members and Non-Members, including a broad range of branded and corporate brand products in nearly all the categories found in a typical supermarket, including dry grocery, frozen food, deli, meat, dairy, eggs, produce, bakery, ethnic, gourmet, specialty foods, natural and organic, general merchandise and health and beauty care products. Support services (other than insurance and financing), including merchandising, retail pricing, advertising, promotional planning, retail technology, equipment purchasing and real estate services, are reported in the Wholesale Distribution segment. As of, and for the thirteen weeks ended, December 28, 2013, the Wholesale Distribution segment collectively represented approximately 84% of the Company’s total assets, and 99% of total net sales.
	Non-perishable products consist primarily of dry grocery, frozen food, deli, ethnic, gourmet, specialty foods, natural and organic, general merchandise and health and beauty care products. They also include (1) retail support services and (2) products and shipping services provided to Non-Member customers through Unified International, Inc. Perishable products consist primarily of service deli, service bakery, meat, eggs, produce, bakery and dairy products. Net sales within the Wholesale Distribution segment include $620.0 million and $648.7 million, or 65.3% and 68.9% of total Wholesale Distribution segment net sales, for the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively, attributable to sales of non-perishable products, and $329.3 million and $292.3 million, or 34.7% and 31.1% of total Wholesale Distribution segment net sales, for the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively, attributable to sales of perishable products. Wholesale Distribution segment net sales also include revenues attributable to the Company’s retail support services, which comprised less than 1% of total Wholesale Distribution segment net sales, for each of the foregoing respective periods.
	Transactions involving vendor direct arrangements are comprised principally of sales of produce in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California and sales of branded ice cream in Southern California. “Gross billings,” a financial metric that adds back gross billings through vendor direct arrangements to net sales and is used by management to assess our operating performance, was $973.8 million and $948.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively.
		·		The Insurance segment includes the results of operations for the Company’s three insurance subsidiaries (Unified Grocers Insurance Services, Springfield Insurance Company and Springfield Insurance Company, Limited). These subsidiaries provide insurance and insurance-related products, including workers’ compensation and liability insurance policies, to both the Company and its customers. Unified Grocers Insurance Services is an insurance agency that places business with insurance carriers, both non-affiliated and Springfield Insurance Company. Springfield Insurance Company, Limited is a captive re-insurer for Springfield Insurance Company. Unified Grocers Insurance Services is a licensed insurance agency in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Utah. Springfield Insurance Company is a licensed insurance carrier in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wyoming and Utah. Springfield Insurance Company, Limited is a licensed insurance carrier in the Commonwealth of Bermuda. As of, and for the thirteen weeks ended, December 28, 2013, the Company’s Insurance segment collectively accounted for approximately 13% of the Company’s total assets, and 1% of total net sales.
	The All Other category includes the results of operations for the Company’s other support businesses, including its finance subsidiary, whose services are provided to a common customer base, none of which individually meets the quantitative thresholds of a reportable segment. As of, and for the thirteen weeks ended, December 28, 2013, the All Other category collectively accounted for approximately 3% of the Company’s total assets, and less than 1% of total net sales.
	Information about the Company’s operating segments is summarized below.
	(dollars in thousands)
			Thirteen Weeks Ended
			December 28,			December 29,
			2013			2012
	Net sales
	Wholesale distribution: Gross billings		$	973,780		$	948,436
	Less: Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements			(24,434	)		(7,403	)
	Wholesale distribution: Net sales			949,346			941,033
	Insurance			8,062			7,613
	All other			242			363
	Inter-segment eliminations			(2,931	)		(2,998	)
	Total net sales		$	954,719		$	946,011
	Operating income (loss)
	Wholesale distribution		$	8,714		$	5,688
	Insurance			615			(922	)
	All other			(54	)		121
	Total operating income			9,275			4,887
	Interest expense			(2,857	)		(3,191	)
	Estimated patronage dividends			(2,388	)		(2,536	)
	Income taxes			(1,241	)		753
	Net earnings (loss)		$	2,789		$	(87	)
	Depreciation and amortization
	Wholesale distribution		$	6,584		$	6,177
	Insurance			67			112
	All other			2			14
	Total depreciation and amortization		$	6,653		$	6,303
	Capital expenditures
	Wholesale distribution		$	1,476		$	4,998
	Insurance			—			82
	All other			—			—
	Total capital expenditures		$	1,476		$	5,080
	Identifiable assets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012
	Wholesale distribution		$	754,656		$	755,161
	Insurance			119,749			115,026
	All other			30,025			27,361
	Total identifiable assets		$	904,430		$	897,548
	The net sales presented within the Company’s Wholesale Distribution segment in the above table for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2012 have been adjusted to conform to ASC 605-45-45 as described in Note 1. As a result of such adjustment, Wholesale Distribution segment net sales and total net sales were each reduced by $7.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2012. This adjustment did not have an impact on any other items presented in the preceding table.

Pension_and_Other_Postretireme

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	'
	5.     PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
	The Company sponsors a cash balance plan (“Unified Cash Balance Plan”). The Unified Cash Balance Plan is a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees of the Company who are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Benefits under the Unified Cash Balance Plan are provided through a trust.
	The Company also sponsors an Executive Salary Protection Plan III (“ESPPIII”) for the executive officers of the Company that provides supplemental post-termination retirement income based on each participant’s salary and years of service as an officer of the Company. This plan was amended in December 2012 to close the plan to new entrants as of September 30, 2012. The Company has provided for its obligation to plan participants in a rabbi trust, consisting primarily of life insurance policies reported at cash surrender value and mutual fund assets consisting of various publicly-traded mutual funds reported at estimated fair value based on quoted market prices. In accordance with ASC Topic 710, “Compensation – General,” the assets and liabilities of a rabbi trust must be accounted for as if they are assets and liabilities of the Company. In addition, all earnings and expenses of the rabbi trust are reported in the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of earnings (loss). The cash surrender value of such life insurance policies aggregated to $20.5 million and $19.4 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively, and are included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets. Mutual funds reported at their estimated fair value of $15.9 million and $15.5 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively, are included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets. The related accrued benefit cost (representing the Company’s benefit obligation to participants) of $44.3 million and $43.3 million at December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, respectively, is recorded in long-term liabilities, other in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets. The assets held in the rabbi trust are not available for general corporate purposes. The rabbi trust is subject to creditor claims in the event of insolvency. The trust assets are excluded from ESPPIII plan assets as they do not qualify as plan assets under ASC Topic 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits.”
	The Company sponsors other postretirement benefit plans that provide certain medical coverage to retired non-union employees and officers and provide unused sick leave benefits for certain eligible non-union and union employees. Those plans are not funded.
	The components of net periodic cost for pension and other postretirement benefits for the respective thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 consist of the following:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
		Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirteen Weeks Ended
		December 28,			December 29,			December 28,			December 29,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Service cost	$	1,559		$	2,173		$	43		$	386
	Interest cost		3,286			2,968			346			614
	Expected return on plan assets		(4,046	)		(3,661	)		—			—
	Amortization of prior service (credit) cost		(4	)		3			(2,140	)		(247	)
	Recognized actuarial loss		683			1,998			140			326
	One-time curtailment gain		—			—			—			(2,686	)
	Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	1,478		$	3,481		$	(1,611	)	$	(1,607	)
	The Company’s funding policy is to make contributions to the Unified Cash Balance Plan in amounts that are at least sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements of applicable laws and regulations, but no more than amounts deductible for federal income tax purposes. The Company expects to make estimated minimum contributions to the Unified Cash Balance Plan totaling $11.3 million during fiscal 2014, which is comprised of $4.8 million for the 2014 plan year and $6.5 million for the 2013 plan year. At its discretion, the Company may contribute in excess of these amounts. Additional contributions, if any, will be based, in part, on future actuarial funding calculations and the performance of plan investments. The Company contributed zero and $1.8 million to the Unified Cash Balance Plan during the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 for the 2014 and 2013 plan years, respectively.
	The Company made no benefit payments to participants in the ESPPIII during the thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013. However, the Company expects to make benefit payments of $3.4 million to participants in the ESPPIII during the remainder of the 2014 plan year.
	The Company sponsors a supplemental retirement plan for a select group of management or highly compensated employees that are at the Vice President level and above of the Company under the Unified Grocers, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”). This plan was established to replace the ESPPIII, which has been frozen. The SERP provides participating officers with supplemental retirement income in addition to the benefits provided under the Company’s Cash Balance and 401(k) plans.
	The SERP is a non-qualified defined contribution type plan under which benefits are derived based on a notional account balance to be funded by the Company for each participating officer. The account balance will be credited each year with a Company contribution based on the officer’s compensation, calculated as base salary plus bonus, earned during a fiscal year and the officer’s executive level at the end of the fiscal year. Plan participants may select from a variety of investment options (referred to as “Measurement Funds” in the plan document) concerning how the contributions are hypothetically invested. Assets of the SERP (i.e., the participants’ account balances) will not be physically invested in the investments selected by the participants; rather, the Measurement Funds are utilized for the purpose of debiting or crediting additional amounts to each participant’s account.
	The SERP is accounted for pursuant to FASB ASC section 715-70, Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Contribution Plans (“ASC 715-70”). The SERP qualifies as a defined contribution plan, whereby participants are credited with a contribution to an account and will receive, upon separation, a benefit based upon the vested amount accrued in their account, which includes the Company’s contributions plus or minus the increase or decrease in the fair market value of the hypothetical investments (Measurement Funds) selected by the participant. ASC 715-70 requires companies to record, on a periodic basis, that portion of a company’s contribution earned during the period by the participants (the “Expense”). The Company is accruing the Expense under the assumption that all participants in the SERP will achieve full vesting (five years of service). As of December 28, 2013 and September 28, 2013, the Company accrued $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, in related benefit cost recorded in long-term liabilities, other in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets.

Contingencies

Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Contingencies	'
	6.     CONTINGENCIES
	The Company is a party to various litigation, claims and disputes, some of which are for substantial amounts, arising in the ordinary course of business. While the ultimate effect of such actions cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the outcome of these matters will not result in a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Shareholders_Equity

Shareholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Shareholders' Equity	'
	7.     SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	During the thirteen week period ended December 28, 2013, the Company redeemed 1,400 Class A Shares with a redemption value of $0.4 million.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	8.     ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
	The balance and components of the change in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, are as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Unrealized			Defined			Total
		Net Holding			Benefit
		Gain (Loss)			Pension Plans
		on			and Other
		Investments			Postretirement
					Benefit Plans
					Items
	Beginning balance, September 28, 2013	$	501		$	(12,781	)	$	(12,280	)
	Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications		159			—			159
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss		(674	)		(861	)		(1,535	)
	Net current period other comprehensive loss		(515	)		(861	)		(1,376	)
	Ending balance, December 28, 2013	$	(14	)	$	(13,642	)	$	(13,656	)
	The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 were as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Amount Reclassified from						Affected Line Item in the
		Accumulated Other						Consolidated Condensed
		Comprehensive Loss						Statements of Earnings (Loss)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended
		December 28,			December 29,
		2013			2012
	Unrealized net holding gain on investments:
	Realized gains – Insurance segment	$	637		$	162			Net sales
	Realized gains – Wholesale Distribution segment		393			865			Distribution, selling and
									administrative expenses
			1,030			1,027			Earnings (loss) before
									income taxes
			(356	)		(360	)		Income taxes
		$	674		$	667			Net earnings (loss)
	Defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans items:
	Amortization of unrecognized prior service credits		2,144			—			(a)
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(813	)		—			(a)
			1,331			—			Earnings (loss) before
									income taxes
			(470	)		—			Income taxes
		$	861		$	—			Net earnings (loss)
	Total reclassifications for the period	$	1,535		$	667			Net earnings (loss)
	(a)	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost for pension and postretirement benefit plans. See Note 5, “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” for further information.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Related Party Transactions	'
	9.     RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	Members affiliated with directors of the Company make purchases of merchandise from the Company and also may receive benefits and services that are of the type generally offered by the Company to similarly situated eligible Members. Management believes such transactions are on terms that are generally consistent with terms available to other Members similarly situated.
	During the course of its business, the Company enters into individually negotiated supply agreements with its Members. These agreements typically require the Member to purchase certain agreed amounts of its merchandise requirements from the Company and obligate the Company to supply such merchandise under agreed terms and conditions relating to such matters as pricing and delivery.
	As of the date of this report, other than noted above, there have been no material changes to the related party transactions disclosed in Note 17 to “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2013.

Recently_Adopted_and_Recently_

Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Authoritative Accounting Guidance	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Authoritative Accounting Guidance	'
	10.     RECENTLY ADOPTED AND RECENTLY ISSUED AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
	In December 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-12, “Definition of a Public Business Entity: An Addition to the Master Glossary” (“ASU No. 2013-12”). ASU No. 2013-12 adds the new term Public Business Entity to the ASC Master Glossary. A public business entity is a business entity meeting any one of the criteria specified in ASU No. 2013-12. Under this new definition, the Company continues to be considered a public business entity. There is no actual effective date for the amendment in ASU No. 2013-12; however, the term public business entity will be used in future ASU issuances.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU No. 2013-11”). ASU No. 2013-11 requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if such asset is available. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. ASU No. 2013-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company will adopt ASU No. 2013-11 commencing in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The Company is currently assessing the impact this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Other Comprehensive Income” (“ASU No. 2013-02”). ASU No. 2013-02 requires an entity to present information about significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component either (1) on the face of the statement where net income is presented or (2) as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. ASU No. 2013-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU No. 2013-02 commencing in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Other than enhanced footnote disclosure, the adoption of ASU No. 2013-02 did not have an impact on the consolidated condensed financial statements.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Subsequent Events	'
	11.     SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company redeemed 6,449 Class B Shares with an approximate redemption value of $2.0 million and 36,478 Class E Shares with an approximate redemption value of $3.6 million.
	Subsequent events have been evaluated by the Company through the date the financial statements were issued.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value and Hierarchy of Those Assets	'
	The following table represents the Company’s financial instruments recorded at fair value and the hierarchy of those assets as of December 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Money market funds	$	7,901	$	—	$	—	$	7,901
	Common equity securities		5,572		—		—		5,572
	Mutual funds		16,519		—		—		16,519
	Corporate securities		—		29,089		—		29,089
	Government securities		—		35,565		—		35,565
	Municipal securities		—		250		—		250
	Total	$	29,992	$	64,904	$	—	$	94,896
	The following table represents the Company’s financial instruments recorded at fair value and the hierarchy of those assets as of September 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Money market funds	$	1,646	$	—	$	—	$	1,646
	Common equity securities		10,524		—		—		10,524
	Mutual funds		15,471		—		—		15,471
	Corporate securities		—		32,558		—		32,558
	Government securities		—		35,553		—		35,553
	Municipal securities		—		254		—		254
	Total	$	27,641	$	68,365	$	—	$	96,006

Investments_Tables

Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Investments	'
	The amortized cost and fair value of investments are as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
	December 28, 2013	Amortized			Gross			Gross		Fair
		Cost			Unrealized			Unrealized		Value
					Gains			Losses
	Available for sale securities:
	Fixed maturity securities:
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	35,531		$	313		$	-279	$	35,565
	Municipal securities		245			5			—		250
	Corporate securities		29,203			349			-463		29,089
	Total fixed maturity securities		64,979			667			-742		64,904
	Equity securities		5,659			17			-104		5,572
	Total available for sale securities	$	70,638		$	684		$	-846		70,476
	Common stock, at cost										13,260
	Total investments									$	83,736
	(dollars in thousands)
	September 28, 2013	Amortized			Gross			Gross		Fair
		Cost			Unrealized			Unrealized		Value
					Gains			Losses
	Available for sale securities:
	Fixed maturity securities:
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	35,193		$	507		$	-147	$	35,553
	Municipal securities		245			9			—		254
	Corporate securities		32,695			350			-487		32,558
	Total fixed maturity securities		68,133			866			-634		68,365
	Equity securities		10,224			405			-105		10,524
	Total available for sale securities	$	78,357		$	1,271		$	-739		78,889
	Common stock, at cost										13,250
	Total investments									$	92,139
Length of Time Available for Sale of Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Securities	'
	The table below illustrates the length of time available for sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 Months						12 Months or Greater				Total
	Description of Securities	Fair			Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
		Value			Losses			Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	20,417		$	271		$	1,223	$	8	$	21,640	$	279
	Corporate debt securities		13,230			443			405		20		13,635		463
	Equity securities		4,080			104			—		—		4,080		104
	Total investments	$	37,727		$	818		$	1,628	$	28	$	39,355	$	846
	The table below illustrates the length of time available for sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 28, 2013:
	(dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 Months						12 Months or Greater				Total
	Description of Securities	Fair			Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
		Value			Losses			Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	14,454		$	139		$	735	$	8	$	15,189	$	147
	Corporate debt securities		17,004			484			206		3		17,210		487
	Equity securities		1,542			41			1,865		64		3,407		105
	Total investments	$	33,000		$	664		$	2,806	$	75	$	35,806	$	739
Available for Sale Fixed Maturity Securities with Due Dates	'
	Available for sale fixed maturity securities are due as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
	December 28, 2013	Amortized			Fair
		Cost			Value
	Due in one year or less	$	5,711		$	5,769
	Due after one year through five years		27,612			27,775
	Due after five years through ten years		11,150			10,939
	Due after ten years		20,506			20,421
		$	64,979		$	64,904
Net Investment Income	'
	Net investment income, which is included in net sales, is summarized as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended
		December 28,			December 29,
		2013			2012
	Fixed maturity securities	$	301		$	334
	Equity securities		1,432			290
	Cash and cash equivalents		—			—
			1,733			624
	Less: investment expenses		(56	)		(67	)
		$	1,677		$	557

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Summarized Information about Operating Segments	'
	Information about the Company’s operating segments is summarized below.
	(dollars in thousands)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended
		December 28,			December 29,
		2013			2012
	Net sales
	Wholesale distribution: Gross billings	$	973,780		$	948,436
	Less: Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements		(24,434	)		(7,403	)
	Wholesale distribution: Net sales		949,346			941,033
	Insurance		8,062			7,613
	All other		242			363
	Inter-segment eliminations		(2,931	)		(2,998	)
	Total net sales	$	954,719		$	946,011
	Operating income (loss)
	Wholesale distribution	$	8,714		$	5,688
	Insurance		615			(922	)
	All other		(54	)		121
	Total operating income		9,275			4,887
	Interest expense		(2,857	)		(3,191	)
	Estimated patronage dividends		(2,388	)		(2,536	)
	Income taxes		(1,241	)		753
	Net earnings (loss)	$	2,789		$	(87	)
	Depreciation and amortization
	Wholesale distribution	$	6,584		$	6,177
	Insurance		67			112
	All other		2			14
	Total depreciation and amortization	$	6,653		$	6,303
	Capital expenditures
	Wholesale distribution	$	1,476		$	4,998
	Insurance		—			82
	All other		—			—
	Total capital expenditures	$	1,476		$	5,080
	Identifiable assets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012
	Wholesale distribution	$	754,656		$	755,161
	Insurance		119,749			115,026
	All other		30,025			27,361
	Total identifiable assets	$	904,430		$	897,548

Pension_and_Other_Postretireme1

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Components of Net Periodic Costs for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	'
	The components of net periodic cost for pension and other postretirement benefits for the respective thirteen weeks ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 consist of the following:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
		Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirteen Weeks Ended
		December 28,			December 29,			December 28,			December 29,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Service cost	$	1,559		$	2,173		$	43		$	386
	Interest cost		3,286			2,968			346			614
	Expected return on plan assets		(4,046	)		(3,661	)		—			—
	Amortization of prior service (credit) cost		(4	)		3			(2,140	)		(247	)
	Recognized actuarial loss		683			1,998			140			326
	One-time curtailment gain		—			—			—			(2,686	)
	Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	1,478		$	3,481		$	(1,611	)	$	(1,607	)

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Balance and Component, Net of Tax	'
	The balance and components of the change in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, are as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Unrealized			Defined			Total
		Net Holding			Benefit
		Gain (Loss)			Pension Plans
		on			and Other
		Investments			Postretirement
					Benefit Plans
					Items
	Beginning balance, September 28, 2013	$	501		$	(12,781	)	$	(12,280	)
	Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications		159			—			159
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss		(674	)		(861	)		(1,535	)
	Net current period other comprehensive loss		(515	)		(861	)		(1,376	)
	Ending balance, December 28, 2013	$	(14	)	$	(13,642	)	$	(13,656	)
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 were as follows:
	(dollars in thousands)
		Amount Reclassified from						Affected Line Item in the
		Accumulated Other						Consolidated Condensed
		Comprehensive Loss						Statements of Earnings (Loss)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended
		December 28,			December 29,
		2013			2012
	Unrealized net holding gain on investments:
	Realized gains – Insurance segment	$	637		$	162			Net sales
	Realized gains – Wholesale Distribution segment		393			865			Distribution, selling and
									administrative expenses
			1,030			1,027			Earnings (loss) before
									income taxes
			(356	)		(360	)		Income taxes
		$	674		$	667			Net earnings (loss)
	Defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans items:
	Amortization of unrecognized prior service credits		2,144			—			(a)
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(813	)		—			(a)
			1,331			—			Earnings (loss) before
									income taxes
			(470	)		—			Income taxes
		$	861		$	—			Net earnings (loss)
	Total reclassifications for the period	$	1,535		$	667			Net earnings (loss)
	(a)	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost for pension and postretirement benefit plans. See Note 5, “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” for further information.

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
			As Filed	Scenario Restated	Accounts payable	Accounts payable	Wholesale distribution	Wholesale distribution
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Book overdrafts	'	'	'	'	$58,600,000	$58,700,000	'	'
Sales adjustment for Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements	'	-7,400,000	'	'	'	'	'	-7,400,000
Net sales	954,719,000	946,011,000	953,400,000	946,000,000	'	'	949,346,000	941,033,000
Cost of Sales adjustment for Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-7,400,000
Cost of sales	$879,362,000	$869,780,000	$877,200,000	$869,800,000	'	'	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Investments, common equity securities	5.6	10.5
Other assets, mutual funds	16.5	15.5
Number of insurance subsidiaries that held corporate securities	2	'
Customer concentration risk | Smart & Final, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	14.00%	'
Customer concentration risk | Ten largest customers	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	48.00%	'
Credit concentration risk | Accounts receivable | Ten largest customers	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	39.00%	39.00%
Notes payable excluding capital leases	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Notes payable, excluding capital leases, fair value	245.5	236.2
Notes payable, excluding capital leases, carrying value	251.1	242.8

Financial_Instruments_Recorded

Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value and Hierarchy of Those Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	$94,896	$96,006
Money market funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	7,901	1,646
Mutual funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	16,519	15,471
Corporate debt securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	29,089	32,558
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	35,565	35,553
Municipal securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	250	254
Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	5,572	10,524
Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	29,992	27,641
Level 1 | Money market funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	7,901	1,646
Level 1 | Mutual funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	16,519	15,471
Level 1 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	5,572	10,524
Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	64,904	68,365
Level 2 | Corporate debt securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	29,089	32,558
Level 2 | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	35,565	35,553
Level 2 | Municipal securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Financial instruments at fair value	$250	$254

Amortized_Cost_and_Fair_Value_

Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Investments (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value	$83,736	$92,139
Available for sale securities	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	70,638	78,357
Gross Unrealized Gains	684	1,271
Gross Unrealized Losses	-846	-739
Fair Value	70,476	78,889
Available for sale securities | Fixed maturity securities	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	64,979	68,133
Gross Unrealized Gains	667	866
Gross Unrealized Losses	-742	-634
Fair Value	64,904	68,365
Available for sale securities | Fixed maturity securities | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	35,531	35,193
Gross Unrealized Gains	313	507
Gross Unrealized Losses	-279	-147
Fair Value	35,565	35,553
Available for sale securities | Fixed maturity securities | Municipal securities	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	245	245
Gross Unrealized Gains	5	9
Fair Value	250	254
Available for sale securities | Fixed maturity securities | Corporate debt securities	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	29,203	32,695
Gross Unrealized Gains	349	350
Gross Unrealized Losses	-463	-487
Fair Value	29,089	32,558
Available for sale securities | Equity securities	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	5,659	10,224
Gross Unrealized Gains	17	405
Gross Unrealized Losses	-104	-105
Fair Value	5,572	10,524
Common stock, at cost	'	'
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value	$13,260	$13,250

Length_of_Time_Available_for_S

Length of Time Available for Sale of Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Securities (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	$37,727	$33,000
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	818	664
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	1,628	2,806
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	28	75
Total Fair Value	39,355	35,806
Total Unrealized Losses	846	739
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	20,417	14,454
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	271	139
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	1,223	735
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	8	8
Total Fair Value	21,640	15,189
Total Unrealized Losses	279	147
Corporate debt securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	13,230	17,004
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	443	484
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	405	206
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	20	3
Total Fair Value	13,635	17,210
Total Unrealized Losses	463	487
Equity securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	4,080	1,542
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	104	41
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	'	1,865
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	'	64
Total Fair Value	4,080	3,407
Total Unrealized Losses	$104	$105

Available_for_Sale_Fixed_Matur

Available for Sale Fixed Maturity Securities with Due Dates (Detail) (Fixed maturity securities, USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fixed maturity securities	'
Amortized cost	'
Due in one year or less	$5,711
Due after one year through five years	27,612
Due after five years through ten years	11,150
Due after ten years	20,506
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Amortized Cost Basis, Total	64,979
Fair value	'
Due in one year or less	5,769
Due after one year through five years	27,775
Due after five years through ten years	10,939
Due after ten years	20,421
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities, Total	$64,904

Investments_Additional_Informa

Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Investments carried at fair values which are on deposit with regulatory authorities in compliance with statutory regulations	$7.70	$7.80
Investments carried at fair values which are on deposit in compliance with collateral requirements on reinsurance arrangements	2.1	2.1
National Consumer Cooperative Bank	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Investment accounted for using the cost method of accounting	4.1	4.1
Western Family Holding Company	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Investment accounted for using the equity method of accounting	9.2	9.2
Percentage of investment accounted for using the equity method of accounting	18.00%	18.00%
Direct deposit of securities	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Investments carried at fair values which are maintained in support of regulatory deposit requirements	48.3	48.3
Other Long Term Liabilities	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term portion of insurance reserves	42.6	41.3
Long term Investments	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Investments carried at fair values which are maintained in support of regulatory deposit requirements	50.9	51.3
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Investments carried at fair values which are maintained in support of regulatory deposit requirements	0.5	0
Investments carried at fair values which are on deposit with regulatory authorities in compliance with statutory regulations	0.3	0.1
Investments carried at fair values which are on deposit in compliance with collateral requirements on reinsurance arrangements	$0.10	$0.10

Net_Investment_Income_Detail

Net Investment Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'
Investment income	$1,733	$624
Less investment expenses	-56	-67
Investment Income, Net, Total	1,677	557
Fixed maturity securities	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'
Investment income	301	334
Equity securities	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'
Investment income	$1,432	$290

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
	Segment
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Number of reportable segments	2	'
Gross billings	$979,153,000	$953,414,000
Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements	'	-7,400,000
Wholesale distribution	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Gross billings	973,780,000	948,436,000
Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements	'	-7,400,000
Insurance	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Subsidiaries in the insurance segment	3	'
Sales revenue, segment | Wholesale distribution | Non Perishable Products	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	65.30%	68.90%
Sales revenue, segment | Wholesale distribution | Perishable products	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	34.70%	31.10%
Sales revenue, segment | Wholesale distribution | Retail support services	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	1.00%	1.00%
Segment concentration risk | Total net sales | Wholesale distribution	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	99.00%	'
Segment concentration risk | Total net sales | Insurance	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	1.00%	'
Segment concentration risk | Total net sales | All other | Maximum	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	1.00%	'
Segment concentration risk | Total assets | Wholesale distribution	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	84.00%	'
Segment concentration risk | Total assets | Insurance	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	13.00%	'
Segment concentration risk | Total assets | All other	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration of risk percentage	3.00%	'
Product concentration risk | Sales revenue, segment | Wholesale distribution | Non Perishable Products	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Segment net sales attributable to sales of products	620,000,000	648,700,000
Product concentration risk | Sales revenue, segment | Wholesale distribution | Perishable products	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Segment net sales attributable to sales of products	$329,300,000	$292,300,000

Summarized_Information_about_O

Summarized Information about Operating Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross billings	$979,153	$953,414	'
Net sales	954,719	946,011	'
Operating income	9,275	4,887	'
Interest expense	-2,857	-3,191	'
Depreciation and amortization	6,653	6,303	'
Estimated patronage dividends	-2,388	-2,536	'
Capital expenditures	1,476	5,080	'
Income taxes	-1,241	753	'
Identifiable assets	904,430	897,548	913,382
Net earnings (loss)	2,789	-87	'
Wholesale distribution	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross billings	973,780	948,436	'
Less: Gross billings through vendor direct arrangements	-24,434	-7,403	'
Net sales	949,346	941,033	'
Operating income	8,714	5,688	'
Depreciation and amortization	6,584	6,177	'
Capital expenditures	1,476	4,998	'
Identifiable assets	754,656	755,161	'
Insurance	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	8,062	7,613	'
Operating income	615	-922	'
Depreciation and amortization	67	112	'
Capital expenditures	'	82	'
Identifiable assets	119,749	115,026	'
All other	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	242	363	'
Operating income	-54	121	'
Depreciation and amortization	2	14	'
Identifiable assets	30,025	27,361	'
Inter-segment eliminations	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	($2,931)	($2,998)	'

Pension_and_Other_Postretireme2

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
Unified Cash Balance Plan	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated minimum contributions	$11.30	'
Unified Cash Balance Plan | Defined Benefit Plan 2014	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated minimum contributions	4.8	'
Contributions to defined benefit plan	0	'
Unified Cash Balance Plan | Defined benefit plan 2013	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated minimum contributions	6.5	'
Contributions to defined benefit plan	1.8	'
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Accrued benefit cost	0.9	0.8
Officers required service years	'5 years	'
ESPPIII	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	20.5	19.4
Mutual funds estimated fair value	15.9	15.5
Net accrued benefit costs	44.3	43.3
ESPPIII | Defined benefit plan 2013	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated minimum contributions	3.4	'
Contributions to defined benefit plan	$0	'

Components_of_Net_Periodic_Cos

Components of Net Periodic Costs for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Pension Benefits	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	$1,559	$2,173
Interest cost	3,286	2,968
Expected return on plan assets	-4,046	-3,661
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	-4	3
Recognized actuarial loss	683	1,998
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	1,478	3,481
Other Postretirement Benefits	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	43	386
Interest cost	346	614
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	-2,140	-247
Recognized actuarial loss	140	326
One-time curtailment gain	'	-2,686
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	($1,611)	($1,607)

Shareholders_Equity_Additional

Shareholders Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (Class A, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013
Class A	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'
Shares redeemed	1,400
Value of shares redeemed	$0.40

Changes_in_Accumulated_Other_C

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) by Balance and Component, Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	($12,280)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications	159
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,535
Net current period other comprehensive loss	-1,376
Ending balance	-13,656
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)	'
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	501
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications	159
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	-674
Net current period other comprehensive loss	-515
Ending balance	-14
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment	'
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	-12,781
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	-861
Net current period other comprehensive loss	-861
Ending balance	($13,642)

Reclassifications_Out_of_Accum

Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Net sales	$954,719		$946,011
Distribution, selling and administrative expenses	-66,082		-71,344
Earnings (loss) before income tax	4,030		-840
Income taxes	-1,241		753
Net earnings (loss)	2,789		-87
Insurance	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Net sales	8,062		7,613
Wholesale distribution	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Net sales	949,346		941,033
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Net earnings (loss)	1,535		667
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Earnings (loss) before income tax	1,030		1,027
Income taxes	-356		-360
Net earnings (loss)	674		667
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) | Insurance	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Net sales	637		162
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) | Wholesale distribution	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Distribution, selling and administrative expenses	393		865
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), amortization of unrecognized prior service credits	2,144	[1]	'
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), amortization of actuarial (losses)	-813	[1]	'
Earnings (loss) before income tax	1,331		'
Income taxes	-470		'
Net earnings (loss)	$861		'
[1]	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost for pension and postretirement benefit plans. See Note 5, "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" for further information.

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (Subsequent Event, USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 04, 2014
Class B	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Shares redeemed	6,449
Value of shares redeemed	$2
Class E	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Shares redeemed	36,478
Value of shares redeemed	$3.60